The FCC's war problems division: Partner in a forgotten blacklist

Early in World War II The Federal Communications Commission's War Problems Division, cooperating with other agencies, expressed opinions that contributed to loss of jobs for at least 30 foreign‐language broadcasters accused of enemy sympathies. Those opinions perhaps violated civil liberties. Factors facilitating the rulings were new agencies' unclear jurisdictions, paramount desire to win the war, belief in propaganda's power, and broadcasters' leasing of time to brokers which made it difficult to determine employees' politics. This blacklisting demonstrates the need for clear jurisdictions in government agencies, separation of judicial and accusatory functions in administrative agencies, and care in protecting civil liberties during national emergencies.