Nelson Frank

Julian Nelson Frank (1906–1974) was a journalist for the New York World-Telegram, an anti-communist special agent with U.S. Naval Intelligence, and an investigator for the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee.[1][2]

Career

Frank was a writer, labor editor, and columnist for the New York World-Telegram from 1944 to 1955, where his 1945 article concerning the Duclos letter, which contributed to the ouster of Communist Party USA head Earl Browder.[1][3] Frank also wrote for Life and Fortune.[1]

With Norton Mockridge, Frank's front-page World-Telegram exposé "Red Ring Bared by Blond Queen" (written with Norton Mockridge) did much to popularize the story of "Red Spy Queen" Elizabeth Bentley; he appeared with her on one of the first episodes of Meet the Press.[4][5][6] A former communist who had worked for The Daily Worker, Frank testified before Rep. Richard Nixon and HUAC to support Whittaker Chambers's accusations against Alger Hiss.[7]

Later, Frank became a bookstore owner.[2]

Personal life and death

Frank was the father of Johanna Hurwitz and the grandfather of Vanessa Ruta, Garance Franke-Ruta, and Ted Frank.

Works

Articles with Norton Mockridge[8] include:

• "Red Ring Bared by Blond Queen" (July 21, 1948)
• "Super-Secrecy Veiled Russia's Spy Cells Here" (July 22, 1948)
• "Citizens Tricked into Spy Ring by U.S. Reds" (July 23, 1948)
• "Commie Chieftains Ordered Budenz to Aid Red Spy Queen" (July 26, 1948)

References

1. Nelson Frank Papers, The Tamiment Library & Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Elmer Holmes Bobst Library.
2. Nelson Frank, 68, ex-Labor Reporter, New York Times, March 4, 1974.
3. Ryan, James Gilbert. (2005) Earl Browder: The Failure of American Communism. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press.
4. Olmsted, Kathryn S. (2002). Red Spy Queen: A Biography of Elizabeth Bentley. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2739-8.
5. Kessler, Lauren (2003). Clever Girl: Elizabeth Bentley, the Spy Who Ushered in the McCarthy Era. Harper Perennial. ISBN 0-06-095973-8.
6. "Meet the Press", Billboard, September 25, 1948.
7. Tanenhaus, Sam (1998). Whittaker Chambers: A Biography. Modern Library. ISBN 0-375-75145-9.
8. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series: 1948. 430. 1948. Retrieved 2 October 2018.

External links

• Nelson Frank Papers at Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive at New York University Special Collections

See also

• New York World-Telegram
• Elizabeth Bentley
• Frederick Woltman
• Norton Mockridge