# Was Lucille Ball a Communist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 25, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252 "2007-06-25T00:08:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/1 "2007-06-25T00:08:23Z")
On television, oh, quite some time back, I was watching this news show about Lucille Ball. Apparently a relative was very enthused about Communism. And as a sort of tribute to him, Lucille Ball declared herself to be a Communist. Okay, I got that part of the story. My question is this: Where did Ball stand politically, particularly most of her life, and shortly before she died too? Was she very liberal? Was she indeed sympathetic to the principles of the Communist party? Thank you in advance to all who reply šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/2 "2007-06-25T00:15:32Z")
Now, at last, a debate with some substance! Probably be crushed beneath the hob-nailed jackboots of the Moderattiā€¦ Short answer: no. Longer answer: there was a time when Communists had some respectability in American political circles. Since that time, the history has been re-written, but it was once entirely possible to be a patriotic American and a Communist. Thatā€™s a true fact, you could look it up. Of course, you could have looked up the whole question, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/3 "2007-06-25T00:19:35Z")
Her hair was Red. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/4 "2007-06-25T00:19:54Z")
She registered to vote as a member of the Communist Party in the 1930s to please her grandfather. As Desi said ā€œ_The only thing red about Lucy is her hair and even thatā€™s not legitimate!_ā€. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/5 "2007-06-25T00:21:18Z")
She perhaps registered to vote as a communist in 1936. So, when the wHUACkos came into fashion in the early ā€˜50sā€™, dragging people in to answer charges that they might be un-a-merkin, she was on the list. But she was probably so popular, she was not seriously in jeopardy. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/6 "2007-06-25T00:21:48Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Now, at last, a debate with some substance! Probably be crushed beneath the hob-nailed jackboots of the Moderattiā€¦ Short answer: no. Longer answer: there was a time when Communists had some respectability in American political circles. Since that time, the history has been re-written, but it was once entirely possible to be a patriotic American and a Communist. Thatā€™s a true fact, you could look it up. Of course, you could have looked up the whole question, for that matter. [/QUOTE] Of course that is not actually the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/7 "2007-06-25T00:47:55Z")
I donā€™t have any cites for this, but in the last 20 yrs or so of her life she was good friends with John wayne, and expressed strong anti Castro feelings. Probably one of the more right wing of the Hollywood set. But in a wacky funny way, of courseā€¦ regards FML ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/8 "2007-06-25T00:52:52Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Her hair was Red. [/QUOTE] Ah-HA! Now I think weā€™re really onto something. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/9 "2007-06-25T01:05:15Z")
After Lucy was cleared by the committee, Desi offered this to the press > [@](#): > > Her husband and costar, Desi Arnaz, signed an eight-million dollar contract this year to produce the program 2 1/2 mor years. > Arnaz said, ā€œLucy has always had a clear conscience about this. She has never been a Communist and whatā€™s more she hates every Communist in Hollywood.ā€ . Whether he was merely covering their ass or Lucy actually felt that way, I have no way of knowing. \*OTā€“He got **Eight million dollars** to produce the show for 2 1/2 years. Wowzer. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/10 "2007-06-25T01:46:54Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Of course that is not actually the answer. [/QUOTE] Weā€™re waitingā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/11 "2007-06-25T01:55:50Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] After Lucy was cleared by the committee, Desi offered this to the press . Whether he was merely covering their ass or Lucy actually felt that way, I have no way of knowing. \*OTā€“He got **Eight million dollars** to produce the show for 2 1/2 years. Wowzer. [/QUOTE] I believe this was the seed money that allowed Desilu to buy the RKO Hollywood soundstages and the Culver City backlot. This gave them the room to make many of the shows of TVā€™s Golden Age. The notion to do this, incidentally, was all Arnazā€™s ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/12 "2007-06-25T01:58:09Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Weā€™re waitingā€¦ [/QUOTE] Took me all of 10 seconds to find the answer. Her grandfather was Fred C. Hunt. He helped raise her after her father died. He is described as ā€œan eccentric socialistā€. She was very close to her grandfather. He wanted her to register to vote as a communist and she did for the 1936 election out of respect for him. There is no proof that she was ever an active communist, agreed with communism or ever voted for a communist candidate. There was a brief uproar over this in the 50s but it died down when the truth was told and it was obvious the she wasnā€™t a communist. Itā€™s in wiki and other places. Just type in ā€œLucilleā€ ā€œBallā€ and ā€œcommunistā€ into your search engine. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/13 "2007-06-25T02:10:58Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] [QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] Her hair was Red. [/QUOTE] Ah-HA! Now I think weā€™re really onto something. [/QUOTE] Well youā€™ve heard about the agents that weā€™ve already named Well MPA has agents that are flauntedly unashamed Weā€™re after Rosie Clooney, weā€™ve gotten Pinkie Lee And the day we get Red Skelton wonā€™t that be a victory ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/14 "2007-06-25T02:29:43Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] Well youā€™ve heard about the agents that weā€™ve already named Well MPA has agents that are flauntedly unashamed Weā€™re after Rosie Clooney, weā€™ve gotten Pinkie Lee And the day we get Red Skelton wonā€™t that be a victory [/QUOTE] Itā€™s got a beat. I could dance to it. Where did you steal it from? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/15 "2007-06-25T02:32:41Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Just type in ā€œLucilleā€ ā€œBallā€ and ā€œcommunistā€ into your search engine. [/QUOTE] Oh, I believe you. I just donā€™t see how your answer contradicts\*\* 'luciā€™s\*\*. Both can be true. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/16 "2007-06-25T02:39:14Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] Where did you steal it from? [/QUOTE] [http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiJONBIRCH.html](http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiJONBIRCH.html) Note: this is a Chad Mitchell Trio song. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/17 "2007-06-25T02:52:29Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Oh, I believe you. I just donā€™t see how your answer contradicts\*\* 'luciā€™s\*\*. Both can be true. [/QUOTE] Mine answered the OP, his didnā€™t even try to. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/18 "2007-06-25T02:59:07Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] Note: this is a Chad Mitchell Trio song. [/QUOTE] Er, yeah. My warped upbringing caused be to believe Chad Mitchell is as well known as the Beatles. I worried more than a few neighbors (and annoyed one sister) by singing _The John Birch Society_ frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/19 "2007-06-25T04:42:27Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] So, when the wHUACkos came into fashion in the early ā€˜50sā€™. . . [/QUOTE] Just for the record, HUACā€™s heyday was probably in the 40s. Thatā€™s when you had the Hollywood 10 and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2007, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252/20 "2007-06-25T10:41:52Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Just for the record, HUACā€™s heyday was probably in the 40s. Thatā€™s when you had the Hollywood 10 and all that. [/QUOTE] Not to mention the Hiss case. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-lucille-ball-a-communist/409252.md?page=2)