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Pete Seeger Won’t Sign Loyalty Oath

Sept. 5, 1963 - Pete Seeger (pictured with Bob Dylan in Mississippi in July), the folk singer, said today he had refused to sign a “loyalty oath affidavit” as a prerequisite to being considered for an appearance on “Hootenanny” on ABC-TV. ABC confirmed it had sent word to the singer it would “consider” using him on the show if he furnished a “sworn affidavit as to his past and present affiliations.” After learning of Mr. Seeger’s stand today, ABC said the singer would not be considered for an appearance. In 1955, Mr. Seeger appeared before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American Activities and refused to answer questions on Communist infiltration in the entertainment industry. Later, he was convicted of contempt of Congress, but the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the decision on May 18, 1962, and the indictment was ordered dismissed.


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