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Ruth Young Watt

Chief Clerk, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations

As chief clerk of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Ruth Watt managed the hearing rooms, made arrangements for witnesses and investigators, took care of the subcommittee's finances, issued its subpoenas, supervised its records, and in general handled its paperwork. She worked closely with subcommittee chairmen from Joseph R. McCarthy to Henry M. Jackson , and with staff members who included William P. Rogers, Roy Cohn, Robert F. Kennedy , Pierre Salinger and Carmine Bellino. She also offers candid reminiscences of such colorful witnesses as Howard Hughes, Jimmy Hoffa, and Joe Valachi.

Table of Contents:

Preface

1) Origins of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations,1-49

2) Truman-era Investigations,50-100

3) Chairman Joe McCarthy,101-161

4) Chairman McClellan and the Labor Rackets Committee,162-209

5) The Turbulent 1960s,210-248

6) Chairman Jackson and the Changing Senate,249-308

Index

Full Transcript

Citation: Scholarly citation: "Ruth Young Watt, Chief Clerk, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 1948-1979," Oral History Interviews, Senate Historical Office, Washington, D.C.

Deed of Gift: I, Ruth Young Watt, do hereby give to the Senate Historical Office the tape recordings and transcripts of my interviews on July 19, September 7, September 21, October 5, and November 9, 1979. It is my desire that these tapes and transcripts be opened for research use immediately, except for selected portions which will remain sealed until January 1, 1988. After that date, I hereby authorize the Senate Historical Office to use the entire tapes and transcripts in such a manner as may best serve the educational and historical objectives of their oral history program. I also approve the deposit of the transcripts at the Library of Congress, the John F. Kennedy Library, the Karl E. Mundt Library, and with the Joseph McCarthy papers at Marquette University, as well as any other institution which the Senate Historical Office may deem appropriate. In the making of this gift, I voluntarily convey ownership of the tapes and transcripts to the public domain. Ruth Young Watt May 22, 1981 Accepted on behalf of the Senate Historical Office by: Richard A. Baker May 22, 1981


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