To Secure the Blessings of Liberty

John Henry Faulk received an MA degree from the University of Texas, specializing in American folklore. Impressed with his character sketches and interpretations of folk humor, CBS signed him shortly after WWII for a weekly radio show. The program lasted until 1957 when his contract was not renewed because he had been blacklisted by a self-appointed "patriotic" organization which listed performers with "pink" or "communist front" records. Faulk fought and won a six-year legal battle to clear his name. His book Fear on Trial was made into a television special in 1975. In 1980, the National Broadcast Editorial Association named Faulk as recipient of the James Madison First Amendment Award for his "steadfast devotion tot he First Amendment."
Part of the National Affairs Series: How Close Have We Come?