National Caucus of Labor Committees

The National Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC) is a political organization in the United States founded and controlled by political activist Lyndon LaRouche, who has sometimes described it as a "philosophical association".

LaRouche is the NCLC's founder and the political views of the NCLC are virtually indistinguishable from those of LaRouche. For more information on these views see the article "Political views of Lyndon LaRouche" as well as the main article titled "Lyndon LaRouche". An overview of the LaRouche's organizations is in "LaRouche movement".

The highest group within the NCLC is the "National Executive Committee" (NEC), described as the "inner leadership circle"[1] or "an elite circle of insiders"[2] which "oversees policy".[3] The next most senior group is the "National Committee" (NC),[2] which is reportedly "one step beneath the NEC".[4]

History

Formation

The NCLC had it origins in the 1968 convention of the Students for a Democratic Society. It comprised people who had been expelled from the Maoist Progressive Labor Party, an SDS faction, and students from Columbia University in New York City. It called itself the "SDS Labor Committee" or the "National Caucus of SDS Labor Committees".[5][6] Led by LaRouche, it included "New Left lieutenants" Ed Spannaus, Nancy Spannaus, and Tony Papert, as well as Paul Milkman, Paul Gallagher, Leif Johnson, Tony Chaitkin, and Steve Fraser.[7][8] According to Dennis King, Papert and Fraser had been targets of the FBI's COINTELPRO operatives.[9] The Labor Committee was known for promoting a "socialist re-industrialization" of the economy, combined with confiscatory taxes on what it saw as wasteful and parasitic investment. It was expelled from SDS for taking the side of the teachers' union in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville strike.[5] It was originally a New Left organization influenced by Trotskyist ideas[10] as well as those of other Marxists such as Rosa Luxemburg, but opposed other New Left organizations which LaRouche said were dominated by the Ford Foundation, Institute for Policy Studies and Herbert Marcuse.[11]

The organization became the NCLC in January 1969. By 1972 the group had approximately 1,000 members. According to the Los Angeles Times, LaRouche writes in his autobiography that in 1971 the NCLC formed "intelligence units", and the following year started training members in paramilitary tactics.[12]

Operation Mop Up

According to the Village Voice and the Washington Post the NCLC became embroiled in the early 1970s in conflicts with other leftist groups, culminating in "Operation Mop-Up" which consisted of a series of physical attacks on members of rival left wing groups.[13]

A 1973 internal FBI letter recommended that the FBI provide anonymous aid to a background investigation by the Communist Party USA.

During "Operation Mop-Up," LaRouche's New Solidarity, reported NCLC confrontations with members of the Communist Party and Socialist Workers Party. One incident took place April 23, 1973 at a debate featuring Labor Committee mayoral candidate Tony Chaitkin.[14] The meeting erupted in a brawl, with chairs flying. Six people were treated for injuries at a local hospital. Following this incident, New Solidarity warned:

The clown show is over. The Labor Committee warns the Socialist Workers Party and its comrades-in-hysteria: when you did all the fighting for the Communist Party at the mayoral forum, we held back – we gave you a mild warning, though several of your members were bloodied and broken. But should you repeat as goons for the CP, we will put all of you in the hospital; we will deal with you as we are dealing with the Communist Party.

In November 1973, the FBI issued an internal memorandum that was later released under the Freedom of Information Act. Jeffrey Steinberg, LaRouche spokesperson and NCLC "director of counterintelligence",[15] described it as the "COINTELPRO memo", which he says showed "that the FBI was considering supporting an assassination attempt against LaRouche by the Communist Party USA."[16] LaRouche wrote in 1998:

The U.S. Communist Party was committed to putting the Labor Committees out of existence physically... Local law enforcement was curiously uncooperative, as they had been during prior physical attacks on myself and my friends. We knew that a 'fix' was in somewhere, probably from the FBI... We were left to our own resources. Tired of the beatings, we decided we had better prepare to defend ourselves if necessary.[17]

1974–1986

By the mid-1970s, the NCLC had abandoned Marxism altogether, in favor of what its members described as an American System approach. Some press accounts alleged that there was a shift to the right, and that the NCLC established ties to the Ku Klux Klan and the Liberty Lobby.[18] The conservative Heritage Foundation issued a report which states that "neither the Left nor the Right has a thoroughly-documented explanation of the organization's nature or purposes."[19]

According to the Los Angeles Times, LaRouche said he met with representatives of the Soviet Union at the United Nations in 1974 and 1975 in order to discuss attacks by the Communist Party USA on the NCLC, and to propose that the CPUSA should be merged into the NCLC. He denied receiving any assistance from the Soviets.[20]

The NCLC established a paramilitary "officers training camp" in Argyle, New York in 1974, according to an FBI report. Members learned about "small unit tactics and strategy", and trained with nunchaku. The FBI documents reportedly also mention "beatings" and "brainwashings", claim that the group moved from far-left to far-right, and complain that NCLC sent in tips about wild conspiracies.[21]

Internal FBI memo from 1975 warning about harassment of agents by NCLC members

In 1974, NCLC members admitted they had been harassing FBI agents for years.[22]

According to LaRouche in 1995, during the period 1976-1978 the NCLC ceased being a dues-paying membership organization, and made the transition to a "purely philosophical-legal organization," whose principal activities were either philosophical or in connection with legal cases against the COINTELPRO and related offenses of the FBI and associated agencies.[23]

In 1977, Costas Axios, NCLC chief of staff for New York, said of the NCLC: "We are socialist, but first we must establish an industrialist capitalist republic and rid this country of the Rockefeller anti-industrial, antitechnology monetarist dictatorship of today." According to the Washington Post, FBI memoranda of the time described the NCLC as a "clandestinely oriented group of political schizophrenics who have a paranoid preoccupation with Nelson Rockefeller and the CIA", and as a "violence-oriented Marxist revolutionary organization."[24]

The Los Angeles Times reported that by 1981, the NCLC was overseeing a network of companies and organizations that were budgeted to bring in $11.7 million in gross receipts annually. One company, Campaigner Publications Inc., was reported to have grossed $4.5 million in a four-month period. In a purported internal memo from 1981 LaRouche explained his position within the organization by saying, "I do not wish to hear, ever again, that I must wait until our legal council (sic) has assessed the wisdom of one of my decisions or that some members personal sensitivities must be taken into account...I promise you that I shall function, unrestrained, as a commanding general of a combat organization. Anyone who opposes my orders will, in the moral sense, be shot on the spot for insubordination."[25]

In 1984 the headquarters were moved from Manhattan to Leesburg, Virginia, a suburb of Washington D.C.[26]

The NCLC was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice in 1986 and its offices were searched. Federal prosecutors alleged that LaRouche "dominates and controls" the NCLC. A U.S. government memo reportedly said that "the primary purpose" of the NCLC is to support LaRouche in a lavish lifestyle and to "courier large sums of cash to secret depositories."[27] Over a dozen NCLC members, including LaRouche himself, were eventually indicted.[28] (See also LaRouche criminal trials)

Electoral politics

Main article: U.S. Labor Party

The NCLC launched the U.S. Labor Party (USLP), a registered political party, in 1972[29] as its electoral arm and ran LaRouche for President of the United States on the Labor Party ticket in 1976 along with numerous candidates for lower office.

In 1979 LaRouche changed his political strategy to one of running in Democratic primaries rather than as a third party candidate. This resulted in the USLP being replaced by the National Democratic Policy Committee (NDPC,) a political action committee unassociated with the Democratic National Committee.[30]

International work

Main article: LaRouche movement

The International Caucus of Labor Committees (ICLC) was founded as the philosophical nucleus for LaRouche movement operations worldwide. According to LaRouche the ICLC follows the "model of American founding father Benjamin Franklin's 'Junto' organization."[31]

The ICLC has affiliates in Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden, Australia, Philippines, along with Mexico and several South American countries.

Selected members

Included are present and former NCLC or ICLC members who have authored books, edited publications, or led LaRouche-affiliated organizations or companies.

References

  1. "Rt. 28 Suicide Jumper Was Long-Time Associate of LaRouche", Nicholas F. Benton, Falls Church News-Press. 19 April 2007
  2. 1 2 "Breaking the Silence: An Ex-LaRouche Follower Tells Her Story", LINDA RAY, In These Times, Oct. 29, 1986
  3. "Raid Stirs Reports of LaRouche's Dark Side" Kevin Roderick, Los Angeles Times Oct 14, 1986. pg. 1
  4. "TEAMSTERS FOR LaROUCHE", DENNIS KING,Our Town. http://lyndonlarouchewatch.org/ourtown5.htm
  5. 1 2 Lyons, Paul (2003). The people of this generation: the rise and fall of the New Left in Philadelphia. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 211. ISBN 0-8122-3715-3.
  6. The campaigner. Publication of the SDS Labor Committees of New York andPhiladelphia. Vol. 1, no. 4, 1968.
  7. Wohlforth, Tim. "A '60's Socialist Takes a Hard Right". Political Research Associates. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  8. Tourish, Dennis and Wohlforth, Tim (2000). On the Edge. M.E. Sharpe, 2000. ISBN 0-7656-0639-9
  9. King, Dennis (1989) Lyndon LaRouche and the New American Fascism, Doubleday
  10. The Independent, August 28, 2003, The mystery man fighting the 'enemy within'
  11. LaRouche, Lyndon, The Power of Reason: 1988, p. 115
  12. "LaRouche Trying to Lose Splinter Label". ELLEN HUME, Los Angeles Times Feb 16, 1980, pg. A20
  13. Nat Hentoff, Of Thugs and Liars, the Village Voice, 1/24/74, p. 8; Paul L. Montgomery, "How a Radical-Left Group Moved Toward Savagery," New York Times, 1/20/74, p. 1; James C. Hyatt, "A Communist Group Uses Fists and Epithets To Battle U.S. Unions," Wall Street Journal, 10/7/75; "An Introduction to NCLC: "The Word is Beware," Liberation New Service, #599, 3/23/74; Charles M. Young, "Mind Control, Political Violence & Sexual Warfare: Inside the NCLC," Crawdaddy, June 1976, p. 48-56; Chronology of Labor Committee Attacks, issued by New York Committee to Stop Terrorist Attacks, 1973; Articles and photographs in the Daily World, the Militant, Workers Power, the Fifth Estate, the Boston Phoenix, and the Drummer.
  14. 1 2 3 "Look at This: Communist Party Needs 'Trotskyist' Goons!," New Solidarity, Vol. IV, No. 4, April 30-May 4, 1973 (Published Weekly by the National Caucus of Labor Committees), pp. 1, 4-5.
  15. "Five LaRouche Groups, Aides Charged in Fraud". KEVIN RODERICK, 'Los Angeles Times Oct 7, 1986, pg. 1
  16. Steinberg, Jeffrey, "The Washington Post's and KKK-Katie Graham's 25-Year War Against LaRouche"
  17. LaRouche, Lyndon, The Power of Reason: 1988, p. 138
  18. "In Spotlight After Illinois Victories LaRouche: Cult Figure or Serious Political Leader?" PAUL HOUSTON. Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.: Apr 29, 1986. pg. 1
  19. 1 2 3 The U.S. Domestic Issues: Labor Party
  20. "LaRouche Elbowing Into Limelight". JEFFREY A PERLMAN, Los Angeles Times May 27, 1984. pg. A16
  21. Syndicated column. Jack Anderson and Les Whitten. January 30, 1978. Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC), formed "goon squads" whose members are trained in military tactics and indoctrinated in violence. An internal memo from FBI Director Clarence Kelley tells of "beatings" and "brainwashings." Back in 1974... the NCLC set up an underground "officers training camp" at Argyle, N.Y.,. where members allegedly'were tutored in military history, close order drill, weapons handling and "small unit tactics and strategy." They have also received instructions, according to the FBI, in the delicate use of the numbachutka: This is a strangulation weapon, a deadly Korean device, composed of two sticks connected by a chain...Then the group moved to the far right and began "cooperating" with the FBI. But the cooperation consisted of burdening the FBI with tips about wild conspiracies that existed only in their minds.
  22. McCONVILLE, ED (November 11, 1974). "Marxist organizers move into L. Bucks". BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES. p. 5.
  23. The Virginia Political Prisoners, by Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. (Aug. 26, 1995)
  24. "When Left Reaches Right". Paul Valentine, Washington Post, August 16, 1977, p. A1
  25. "Authorities See Pattern of Threats, Plots Dark Side of LaRouche Empire Surfaces" KEVIN RODERICK. Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, Calif.: Oct 14, 1986. pg. 1
  26. "Raid Stirs Reports of LaRouche's Dark Side" Kevin Roderick. San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, Calif.: Oct 14, 1986. pg. 1
  27. "Federal Papers Suggest LaRouche Evaded Taxes; Documents Point to an Elaborate Scheme' by Political Extremist, Associates", John Mintz. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Feb 25, 1987. pg. a.11
  28. "LaRouche offices raided; 10 aides indicted on fraud and plot charges", PHILIP SHENON. Houston Chronicle. Houston, Tex.: Oct 7, 1986. pg. 5
  29. "Nuclear group raises funds for right-wing party in U.S." Ross Laver. The Globe and Mail. Toronto, Ont.: Jan 2, 1980. pg. P.5. Formed in 1972, the U. S. Labor Party is an arm of the National Caucus of Labor Committees, a group that emerged from the remains of the left-wing Students for a Democratic Society.
  30. "Candidate’s wife arrested" Dennis King, Our Town, Sept. 29, 1985
  31. http://www.etext.org/Politics/LaRouche/larouche.program.03
  32. Schiller Institute- Interview with Mike Billington- American political prisoner
  33. 1 2 3 4 The Virginia Political Prisoners, by Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr. (Aug. 26, 1995)
  34. "LAROUCHE BACKERS TO JOIN STATE RACES AFTER ILLINOIS WINS" DOUG UNDERWOOD. Seattle Times. Seattle, Wash.: Mar 22, 1986. pg. A.14
  35. "Republished: Robert Burns and the Ideas of the American Revolution". Schiller Institute, November 2007.
  36. Impaginato_Maggio_2008.qxd
  37. 1 2 LaRouche Connection Biographies
  38. The LaRouche Show 2003
  39. SDI and the Jailing of Lyndon LaRouche
  40. "The State AIDS Test Measure Near OK for Ballot", Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Jun 23, 1986. pg. 2
  41. "Surprising number of voters undecided on Prop. 64", Gerry Braun. The San Diego Union. San Diego, Calif.: Sep 24, 1986. pg. A.3
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 LaRouche Connection Master List 1991-1995
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  44. Magnetrain:A 600-mph Railroad Suspended by Magnets
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  46. Dennis King
  47. "Institutional Analysis #7 The U.S. DOMESTIC ISSUES: LABOR Party" by Watson, Francis M., Heritage Foundation. July 19, 1978
  48. Obituary for Kenneth L. Kronberg, Fidelio Editor
  49. Helga Zepp LaRouche Bio
  50. California Democratic Leaders Respond to LaRouche's Ibero-American Webcast at FDR Legacy Club Meeting | LaRouche Political Action Committee
  51. "LAROUCHE GROUP BLAMES PRESS, FEDERAL PROBE FOR ITS CASH WOES". Seattle Times. Seattle, Wash.: Jun 9, 1986. pg. A.6
  52. King, Dennis (1989) Lyndon LaRouche and the New American Fascism, Doubleday
  53. "Conference of the International Caucus of Labor Committees and the Schiller Institute", August 31 - September 1, 2002
  54. "Marx & the Outlaws: Recruiting in the ghetto", Howard Blum, Village Voice, June 6, 1974
  55. The Hitler Book, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, ed., New Benjamin Franklin House Publishing, 1984
  56. ICLC-Schiller Institute Labor Day 2001 Conference
  57. "12 LaRouche Followers Arrested in Fraud Case". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, Calif.: Mar 19, 1987. pg. 9
  58. "LaRouche and 6 Aides Guilty of Cheating IRS and Campaign Backers;" Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif.: Dec 18, 1988. pg. 38
  59. The Lessons of Schiller's Wallenstein Trilogy for Today
  60. NYT 9/23/87
  61. "News broadcasts on WTRI focus on Iran, AIDS issues". THE FREDERICK POST,. FREDERICK, MD.,. December 15, 1986. p. A-11.
  62. "LaRouche Movement Meets in U.S.: Determines to shift U.S. strategic policy, bring down Pike statue", Nancy Spannaus,
  63. "MOSCOW ECONOMIC CONFERENCE DRAWS 200 FROM RUSSIA, GERMANY, MID EAST AND ASIA", From The Wilderness March 31, 2001
  64. "The Scientific Basis Of the New Biological Paradigm, by Vladimir Voeikov, introduction by Jonathan Tennenbaum. 21st CENTURY SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, v. 12, No.2, pp. 18-33, Summer 1999
  65. http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~caplabtb/dprk/LaRouche_mahl.doc
  66. Schiller Institute Wm Warfield, 1920-2002
  67. "LaRouche's Conviction May Change Organization". Caryle Murphy. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Dec 18, 1988. pg. b.03
  68. King, Dennis (1989) Lyndon LaRouche and the New American Fascism, Doubleday

External links

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