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Earl Browder

Earl Russell Browder (May 20, 1891 – June 27, 1973) was an American politician, spy for the Soviet Union, communist activist and leader of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). Browder was the General Secretary of the CPUSA during the 1930s and first half of the 1940s. During World War I, Browder served time in federal prison as a conscientious objector to conscription and the war. Upon his release, Browder became an active member of the American Communist movement, soon working as an organizer on behalf of the Communist International and its Red International of Labor Unions in China and the Pacific region.

Earl Browder

William Z. Foster

William Z. Foster

Max Bedacht

Eugene Dennis

Earl Russell Browder

(1891-05-20)May 20, 1891
Wichita, Kansas, U.S.

June 27, 1973(1973-06-27) (aged 82)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

Socialist Party of America (1907–1920)
Syndicalist League of North America (1912–1917)
Communist Party USA (1920–1945)

Raisa Berkman

In 1930, following the removal of a rival political faction from leadership, Browder was made General Secretary of the CPUSA. For the next 15 years thereafter Browder was the most recognizable public figure associated with American Communism, authoring dozens of pamphlets and books, making numerous public speeches before sometimes vast audiences, and twice running for President of the United States. Browder also took part in activities on behalf of Soviet intelligence in America during his period of party leadership, placing those who sought to convey sensitive information to the party into contact with Soviet intelligence. In the wake of public outrage over the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, Browder was indicted for passport fraud. He was convicted of two counts early in 1940 and sentenced to four years in prison, remaining free for a time on appeal. In the spring of 1942, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the sentence and Browder began what proved to be a 14-month stint in federal prison. Browder was subsequently released in 1943 as a gesture towards wartime unity.


Browder was a staunch adherent of close cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union during World War II and envisioned continued cooperation between these two military powers in the postwar years. Coming to see the role of American Communists to be that of an organized pressure group within a broad governing coalition, he directed the transformation of the CPUSA into a "Communist Political Association" in 1944; however, following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Cold War and internal red scare quickly sprouted up. Browder was expelled from the re-established Communist Party early in 1946, largely due to a refusal to modify these views to accord with changing political realities and their associated ideological demands. Browder lived out the rest of his life in relative obscurity at his home in Yonkers, New York, and later in Princeton, New Jersey, where he died in 1973. He wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political issues.

Background[edit]

Earl Browder was born on May 20, 1891, in Wichita, Kansas, the eighth child of Martha Jane (Hankins) and William Browder, a teacher and farmer.[1] His father was sympathetic to populism.[2]

Espionage[edit]

On June 2, 1957, Browder appeared on the television program The Mike Wallace Interview, where he was grilled for 30 minutes about his past in the Communist Party. Host Mike Wallace quoted Browder as having recently said, "Getting thrown out of the Communist Party was the best thing that ever happened to me."[83] When asked to elaborate, Browder replied: "That's right. I meant that the Communist Party and the whole communist movement was changing its character, and in 1945, when I was kicked out, the parting of the ways had come, and if I hadn't been kicked out I would have had the difficult task of disengaging myself from a movement that I could no longer agree with and no longer help."[83]


"I was involved in no conspiracies", Browder adamantly declared to Wallace and his television audience.[83] Browder repeatedly connected Jacob Golos, a longtime Communist Party activist and Soviet agent, with CPUSA members who had offered to share sensitive information that they thought the party should know.[84] While initially most of these would-be informants were employees of private industry, party members who were employees of the federal government were later also brought into Golos' circle of contacts.[85] Browder was also periodically given access to important information by Golos before its transmission to his superiors in Moscow.[86]


Browder's public protestations against accusations of spying were contradicted by the 1995 release of the Venona documents. This secretly decoded material confirmed that Browder was engaged in recruiting potential espionage agents for Soviet intelligence during the 1940s.[87] In 1938, Rudy Baker (Venona code name: SON) had been appointed to head the CPUSA underground apparatus to replace J. Peters, after the defection of Whittaker Chambers, allegedly at the request of Browder (Venona code name: FATHER). According to self-confessed NKVD recruiter Louis Budenz, he and Browder participated in discussions with Soviet intelligence officials to plan the assassination of Leon Trotsky.[88]


While in federal custody in the US, Browder never revealed his status as an agent recruiter. He was never prosecuted for espionage. Venona decrypt #588 April 29, 1944, from the KGB New York office states, "for more than a year Zubilin (station chief) and I tried to get in touch with Victor Perlo and Charles Flato. For some reason Browder did not come to the meeting and just decided to put Bentley in touch with the whole group. All occupy responsible positions in Washington, D.C."[89] Soviet intelligence thought highly of Browder's recruitment work: in a 1946 OGPU memorandum, Browder was personally credited with hiring eighteen intelligence agents for the Soviet Union.


Members of Browder's family were also involved in work for Soviet intelligence. According to a 1938 letter from Browder to Georgi Dimitrov, then General Secretary of the Comintern, Browder's younger sister Marguerite was an agent working in various European countries for the NKVD. (The letter was found in the Comintern archives after the fall of the Soviet Union.)[90] Browder expressed concern over the effect on the American public if his sister's secret work for Soviet intelligence were to be exposed: "In view of my increasing involvement in national political affairs and growing connections in Washington political circles ... it might become dangerous to this political work if hostile circles in America should obtain knowledge of my sister's work." He requested she be released from her European duties and returned to America to serve "in other fields of activity". Dimitrov forwarded Browder's request to Nikolai Yezhov, then head of the NKVD, requesting Marguerite Browder's transfer.[91] Browder's half-niece, Helen Lowry (aka Elza Akhmerova, also Elsa Akhmerova), worked with Iskhak Akhmerov, a Soviet NKVD espionage controller, from 1936 to 1939 under the code name ADA(?) ADA was Kitty Harris (later changed to ELZA)). In 1939, Helen Lowry married Akhmerov. Lowry was named by Soviet intelligence agent Elizabeth Bentley as one of her contacts. Lowry, Akhmerov and their actions on behalf of Soviet intelligence are referred to in several Venona project decryptions as well as Soviet KGB archives.

Personal life and death[edit]

Browder married Raisa Berkman.[92] He died in Princeton, New Jersey on June 27, 1973.[93] His three sons, Felix, William, and Andrew, all distinguished research mathematicians, have been leaders in the American mathematical community.


Grandchild Bill Browder (son of Felix) was co-founder and head of the investment group Hermitage Capital Management, which operated for more than 10 years in Moscow during a wave of privatization after the fall of the Soviet Union. Browder became a British citizen in 1998. Great-grandchild Joshua Browder is a British-American entrepreneur, consumer rights activist, and public figure.

New York: Cooperative League of America, 1918.

A System of Accounts for a Small Consumers' Co-operative

. Chicago: Literature Dept., Workers Party of America, 1924.

Unemployment: Why it Occurs and How to Fight It

. Chicago: Workers Party of America, 1925.

Class Struggle vs. Class Collaboration

. Chicago: Labor Unity Publishing Association, 1927. alternate link

Civil War in Nationalist China

. Chicago: Labor Unity Pub. Association, 1927.

China and American Imperialist Policy

Out of a Job New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1930.

War Against Workers' Russia! New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1931.

Secret Hoover-Laval War Pacts. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1931.

The Fight for Bread: Keynote Speech. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1932.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1933.

The Meaning of Social-Fascism: Its Historical and Theoretical Background

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1933.

What Every Worker Should Know About the NRA

Is Planning Possible Under Capitalism? New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1933.

What is the New Deal? New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1933.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1934.

Report of the Central Committee to the Eighth Convention of the Communist Party of the USA, Held in Cleveland, Ohio, April 2–8, 1934

The Communist Party and the Emancipation of the Negro People. New York: Harlem section of the Communist Party, 1934.

. New York: International Publishers, 1935.

Communism in the United States

Unemployment Insurance: The Burning Issue of the Day. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1935.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1935.

New Steps in the United Front: Report on the Seventh World Congress of the Communist International

Religion and Communism. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1935.

Security for Wall Street or for the Masses. Philadelphia: Communist Party of the USA, 1935.

The People's Front in America. New York: Published for the State Campaign Committee of the Communist Party by Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

Report of the Central Committee to the Ninth National Convention of the Communist Party of the USA

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

Democracy or Fascism? Earl Browder's Report to the Ninth Convention of the Communist Party

. New York: Yidburo Publishers, 1936.

Zionism: Address at the Hippodrome Meeting Jun 8, 1936

Foreign Policy and the Maintenance of Peace: Radio Speech of Earl Browder, Communist Party candidate for U.S. President, Delivered over a Coast-to-Coast Network of the National Broadcasting Company, August 28, 1936. New York: Communist Party of USA, 1936.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

Lincoln and the Communists

Who are the Americans? New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

To all Sympathizers of the Communist Party. New York: Communist Party, 1936.

The Landon-Hearst Threat Against Labor: A Labor-Day Message. New York: National Campaign Committee Communist Party, 1936.

Old Age Pensions and Unemployment Insurance: Radio Address. New York: National Campaign Committee Communist Party, 1936.

Hearst's "Secret" Documents in Full. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

Acceptance Speeches: Communist Candidates in the Presidential Elections. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

The Communist Position in 1936: Radio Speech Broadcast March 5, 1936. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

Build the United People's Front: Report to the November Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USA. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1936.

The Results of the Elections and the People's Front: Report Delivered December 4, 1936 to the Plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USA

What Is Communism? New York: , 1936.

Vanguard Press

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937.

Trotskyism Against World Peace

Talks to America. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937.

New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937. alternate link

Lenin and Spain

North America and the Soviet Union: The Heritage of Our People. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937.

The 18th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party: Radio Address Delivered over a Coast-to-Coast Network of the National Radio Broadcasting Company, September 1, 1937. New York: Central Committee Communist Party, 1937.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937.

The Communists in the People's Front: Report Delivered to the Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, USA held June 17-20, 1937

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1937.

China and the USA

. (with Bill Lawrence) New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

New Steps to Win the War in Spain

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

Social and National Security

The Nazi Pogrom, an Outcome of the Munich Betrayal. New York, N.Y., State Committee, Communist Party, 1938.

Unite the People of Illinois for Jobs, Security, Peace and Democracy: Report to the Illinois State Convention of the Communist Party. Chicago: Illinois State Committee of the Communist Party, 1938.

Attitude of the Communist Party on the Subject of Public Order. [Detroit, MI]: Chevrolet Branch of the Communist Party, 1938.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

Report to the Tenth National Convention of the Communist Party on Behalf of the Central Committee

The Democratic Front for Jobs, Security, Democracy, and Peace: Report to the Tenth National Convention of the Communist Party of the USA on Behalf of the National Committee, Delivered on Saturday, May 28, 1938, at Carnegie Hall, New York. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

Traitors in American History: Lessons of the Moscow Trials

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1938.

A Message to Catholics

The People's Front. New York: International Publishers, 1938. — A collection of speeches and articles.

New York: International Publishers, 1938.

Concerted action or isolation: which is the road to peace?

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

The Economics of Communism: The Soviet Economy in its World Relation

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939

Religion and Communism

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

The 1940 Elections: How the People Can Win

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

Theory as a Guide to Action

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

Unity for Peace and Democracy

New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

Whose War is It?

Socialism, War, and America. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

Stop the War New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1939.

Finding the Road to Peace: Radio Address, Aug. 29, 1939. New York: Communist Party, 1939.

America and the Second Imperialist War. New York, New York State Committee, Communist Party, 1939.

Communist Leader Says: "Protect Bill of Rights to Keep America Out of War." San Francisco: Communist Party, 1939.

Remarks of the General Secretary of the Communist Party, Earl Browder, Made at the Enlarged Meeting of the State Committee of the Communist Party of California on May 28, 1939. Los Angeles: California Organization and Educational Departments, Communist Party USA, 1939.

Speech of Earl Browder, Auspices of Yale Peace Council, New Haven, Conn., Nov. 28, 1939. New York: Communist Party of America, National Committee, Publicity Dept., 1939.

The People's Road to Peace. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940. —Keynote address to 11th Convention.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

The People against the War-Makers

The Jewish People and the War. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

Internationalism; Results of the 1940 Election: Two Reports. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

Earl Browder Takes His Case to the People. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

An American Foreign Policy for Peace. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

Earl Browder Talks to the Senators on the Real Meaning of the Voorhis "Blacklist" Bill. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

The Most Peculiar Election: The Campaign Speeches of Earl Browder. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1940.

Study Guide and Outline for the People's Front. New York: Educational and Literature Departments, New York State Committee, Communist Party, 1940.

A Letter from Earl Browder. New York City : Communist Party of U.S.A., 1940.

A Message from Earl Browder to the Youth of America. New York: National Election Campaign Committee, Youth Division, 1940.

United Front against Fascism and War: How to Achieve It! A Serious Word to the Socialist Party. New York City: New York District Committee, Communist Party of USA, 1940.

The New Moment in the Struggle against War. New York City: New York State Committee, Communist Party U.S.A., 1940.

Mr. Browder Goes to Washington.[New York, N.Y.]: Browder for Congress Campaign Committee, 1940.

The Communists on Education and the War. New York : Young Communist League, 1940.

A Message to California Educators: Some Inner Contradictions in Washington's Imperialist Foreign Policy. Calif. : The Committee, 1940.

The Message They Tried to Stop! The Most Peculiar Election Campaign in the History of the Republic: Speech Delivered by Electrical Transcription at Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, September 8 and at San Francisco, California, September 11, 1940. New York: National Election Campaign Committee, Communist Party USA, 1940.

The Second Imperialist War. New York: International Publishers, 1940.

The Way Out. New York: International Publishers, 1940.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

The Communist Party of the USA: Its History, Role and Organization

Communism and Culture New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

Earl Browder Says. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

The Way Out of the Imperialist War. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

The Road to Victory. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

A Different Kind of Party: Earl Browder Tells How the Communist Party is Distinguished from All Other Parties [n.c.: n.p., 1941.

Victory—and after. New York: International Publishers, 1942.

Production for Victory. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

Victory Must Be Won: Independence Day Speech, Madison Square Garden, July 2, 1942. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

Earl Browder on the Soviet Union. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

The Economics of All-Out War. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

One Year Since Pearl Harbor. New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

When Do we Fight? New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1942.

2nd Front Now! This is the Will of the People. San Francisco: Issued by California Communist Party, 1942.

Free the Anti-Fascist Prisoners in North Africa: Address. New York: Communist Party, U.S.A., 1942.

The Future of the Anglo-Soviet-American Coalition. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1943.

George Dimitroff. New York: International Publishers, 1943.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1943.

Policy for Victory

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1943.

Wage Policy in War Production

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1943.

Make 1943 the Decisive Year

The Mine Strike and Its Lessons. New York City: New York State Committee, Communist Party, 1943.

A Conspiracy Against our Soviet Ally: A Menace to America. Chicago: Illinois State Committee of the Communist Party, 1943.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1943.

A Talk About the Communist Party

Hitler's Secret Weapon: The Bogey of Communism. San Francisco: California Communist Party, 1943.

Browder Hits Anti-Soviet Plot speech of Earl Browder, at Aperion Manor, Brooklyn, NY, April 1, 1943. Baltimore? : Communist Party and Young Communist League of Baltimore?, 1943.

A Lincoln's Birthday Message to You. New York: Communist Party?, 1944.

The meaning of the elections New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

Moscow, Cairo, Teheran

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

Economic Problems of the War and Peace

. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

The Road Ahead to Victory and Lasting Peace

Teheran: Our Path in War and Peace. New York: International Publishers, 1944.

Teheran and America: Perspectives and Tasks. New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

Shall the Communist Party Change Its Name? New York: Workers Library Publishers 1944.

. New York, N.Y: New Century, 1945

America's Decisive Battle

Why America is interested in the Chinese Communists New York, N.Y: New Century, 1945

The press and America's future New York, N.Y: , 1945

Daily Worker

Browder's Speech to National Committee. San Francisco: California State Committee CPA, 1945.

Appeal of Earl Browder to the National Committee CPUSA Against the Decision of the National Board of February 5, 1946 for His Expulsion. Yonkers: Earl Browder, 1946

The Writings and Speeches of Earl Browder: From May 24, 1945 to July 26, 1945. Yonkers, NY: Earl Browder, 1947.

War or Peace with Russia? New York: A.A. Wyn, 1947.

Soviet book news, literature, art, science. New York: 1947.

The Decline of the Left Wing of American Labor. Yonkers, NY: [Earl Browder], 1948.

Answer to Vronsky. New York? : n.p., 1948.

Labor and Socialism in America. Yonkers, NY: Earl Browder, 1948.

The "Miracle" of Nov. 2nd: Some Aspects of the American Elections New York? : n.p., 1948.

New York: Earl Browder, 1948.

World Communism and US Foreign Policy: A Comparison of Marxist Strategy and Tactics: After World War I and World War II.

"Americus" [pseudonym], Where Do We Go From Here? An Examination of the Record of the 14th National Convention, CPUSA. n.c.: Earl Browder, 1948.

"Americus", Parties, issues, and Candidates in the 1948 Elections: Brief Review and Analysis. Yonkers, NY: Earl Browder, 1948.

The Coming Economic Crisis in America New York? : n.p., 1949

More about the economic crisis New York? : s.n., 1949

War, peace and socialism, New York? : s.n., 1949

U.S.A. & U.S.S.R.: their relative strength S.l. : s.n., 1949

How to halt crisis and war: an economic program for progressives S.l. : s.n., 1949

. n.c. Yonkers, NY: Earl Browder, 1949.

Chinese Lessons for American Marxists

In defense of communism: against W.Z. Foster's "new route to socialism. Yonkers, NY: s.n., 1949.

Keynes, Foster and Marx. Yonkers, N.Y 1950

Earl Browder before U.S. Senate: the record and some conclusions. Yonkers, N.Y 1950

"Is Russia a socialist community?": affirmative presentation in a public debate Yonkers, N.Y: The author 1950

Yonkers, N.Y: The author 1950

Language & war : letter to a friend concerning Stalin's article on linguistics

Modern resurrections & miracles Yonkers, N.Y: Earl Browder, 1950

Toward an American peace policy Yonkers, N.Y: The author 1950

"Should Soviet China be admitted to the United Nations?" debate. s.l. : s.n., 1951

The meaning of MacArthur: letter to a friend s.l. : s.n., 1951

Yonkers, N.Y: E. Browder 1951

Contempt of Congress; the trial of Earl Browder.

Four letters concerning peaceful co-existence of capitalism and socialism: together with speech of June 2, 1945 on the same question Yonkers, N.Y. : Issued for private circulation only by E. Browder, 1952

Should America be returned to the Indians? Yonkers, N.Y. : The author, 1952

A postscript to the discussion of peaceful co-existence Yonkers, N.Y: E. Browder 1952

. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1958.

Marx and America: A Study in the Doctrine of Impoverishment

Socialism in America Yonkers, N.Y.: Browder, 1960.

History of Soviet espionage in the United States

Popular Front

Jacob Golos

Citizens's Committee to Free Earl Browder, A Comparative Study of the Earl Browder and Other Passport Cases. New York: n.d. [1941?].

Citizens's Committee to Free Earl Browder, New York: Citizens' Committee to Free Earl Browder, 1941

The Browder case: a summary of facts: a brief for justice and fair play in America

Citizens's Committee to Free Earl Browder, The Campaign to free Earl Browder: A Report. New York: The Committee, 1942.

Communist Party of the United States of America Material for discussion leaders on the fight against Browderism.

Duclos, Jacques. . First published in Cahiers du Communisme, April 1945. Reprinted in William Z. Foster et al., Marxism–Leninism vs. Revisionism.. New York: New Century Publishers, Feb. 1946; pp. 21–35.

"On the Dissolution of the Communist Party of the United States"

Earl Browder: the man from Kansas New York: Workers Library Publishers, 1941.

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn

William Z. Foster, On the struggle against revisionism New York : National Veterans Committee of the Communist Party 1956

William Z. Foster; Jaques Duclos; Eugne Dennis; and John Williamson, Marxism–Leninism vs. Revisionism New York: New Century Publishers, 1946.

On Guard against Browderism, Titoism, Trotskyism. New York: New Century Publishers, 1951.

John Gates

Browder's "coalition" – with monopoly capital [S.l. : Communist Party of the United States of America?, 1949.

Gill Green

House Special Committee on Un-American Activities, . Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1940; pp. 4275–4520.

Investigation of Un-American Propaganda Activities in the United States: Hearings Before a Special Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Seventy-Sixth Congress, First Session...: Volume 7, September 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13, 1939, at Washington, DC

The path of a renegade : why Earl Browder was expelled from the Communist Party New York: New Century Publishers, 1946.

Robert G. Thompson

Robert Thompson, The Convention Unanimously Rejects Browder's Appeal. New York: New Century Publishers, 1948.

. Time, September 18, 1939.

"Congress: Children of Moscow"

at Marxists Internet Archive

Earl Browder Archive

at Internet Archive

Works by or about Earl Browder

Kansas City, April 4 to Nov. 28, 1919. — Digitization of full extant run, via Marxists Internet Archive.

The Workers World

from the Kansas State Historical Society. Source: Vertical File microfilm reel MF 251.

Newspaper articles on Earl Browder

on YouTube, Audio recording, circa 1948.

"Communist Leader Earl Browder on Labor Unions"

Links to video of TV interview of June 2, 1957, and printed transcript.

"The Mike Wallace Interview. Guest: Earl Browder"

in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

Newspaper clippings about Earl Browder