Irving Peress
Encyclopedia
Irving Peress was a New York City
dentist
who became a primary target for investigation of alleged communist leanings during the Army-McCarthy hearings
.
and graduated from the City College of New York
, where he was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He graduated from New York University’s
Dental School in 1940 and established a practice in New York City
.
dentist during World War II
, but failed his physical because of a hernia and did not serve.
In the early 1950s doctors and dentists were being drafted for the Korean War
. Peress was by then maintaining a thriving practice and gained weight in an effort to aggravate his high blood pressure and fail his physical so that he would not be inducted into the military. Having passed the physical, he applied for and received a commission as a Captain in the Army Dental Corps.
Originally slated for assignment to Japan
, Peress asked for and received a compassionate reassignment to Camp Kilmer
, New Jersey
.
When he filled out a subsequent, more detailed questionnaire, Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment
in response to queries about membership in the Communist party
or affiliated organizations.
Peress’ responses made him the subject or further surveillance and investigation, and he received fitness reports that questioned his loyalty and accused him of on-base communist activities, but he continued to perform his duties.
In October, 1953 Peress was promoted to Major
.
Soon after Peress was promoted the Senate Government Operations Committee
received an anonymous complaint. McCarthy then called for Peress to be court-martialed and for an investigation into the Army’s handling of Peress’ commissioning and promotion.
In response, in March, 1954 the Army granted Peress an honorable discharge.
, also chairman of the committee's Subcommittee on Investigations, decided to hold hearings about the matter to illustrate McCarthy’s claim that the Army was “soft” on communism.
Testimony from witnesses, including an undercover female member of the New York City Police Department
, indicated that Peress had been a leader of the American Labor Party
, which had nominated Henry A. Wallace
for president in 1948, and that he had been involved with the Communist party
in the 1930s and 1940s.
Dr. Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment
dozens of times in his testimony, also stating that he had and would continue to oppose any group that sought a violent or unconstitutional overthrow of the U.S. government. He also upbraided his questioners by saying that anyone, even a senator, who equated the invoking of the Fifth Amendment
with guilt was himself guilty of subversion.
McCarthy blustered during the hearings, most notably condemning Camp Kilmer
commander Brigadier General
Ralph W. Zwicker
, the approval authority for Peress’ promotion, as "unfit to wear his uniform." His confrontational approach, coupled with his pressure on the Army for preferential treatment of committee staff member G. David Schine
, was looked on in retrospect as the beginning of McCarthy’s downfall, eventually leading to the Senate’s censure of McCarthy.
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
who became a primary target for investigation of alleged communist leanings during the Army-McCarthy hearings
Army-McCarthy Hearings
The Army–McCarthy hearings were a series of hearings held by the United States Senate's Subcommittee on Investigations between April 1954 and June 1954. The hearings were held for the purpose of investigating conflicting accusations between the United States Army and Senator Joseph McCarthy...
.
Early life
Peress was born in the Bronx on July 31, 1917. He was raised in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and graduated from the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, where he was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He graduated from New York University’s
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Dental School in 1940 and established a practice in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Military service
Dr. Peress applied for a commission as an ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
dentist 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...
, but failed his physical because of a hernia and did not serve.
In the early 1950s doctors and dentists were being drafted for the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Peress was by then maintaining a thriving practice and gained weight in an effort to aggravate his high blood pressure and fail his physical so that he would not be inducted into the military. Having passed the physical, he applied for and received a commission as a Captain in the Army Dental Corps.
Originally slated for assignment to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Peress asked for and received a compassionate reassignment to Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
, New Jersey
New 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...
.
Accusations of communist activism
In applying for his commission Peress signed an oath indicating that he had never been a member of an organization that sought to overthrow the U.S. government by unconstitutional means.When he filled out a subsequent, more detailed questionnaire, Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
in response to queries about membership in the Communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
or affiliated organizations.
Peress’ responses made him the subject or further surveillance and investigation, and he received fitness reports that questioned his loyalty and accused him of on-base communist activities, but he continued to perform his duties.
In October, 1953 Peress was promoted to Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
.
Soon after Peress was promoted the Senate Government Operations Committee
United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
The United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Homeland Security and other homeland security concerns, as well as the functioning of the government itself, including the National Archives, budget and...
received an anonymous complaint. McCarthy then called for Peress to be court-martialed and for an investigation into the Army’s handling of Peress’ commissioning and promotion.
In response, in March, 1954 the Army granted Peress an honorable discharge.
Army-McCarthy hearings
As the result of the anonymous complaint to the Senate Government Operations Committee and the Army's decision to honorably discharge Peress, chairman Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
, also chairman of the committee's Subcommittee on Investigations, decided to hold hearings about the matter to illustrate McCarthy’s claim that the Army was “soft” on communism.
Testimony from witnesses, including an undercover female member of the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
, indicated that Peress had been a leader of the American Labor Party
American Labor Party
The American Labor Party was a political party in the United States established in 1936 which was active almost exclusively in the state of New York. The organization was founded by labor leaders and former members of the Socialist Party who had established themselves as the Social Democratic...
, which had nominated Henry A. Wallace
Henry A. Wallace
Henry Agard Wallace was the 33rd Vice President of the United States , the Secretary of Agriculture , and the Secretary of Commerce . In the 1948 presidential election, Wallace was the nominee of the Progressive Party.-Early life:Henry A...
for president in 1948, and that he had been involved with the Communist party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
in the 1930s and 1940s.
Dr. Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
dozens of times in his testimony, also stating that he had and would continue to oppose any group that sought a violent or unconstitutional overthrow of the U.S. government. He also upbraided his questioners by saying that anyone, even a senator, who equated the invoking of the Fifth Amendment
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which is part of the Bill of Rights, protects against abuse of government authority in a legal procedure. Its guarantees stem from English common law which traces back to the Magna Carta in 1215...
with guilt was himself guilty of subversion.
McCarthy blustered during the hearings, most notably condemning Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
commander Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
Ralph W. Zwicker
Ralph Wise Zwicker
Major General Ralph Wise Zwicker, USA, was an American Army officer who came to public attention during Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation in 1954.-Biography:...
, the approval authority for Peress’ promotion, as "unfit to wear his uniform." His confrontational approach, coupled with his pressure on the Army for preferential treatment of committee staff member G. David Schine
G. David Schine
Gerard David Schine, better known as G. David Schine or David Schine, was the wealthy heir to a hotel chain fortune who received national attention when he became a central figure in the Army-McCarthy Hearings of 1954 in his role as the chief consultant to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on...
, was looked on in retrospect as the beginning of McCarthy’s downfall, eventually leading to the Senate’s censure of McCarthy.
Subsequent career
Dr. Peress maintained his dental practice until 1980, and retired in 1982. As of 2005, he continued to reside in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.