John Henry Faulk

John Henry Faulk (August 21, 1913–April 9, 1990) from Austin, Texas was a storyteller and former radio broadcaster.

Faulk served in the Merchant Marine and then in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Faulk's radio career ended in 1957, a victim of the Cold War and the blacklisting of the 1950s. Inspired by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy, AWARE, Incorporated, a for-profit corporation, offered a "clearance" service to major media advertisers and radio and television networks; for a fee, AWARE would investigate the backgrounds of entertainers for signs of Communist sympathy or affiliation. In 1955 Faulk earned the ill will of the blacklisting organization when he and other members wrested control of their union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists from officers under the backing of AWARE. In reprisal, AWARE labeled Faulk a Communist. When he discovered that AWARE was activly keeping radio stations from offering him employment, Faulk sought remuneration. Several prominent radio personalities along with CBS News vice president Edward R. Murrow supported Faulk's earnest attempt to put an end to blacklisting. With financial backing from Murrow, Faulk engaged New York attorney Louis Nizer. Attorneys for AWARE, including McCarthy-committee counsel Roy Cohn, managed to stall the suit, which was originally filed in 1957, for five years. When the trial finally concluded in a New York courtroom, the jury had determined that Faulk should receive more compensation than he sought in his original petition. On June 28, 1962, the jury awarded him the largest libel judgment in history to that date — $3.5 million. An appeals court later lowered the amount to $500,000. Legal fees and accumulated debts erased the balance of the award. Faulk's book, Fear on Trial, published in 1963, tells the story of the experience.

Faulk recorded his "Christmas Story" in 1974 for the program "Voices in the Wind".

Faulk made speeches on the First Amendment and civil rights for many colleges and universities.

Protest singer Phil Ochs recorded a tribute to Faulk called The Ballad of John Henry Faulk, which appears on the album The Broadside Tapes 1.

Books

• Fear on Trial
• The Uncensored John Henry Faulk (Autobiography)
• To Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Plays

"Deep in the Heart" (one-man play) "Pear Orchard, Texas" (one-man play)

Further reading

• Austin American-Statesman, April 10, 1990
• Burton, Michael C. John Henry Faulk: The Making of a Liberated Mind: A Biography. Austin: Eakin Press, 1993. ISBN 0890159238
• John Henry Faulk Papers. Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin.
• Moyers, Bill. A World of Ideas II: Public Opinions from Private Citizens. Andie Tucher, ed. New York: Doubleday, 1990.

External link

• NPR John Henry Faulk's 'Christmas Story'
• John Henry Faulk entry in IMDB
• The Ballad of John Henry Faulk - lyrics by Phil Ochs