Conde McGinley
Encyclopedia
Michael Conde McGinley editor of a semi-monthly paper called Common Sense, brought briefly to the nation's attention by his involvement against the nomination of Anna M. Rosenberg
, which led to an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee
.
, the eldest of three surviving children of Irish
immigrant Connell B. McGinley (1852 – 1941) and his wife, Catherine. McGinley preferred to be known by his middle name Conde. He married Celia Brown around 1918. Around this time he claimed that he was "Secretary of the Grady County Highway Association" in Chickasha, Oklahoma
. He moved with his parents to the Dallas, Texas
area, where his daughter Nona was born in 1927, and where his father died in 1941.
in 1929, opening a chain of restaurants along the shore. During World War II
, he worked as an inspector in a defense plant. In 1946, he began editing a weekly paper in Newark, New Jersey
called variously Think, The Think and Think Weekly. By June 1947, it was issued as Common Sense. In November 1947, the headquarters were transferred to Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
. The paper became semi-monthly in 1948.
Although the first issues were anti-Communist, it later developed into a mostly anti-Semitic broadsheet, produced by himself, with his son and daughter-in-law. Around 1948, he sued America magazine and others (including Walter Winchell
) for libel, and the case dragged on for about seven years. (see Rev Lafarge's papers at Georgetown University, America magazine archives at Georgetown University)
In one issue of 1948, a major part of the paper was taken up by support for Robert Best
, who had been convicted of treason
(broadcasting Nazi propaganda from Germany during World War II). In the July and August 1949 issues, W. Henry MacFarland Jr.'s name appears as associate editor. "At the time Conde was planning to combine forces with MacFarland's Nationalist Action League, as well as with the Loyal American Group, headed by William J. O'Brien." O'Brien later joined the paper's staff.
The paper, among other authors, carried articles by Eustace Mullins
starting September 1951. In 1953, he became a writer on staff. In addition, articles were carried by Frederick C. F. Weiss, Kurt Mertig (founder of the National Renaissance Party), Elizabeth Dilling
, Lyrl Clark Van Hyning, Gen. George Van Horn Moseley
, Col. Eugene N. Sanctuary and Charles B. Hudson. Circulation, at its height, averaged 50,000 copies.
The paper's contributor, Col. Eugene Sanctuary, had, among other things, written a pamphlet Is the New Deal Communist? in which he made a 35-point comparison of The New Deal to Karl Marx
's 1848 program. He also wrote an editor's note in I. B. Pranaitis
' The Talmud Unmasked
: The Secret Rabbinical Teachings Concerning Christians (New York: N.p., 1939).
, McGinley and others associated with him were prominently figured, including Benjamin H. Freedman
, who had partially financed Common Sense. The fallout of this brought him into the sights of House Un-American Activities Committee
, which issued a 1954 report condemning his propaganda. Preliminary Report on Neo-Fascist and Hate Groups (PDF file, 3 Meg), Committee on Un-American Activities, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 1954:
In response, "Conde McGinley of Common Sense urged the committee to hold a public hearing and 'if we cannot prove our statements we'll be very willing to cease publication'."
In 1955, he was sued for $250,000 in punitive damages, for libel, by Rabbi Joachim Prinz
(1902-1988) in Superior Court in Newark, New Jersey
. McGinley had published that Prinz was "expelled in 1937 from Germany for revolutionary communistic activities". McGinley was defended by three attorneys, including Albert Dilling
, former husband of Elizabeth Dilling Stokes
, and their son, Kirkpatrick Dilling
. The jury awarded Prinz $30,000, agreeing that "the biweekly publication was lying when it characterized him as a 'Red Rabbi'".
The magazine National Vanguard
claimed that:
Anna M. Rosenberg
Anna Marie Rosenberg, , later Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, was a public official and businesswoman.Born in Budapest, Anna Lederer immigrated with her family to the US in 1912. In 1919 she married Julius Rosenberg, a Jewish American member of the upper class...
, which led to an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
.
Early life
Born in Norman, OklahomaNorman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
, the eldest of three surviving children of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrant Connell B. McGinley (1852 – 1941) and his wife, Catherine. McGinley preferred to be known by his middle name Conde. He married Celia Brown around 1918. Around this time he claimed that he was "Secretary of the Grady County Highway Association" in Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Chickasha is a city in and the county seat, business and employment center of Grady County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 15,850 at the 2000 census. Chickasha is home to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma and hosts an annual Festival of Light celebration located at...
. He moved with his parents to the Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
area, where his daughter Nona was born in 1927, and where his father died in 1941.
Common Sense
McGinley moved to New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1929, opening a chain of restaurants along the shore. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked as an inspector in a defense plant. In 1946, he began editing a weekly paper in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
called variously Think, The Think and Think Weekly. By June 1947, it was issued as Common Sense. In November 1947, the headquarters were transferred to Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Union Township, Union County, New Jersey
Union is a Township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. In the 18th century, the area that is now Union was then called Connecticut Farms...
. The paper became semi-monthly in 1948.
Although the first issues were anti-Communist, it later developed into a mostly anti-Semitic broadsheet, produced by himself, with his son and daughter-in-law. Around 1948, he sued America magazine and others (including Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
) for libel, and the case dragged on for about seven years. (see Rev Lafarge's papers at Georgetown University, America magazine archives at Georgetown University)
In one issue of 1948, a major part of the paper was taken up by support for Robert Best
Robert Best (spy)
Robert Henry Best was an American broadcaster of Nazi propaganda during World War II. He was convicted of treason in 1948 and sentenced to life imprisonment.- Biography:...
, who had been convicted of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
(broadcasting Nazi propaganda from Germany during World War II). In the July and August 1949 issues, W. Henry MacFarland Jr.'s name appears as associate editor. "At the time Conde was planning to combine forces with MacFarland's Nationalist Action League, as well as with the Loyal American Group, headed by William J. O'Brien." O'Brien later joined the paper's staff.
The paper, among other authors, carried articles by Eustace Mullins
Eustace Mullins
Eustace Clarence Mullins, Jr. was a populist American political writer, biographer, and antisemite. His most famous and influential work is The Secrets of The Federal Reserve, described by congressman Wright Patman as 'a very fine book [which] has been very useful to me'...
starting September 1951. In 1953, he became a writer on staff. In addition, articles were carried by Frederick C. F. Weiss, Kurt Mertig (founder of the National Renaissance Party), Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling Stokes was an American anti-communist and later antisemitic social activist, as well as an anti-war campaigner and writer in the 1930s and '40s. She stood trial for sedition in what is now called the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.The author of four political books, Dilling...
, Lyrl Clark Van Hyning, Gen. George Van Horn Moseley
George Van Horn Moseley
George Van Horn Moseley was a United States Army general. Following his retirement in 1938, he became controversial for his anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic views.-Biography:...
, Col. Eugene N. Sanctuary and Charles B. Hudson. Circulation, at its height, averaged 50,000 copies.
The paper's contributor, Col. Eugene Sanctuary, had, among other things, written a pamphlet Is the New Deal Communist? in which he made a 35-point comparison of The New Deal to Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's 1848 program. He also wrote an editor's note in I. B. Pranaitis
Justinas Pranaitis
The Reverend Justinas Bonaventura Pranaitis or Pronaitis was a Lithuanian Catholic priest, Russian Master of Theology and Professor of the Hebrew Language at the Imperial Ecclesiastical Academy of the Roman Catholic Church in Saint Petersburg, Russia...
' The Talmud Unmasked
The Talmud Unmasked
The Talmud unmasked is book written in 1892 by Justinas Bonaventure Pranaitis . The book, generally regarded as antisemitic, is a collection of quotes from the Talmud and Zohar which purports to demonstrate that Judaism despises non-Jews and promotes the murder of non-Jews...
: The Secret Rabbinical Teachings Concerning Christians (New York: N.p., 1939).
Involvement with the House Un-American Activities Committee
At the confirmation hearings for Anna RosenbergAnna M. Rosenberg
Anna Marie Rosenberg, , later Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, was a public official and businesswoman.Born in Budapest, Anna Lederer immigrated with her family to the US in 1912. In 1919 she married Julius Rosenberg, a Jewish American member of the upper class...
, McGinley and others associated with him were prominently figured, including Benjamin H. Freedman
Benjamin H. Freedman
Benjamin Harrison Freedman, was an American antisemitic and anti-Zionist activist. Freedman was a partner in a dermatological institute and in small business. He converted from Judaism to Roman Catholicism,-Biography:...
, who had partially financed Common Sense. The fallout of this brought him into the sights of House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
, which issued a 1954 report condemning his propaganda. Preliminary Report on Neo-Fascist and Hate Groups (PDF file, 3 Meg), Committee on Un-American Activities, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 1954:
In response, "Conde McGinley of Common Sense urged the committee to hold a public hearing and 'if we cannot prove our statements we'll be very willing to cease publication'."
Christian Education Association
In 1954, McGinley formed the Christian Education Association with himself as president, his son as secretary/treasurer and Alex Jefimow as vice-president. The operation was at 530 Chestnut Street in Union, a building owned by Katherine Lettig, who was also a volunteer for the paper. The group also operated the Union Patriotic Press, whose officers were Charles Kane, John J. Reynolds and Edward J. Byrne.In 1955, he was sued for $250,000 in punitive damages, for libel, by Rabbi Joachim Prinz
Joachim Prinz
Joachim Prinz was a German rabbi who was outspoken against Nazism and became an American Jewish leader...
(1902-1988) in Superior Court in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. McGinley had published that Prinz was "expelled in 1937 from Germany for revolutionary communistic activities". McGinley was defended by three attorneys, including Albert Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling Stokes was an American anti-communist and later antisemitic social activist, as well as an anti-war campaigner and writer in the 1930s and '40s. She stood trial for sedition in what is now called the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.The author of four political books, Dilling...
, former husband of Elizabeth Dilling Stokes
Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling Stokes was an American anti-communist and later antisemitic social activist, as well as an anti-war campaigner and writer in the 1930s and '40s. She stood trial for sedition in what is now called the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.The author of four political books, Dilling...
, and their son, Kirkpatrick Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling
Elizabeth Dilling Stokes was an American anti-communist and later antisemitic social activist, as well as an anti-war campaigner and writer in the 1930s and '40s. She stood trial for sedition in what is now called the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.The author of four political books, Dilling...
. The jury awarded Prinz $30,000, agreeing that "the biweekly publication was lying when it characterized him as a 'Red Rabbi'".
Death
McGinley died July 2, 1963 at his home in Union, New Jersey, aged 72. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.Closure of Common Sense
In a display ad in the New York Times on June 16, 1972, it is stated that although Common Sense had a May issue, it is "now defunct".The magazine National Vanguard
National Vanguard (publication)
National Vanguard is a magazine published by the National Vanguard Books, Inc., a non-profit corporation link to the National Alliance. The publication's first editor was William Luther Pierce the founder of the National Alliance...
claimed that:
Further reading
- Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 6: September, 1961-August, 1964. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1965. (BioIn 6)
- Epstein, B., Forster, A. The Radical Right, 1967 (104)
- Forster, A., Epstein, B. Danger on the Right, 1964 (35)
- Heidenry, J., Theirs Was the Kingdom, 1993 (210)
- Nikitin, V. The Ultras in the USA, 1981 (144)