Missionary Work

Abstract Joe Rauh later called it a dreadful week. It began on June 8 with the announcement that the special federal grand jury had indicted Remington for perjury. When Remington received the news, he hurried to Rauh’s office to discuss strategy. Rauh recommended making a statement to the press. “This is awfully risky,” Remington said, worried about aggravating the government unnecessarily. “It is only risky if you are guilty,” Rauh replied. “I have to ask you once more, were you ever a member of the Communist Party? It is better to tell me now than later.” “I have never been a member of the Communist Party,” he told Rauh again. Later that day, Remington appeared outside Rauh’s office and again proclaimed his innocence to the waiting press. The U.S. attorney was also notified that Remington would surrender voluntarily on June 13, the day of the arraignment, so they could call off the U.S. marshals with the warrant for his arrest. The next day, Remington resigned from the Commerce Department. In a letter to Secretary Sawyer, he explained that he wished to devote all his time to proving his innocence. He felt no bitterness, just the deepest regret that he was leaving the government that he had served for his entire adult life. Sawyer never answered Remington’s letter and accepted his resignation without official comment.