Thomas C. Rabbitt
Thomas C. Rabbitt | |
|---|---|
 Rabbitt c. 1943 | |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 35th district | |
| In office January 11, 1943 – January 13, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Joseph D. Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Charles J. McDonald |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 15, 1905 Butte, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | 1961 (aged 55–56) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Communist (disputed) Progressive (1948–1952) |
| Spouse | Marjorie |
Thomas Carlyle Rabbitt Jr. (May 15, 1905 – 1961)[1][2][3] was an American activist and politician who served as a member of the Washington State Senate from 1943 to 1947, and as vice president of the Washington Pension Union from 1938 to 1961.[4][a]
He was elected as a Democrat with the support of the Washington Commonwealth Federation,[4] but during the Canwell Committee hearings in 1948 he was charged with being a secret member of the Communist Party by several former party members.[7] Rabbitt attacked their testimony as hearsay and challenged the legality of the hearings.[8] When he was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1954, he was allowed to do so in a closed hearing due to health concerns,[9] and afterward stated that he had refused to answer questions.[10]
In a 2002 article, the Washington District of the Communist Party claimed Rabbitt as a member.[11]
References
- ^ Deckard, Percy Edward (1932). Genealogy of the Deckard Family. Richfield. p. 400. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Albert Rosellini FBI File". archive.org. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ Washington State Legislative Manual, 1943. Olympia: State Printing Plant. 1943. p. 203. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ a b "Thomas C. Rabbitt papers, 1943-1961". archiveswest.orbiscascade.org. University of Washington. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Old Age Group Attacks Ernst". Associated Press. December 5, 1938. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "February Pensions Forecast". The Seattle Star. Seattle. January 6, 1941. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ Countryman, Vern (1951). Un-American Activities in the State of Washington. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. pp. 32–62. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ Hutcheson, James (January 28, 1948). "Calls Group Communist". Associated Press. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Probers Ignore Health Claim". United Press. June 16, 1954. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Probe Group Holds Special Hearing". Associated Press. June 17, 1954. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- ^ "Communist Party of Washington State brief history". cpusa.org. Communist Party USA. March 13, 2002. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
Notes
- ^ Although the University of Washington states that he became vice president in 1938, newspaper accounts do not list him among the organization's elected officials in 1938.[5] By the beginning of 1941, he was reported to be vice president.[6]
External links