(Testimony of Bernard William , Accompanied By Weissman)
Mr. Weissman.
He was specialist fourth class, SP-4, and he was in charge of public relations for Armed Forces Recreation Centers.
Mr. Jenner.
How old a man is he?
Mr. Weissman.
Larrie is 26 or 27.
Mr. Jenner.
About the same age as yours?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes.
Mr. Jenner.
And Mr. Burley?
Mr. Weissman.
Twenty-nine now, I believe.
Mr. Jenner.
A little older--about 2 years older than you and Mr. Schmidt.
Mr. Weissman.
In there. A year and a half, 2 years, yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Excuse me. What was his rank?
Mr. Weissman.
Corporal. At the time that I met Bill he was a pfc. In fact, Bill Burley didn't become really involved in this until, I would say, 2 or 3 months before we left Germany. We left there about the same time, we were discharged about the same time; and, anyway, I was talking to the company clerk, Norman Baker, who was a partner in CUSA. I didn't know this at the time; but he just said he wanted to introduce me to somebody.
Mr. Jenner.
What was the rank of the company clerk?
Mr. Weissman.
At that time I think he was the only corporal company clerk in the army. And he introduced me to Larrie several weeks later after we had returned from the field.
They tried to pull a big snow job, saying public relations and so on and so forth, just to sort of impress me, and they did. They worked very well together; and, in any case, I became involved in it.
I don't recollect the step-by-step involvement--just that I jumped in with both feet, because I liked the idea.
Mr. Jenner.
This was Conservatism USA, and it consisted of an idea at this particular time?
Mr. Weissman.
Right.
Mr. Jenner.
And associated with that idea were these people, Larrie Schmidt, yourself, was Burley----
Mr. Weissman.
At that time, I don't think so.
Mr. Jenner.
But he did become?
Mr. Weissman.
Later.
Mr. Jenner.
And the company clerk--what was his name?
Mr. Weissman.
Norman Baker.
Mr. Jenner.
And yourself--what was that--five? Were there any others?
Mr. Weissman.
There were others, but it was the sort of thing where they were involved but not involved. They were just sort of going along for the ride, because it was interesting, and you might say a little diverse from the humdrum army life.
Mr. Jenner.
Was CUSA ever organized formally in the sense of corporate organization or drafting of partnership papers and registration under the Assumed Name Act in Texas?
Mr. Weissman.
In Texas; no.
Mr. Jenner.
I take it it was organized?
Mr. Weissman.
Yes; it was.
Mr. Jenner.
As a corporation or partnership?
Mr. Weissman.
As a partnership.
Mr. Jenner.
In what state?
Mr. Weissman.
In Munich, Germany.
Mr. Jenner.
I see. And that was a sort of declaration among you?
Mr. Weissman.
It was a written declaration; yes.
Mr. Jenner.
Who drafted that?
Mr. Weissman.
We did---that is, we called ourselves--the hangers-on were identified as the outer circle, and the partners were the inner circle. This was just for ease of identification. This, I think, would be the easiest way to really express it.
And the partners, the five partners, were the inner circle, ,the leaders of this organization; and----
The Chairman.
Gentlemen, may I interrupt for just a minute? I have an appointment I must keep at the court.
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