Victor Perlo
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Victor Perlo (May 15, 1912December 1, 1999) was an American
Marxist Marxism is a political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis. It uses a dialectical and materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to analyse class relations, social conflic ...
economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social sciences, social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this ...
, government functionary, and a longtime member of the governing National Committee of the
Communist Party USA The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, also referred to as the American Communist Party mainly during the 20th century, is a communist party in the United States. It was established ...
.


Biography


Early years

Victor Perlo was born May 15, 1912, in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, N.Y. Perlo was the son of ethnic
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
parents who had both emigrated in their youth to America from the
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.Autobiography prepared by Perlo and relayed in summary form to Moscow in December 1944 by KGB Washington Station Chief Anatoly Gorsky, KGB file 45100, v. 1, pp. 44-45; transcribed in Vassiliev White Notebook #3, pp. 72-73 and published in John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr, and Alexander Vassiliev, ''Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America.'' New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009; pp. 271-272. His father, Samuel Perlo, was a
lawyer A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters. The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...
and his mother, Rachel Perlo, was a teacher. Perlo received his
bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...
from
Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
in New York City in 1931 and
master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...
in mathematics from the same school in 1933. Late in 1932 or early in 1933, while still a student at Columbia, Perlo joined the
Communist Party USA The Communist Party USA (CPUSA), officially the Communist Party of the United States of America, also referred to as the American Communist Party mainly during the 20th century, is a communist party in the United States. It was established ...
, an organization with which he was affiliated throughout his life. Perlo married his first wife, Katherine, in 1933 and divorced in 1943. Subsequently, he married his second wife, Ellen (whose uncle was Robert Menaker), with whom he remained for the rest of his life. The couple had three children, a girl and two boys.Joseph B. Treaster
"Victor Perlo, 87, Economist For Communist Party in US,"
''New York Times,'' December 10, 1999.
Perlo had varied interests, which included tennis, mountain climbing, and chess. He was also a talented pianist.


Governmental career

After his graduation from Columbia in 1933, Perlo went to work as a statistical analyst and assistant to a division chief at the National Recovery Administration (NRA), remaining at that post until June 1935. Perlo then moved to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board where he was an analyst for the Home Owners' Loan Corporation, establishing statistical analyses for properties mortgaged to the corporation and projecting long-term financial accounts.Perlo, August 9, 1948 HUAC testimony, pg. 679. Perlo worked in that capacity until October 1937. In October 1937, Perlo left government service to work in the
Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution, often stylized as Brookings, is an American think tank that conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics (and tax policy), metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, global econo ...
, a liberal
think tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
established in 1916, where he stayed as a researcher for more than two years. In November 1939, Perlo went to work in the US Department of Commerce, where he worked as a senior economic analyst in the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Perlo moved to the Office of Price Administration (OPA) in November 1940, where he was head of the economic statistics division. There Perlo engaged in the study of inflationary pressures in the American economy, particularly with the advent of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, which helped provide documentation enabling the institution of
price controls Price controls are restrictions set in place and enforced by governments, on the prices that can be charged for goods and services in a market. The intent behind implementing such controls can stem from the desire to maintain affordability of go ...
. Perlo remained in that capacity until leaving to become head of the aviation section of the Bureau of Programs and Statistics at the War Production Board (WPB). Perlo's work at the WPB involved analysis of the various economic problems of aircraft production.Perlo, August 9, 1948 HUAC testimony, pg. 680. In September 1944 he was made a special assistant to the director of the Bureau of Programs and Statistics of the WPB. During his time in the federal
bureaucracy Bureaucracy ( ) is a system of organization where laws or regulatory authority are implemented by civil servants or non-elected officials (most of the time). Historically, a bureaucracy was a government administration managed by departments ...
, Perlo was a contributor to the Communist Party's press, submitting articles on economic matters under a variety of
pseudonyms A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's ow ...
. He also secretly assisted I.F. Stone in gathering materials for various journalistic exposés. About December 1945, Perlo went to the U.S. Treasury Department, where he worked in the Monetary Research department.Perlo, August 9, 1948 HUAC testimony, pg. 681. There he was an alternate member of the Committee for Reciprocity Information, which took care of technical work relating to trade agreements under the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act and doing preparatory work for the
International Trade Organization The International Trade Organization (ITO) was the proposed name for an international institution for the regulation of trade. Led by the United States in collaboration with allies, the effort to form the organization from 1945 to 1948, with the ...
. Perlo left government service in 1947, when his loyalty was called into question during an investigation by the
House Un-American Activities Committee The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HCUA), popularly the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative United States Congressional committee, committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 19 ...
. Perlo denied allegations that he had spied for the Soviet Union.


Alleged espionage career

A dedicated Communist, Victor Perlo allegedly headed the Perlo group of Soviet espionage agents in the United States. Before World War II, Perlo had been a member of the Ware spy ring. The Perlo ring included several important U.S. officials, including a Senate staff director, and the ring supplied the Soviet Union with economic, political, and military intelligence, including United States aircraft production figures. Perlo infiltrated through the United States Department of Commerce in 1938 to gather economic intelligence, and passed on intelligence concerning basic economic decisions he presented to Harry Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce. He transferred to the Division of Monetary Research, and served under Harry Dexter White, followed by Frank Coe and Harold Glasser, all of whom were later alleged to be Soviet agents.


Career after government

In 1948, Perlo obtained a position as an economist for the Progressive Party, assisting the Presidential campaign of former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and
Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...
Henry Wallace. Following the publication of his book ''Economics of Racism'', Victor Perlo received the Myers Center award for his exceptional work on intolerance in North America. In 1968, he signed the " Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War."Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" January 30, 1968 ''New York Post''


Death and legacy

He died on December 1, 1999, at his home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York. He was 87 years old at the time of his death. Victor Perlo's papers are housed in the special collections department of Lewis J. Ort Library at
Frostburg State University Frostburg State University (FSU) is a public university in Frostburg, Maryland. The university is the only four-year institution of the University System of Maryland west of the Baltimore-Washington passageway in the state's Appalachian highlan ...
in Frostburg, Maryland.


Works


Books and pamphlets

: Note: Many of Perlo's works were translated into other languages, such as German, Russian, Polish, Czech, Japanese, Spanish, etc. * ''Our Foreign Policy Costs One Million Jobs.'' Chicago: National Labor Conference for Peace, n.d. . 1949 * ''American Imperialism.'' New York: International Publishers, 1951. * ''Trends in the Economic Status of the Negro People.'' New York: Science and Society, n.d.
952 Year 952 (Roman numerals, CMLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Summer – At the Imperial Diet (Holy Roman Empire), Reichstag in Augsburg (assembled by King Otto I (Holy Roman ...
* ''Israel and Dollar Diplomacy.'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1953. * ''The Negro in Southern Agriculture.'' New York: International Publishers, 1953. * ''The Income 'Revolution. New York: International Publishers, 1954. * ''The Empire of High Finance.'' New York: International Publishers, 1957. * ''USA and USSR: The Economic Race.'' New York: International Publishers, 1960. * ''Dollars and Sense of Disarmament: Carl Marzani. Victor Perlo.'' With Carl Marzani. New York: Marzani and Munsell, 1960. *
How the Soviet Economy Works: An Interview with A. I. Mikoyan, First Deputy Prime Minister of the U.S.S.R
'' With Anastas Mikoyan. New York: International Publishers, 1961. * ''Militarism and Industry: Arms Profiteering in the Missile Age.'' New York: International Publishers, 1963. * ''Bitter End in Southeast Asia.'' With Kumar Goshal. New York: Marzani and Munsell, 1964. * ''Marines in Santo Domingo!'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1965. * ''The Vietnam Profiteers.'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1966. * ''American Labor Today: How Has It Changed? Is It a Revolutionary Class? Are Marx's Views Still Valid?'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1968. * ''The Dollar Crisis: What It Means to You.'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1969. * ''Robbing the Poor to Fatten the Rich: Inflation, Wages, Prices and Profits.'' With Barry Cohen. New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1972. *
The Unstable Economy: Booms and Recessions in the United States Since 1945
'' New York: International Publishers, 1973. * ''High Prices and High Profits: How They Affect Your Wages and Living Costs.'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1973. * ''End Fascist Terror and US Imperialism in Chile!'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1974. * ''The Economics of Oil Production.'' New York, American Institute for Marxist Studies, 1974. * ''Economics of Racism USA: Roots of Black Inequality.'' New York: International Publishers, 1975. *
Dynamic Stability: The Soviet Economy Today
'' With Ellen Perlo. New York: International Publishers, 1980. * ''History's Biggest Rip-Off: The Arms Budget Threat to Your Livelihood and Life.'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1980. * ''Super Profits and Crises: Modern US Capitalism.'' New York: International Publishers, 1988. * ''Belt-Tightening Time: But for Whom?'' New York: New Outlook Publishers, 1989. * ''Economics of Racism II: The Roots of Inequality, USA.'' New York: International Publishers, 1996. * ''People vs. Profits: Columns of Victor Perlo: Volume 1, The Home Front, 1961-1999.'' Edited by Ellen Perlo. New York: International Publishers, 2003. * ''People vs. Profits: Columns of Victor Perlo: Volume 2, The USA and the World.'' Edited by Ellen Perlo. New York: International Publishers, 2006.


Articles

* "On the Distribution of Student's Ratio for Samples of Three Drawn from a Rectangular Distribution," ''Biometrika,'' vol. 25, no. 1/2 (May 1933), pp. 203–204. * "The Investment-Factor Method of Forecasting Business Activity," With Richard V. Gilbert. ''Econometrica, Journal of the Econometric Society,'' vol. 10, no. 3/4 (July–October 1942), pp. 311–316. * "New York as the Financial Center," ''Science & Society,'' vol. 19, no. 4 (Fall 1955), pp. 289–302. * "'People's Capitalism' and Stock-Ownership," ''American Economic Review,'' vol. 48, no. 3 (June 1958), pp. 333–347. * "The Revised Index of Industrial Production," ''American Economic Review,'' vol. 52, no. 3 (June 1962), pp. 496–512. * "Notes on Marxian Economics in the United States: Comment," ''American Economic Review,'' vol. 56, no. 1/2 (March 1966), pp. 187–188. * "Criminalization of African Americans," ''Political Affairs'' ew York vol. 75, no. 2, (February 1996), pg. 18.


Congressional testimony


''Hearings Regarding Communist Espionage in the United States Government (Alger Hiss Case), Part 1.''
Committee on Un-American Activities, US House of Representatives. Washington: US Government Printing Office, 1948; pp. 677–686; 693–701. —Testimony of August 9, 1948. * ''Hearings, Interlocking Subversion in Government Departments — Part 7.'' Judiciary Committee Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws, US Senate. Washington: US Government Printing Office, 1950; pp. 383–459. —Testimony of May 12, 1953.


See also

* Perlo group * Soviet spies * List of American spies * John Abt * Whittaker Chambers * Noel Field * Harold Glasser * John Herrmann * Alger Hiss * Donald Hiss * J. Peters * Ward Pigman * Lee Pressman * Vincent Reno * Julian Wadleigh * Harold Ware * Nathaniel Weyl * Harry Dexter White * Nathan Witt


Footnotes


Further reading

* John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr, ''Venona: Decoding Soviet Espionage in America.'' New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1999. * John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr, and Alexander Vassiliev, ''Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America.'' New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009.


External links


Victor Perlo Archive
at marxists.org
Finding Aid for the Victor Perlo Papers
Ort Library, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD. Retrieved August 10, 2010. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Perlo, Victor 1912 births 1999 deaths People from Elmhurst, Queens Social scientists from New York City American Marxists American people in the Venona papers American people of Russian-Jewish descent American tax resisters American spies for the Soviet Union Cold War spies Espionage in the United States Jewish socialists Members of the Communist Party USA Columbia College (New York) alumni People from Croton-on-Hudson, New York 20th-century American economists Activists from New York (state)