Late Sen. Cranston's FBI file details decades of government monitoring

Associated Press ^ | 08-25-03

[Brian S]

The late Sen. Alan Cranston, whose liberal views made him a target of conservatives for much of his two-decade public career, was monitored for many years by the FBI, the Fresno Bee reported Monday.

Cranston's hefty FBI file, which the newspaper obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, chronicled investigations and allegations dating from World War II to the early 1990s. Even the most unfounded allegation, a 1974 bribery charge, found a permanent home in the file, the paper said.

[Revolting cat!]

I'd like to see his KGB file. The good Senator was for long suspected of being a Soviet sleeper (discretely speaking.) Wasn't he present at that great acheivement of western diplomacy the Yalta Conference too?

[thinktwice]

Alan Cranston was as bad as politicians come.

[sgtbono2002]

I doubt these giles are any m,ore complete than Hillary's that she clamed she couldnt find.

[dts32041]

He refuses to run and his buddy is still around, there is no justice in this life, they both should be retired relics.

[BOBWADE]

ping

[okie01]

Late Sen. Cranston's FBI file details decades of government monitoring

An odd article. The headline and the article's mere presence promise much.

But what we are treated to are routine background investigations during WWII which anybody applying for a government job of that nature would have undergone.

Then, a 1946 allegation which may (or may not) have had substance -- but was within the bounds of legitimate security concerns at the time.

Shimmer dissolve to 1968 when Cranston was elected Senator -- but without any cited incident of "monitoring". Then, in 1979 and 1982, Cranston is "threatened" by military veterans. For what and why is not reported.

Finally, in 1991, Cranston is caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And resigns...

What is the purpose of this story, I wonder? And why is it "news" -- since it contains none?

[dts32041]

BTW his buddy is mcpain

[Taft in '52]

Don't blame me. I supported Max Rafferty in 1968.

[IncPen]

The purpose of this article is, "Republicans are bad". I didn't see any mention of Clinton's spook Terry Lenzor or whatever the hell his name was.

Forget the fact that Clinton had, oh, 900 similar files in the White House basement.

Dig this if you will: Even the most unfounded allegation, a 1974 bribery charge, found a permanent home in the file, the paper said.

Well, no sh!t sherlock. If someone made an accusation like that against me and nothing came of it, damn sure I'd want the proof that it was FALSE to be noted in my 'permanent file'.

Friggin' AP. Back in the day I subscribed to a newlist that logged all the AP stories and was searchable. I used to copy and paste stories from there to FR which chronicled how editors changed headlines and rewrote stories to increase the bias as the day went on.

[CatoRenasci]

Good old Max Rafferty! That's a name from the past. California's most interesting Supt. of Public Instruction, and author of a classic book, Suffer Little Children. I still have my paperback copy around somewhere.

[dighton]

Here's the Fresno Bee article.

[WOSG]

This is what the headline the media doesnt want you to see:

FBI report: Cranston hired people who were pro-Communist

[Clintonfatigued]

I grew up in California, and could never understand why Cranston kept winning reelection. I remember that when Cranston was a reporter before World War 2, he tried to cover up Russian atrocities against the Poles. It's also worth noting that when Cranston ran for reelection in 1986, he used his wife's money to get reelected. Shortly afterwards, he dumped her for a younger woman--while she was in the hospital with cancer. Cranston was one of the most dispicable men ever to serve in the Senate.

[Wacka]

How did the paper get his file?. I thought they could only release it to the person it is about or their descendants.
They say they got it by the FOIA, not from his family.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Glad to hear it. Now I would like to hear about Hitlery!'s misuse of FBI files. THAT would be relevent.

[gonzo]

"...I used to copy and paste stories from there to FR which chronicled how editors changed headlines and rewrote stories to increase the bias as the day went on..."

Yes you did, IncPen, and don't think we didn't appreciate it, older one!

I think that's what I'll call us - the 'Olders'! We're swimming in a sea of FReepers now. Stay well.........FRegards

[okie01]

Thanks for posting the Bee link.

Having read the article in its entirety, I'm thinking there was a 50/50 chance Cranston was at least a Communist sympathizer. Not to mention a 100% chance of corruption.

He thoroughly deserved his investigations.