Escaped Communist Returns for Reunion

After 40 years in isolation in Berlin, a self-proclaimed "Harvard leftist" and Communist activist has returned to the United States to attend his 45th Harvard reunion.

Stephen Wechsler '49 was drafted to participate in the Korean War in 1951, at the height of the "Red scare." Because he feared persecution for his involvement in leftist groups while at Harvard and afterward, he lied about his Communist activities when faced with the loyalty oath required of all draftees under the McCarran Act.

And when the U.S. government discovered Wechsler's Communist leanings in 1952, they called for him to be court-martialed.

That's when Wechsler, who was stationed in Bavaria, decided there was "no going back" from his Communist past.

He swam across the Danube River into the Soviet Zone of Austria. There he was met by Soviet agents who placed him in a holding cell for two weeks before escorting him to the former East Germany.

Wechsler saved the details of his flight for a forthcoming book on the subject, but he said in a phone interview from Berlin that he left Bavaria because he became "panic stricken and frightened" at the prospect of being sent to Fort Leavenworth, a notorious military prison.

But on May 28--42 years after his flight--Wechsler finally returned to America to attend his 45th class reunion this month in Newport, R.I., In his first visit to the U.S. since emigrating.

Two previous requests to return to the United States were denied by the American government, wechsler says.

His last failed attempt to return was for his 40th reunion in 1989, just a few months before the Berlin Wall fell. At that time the government told him he would likely spend time in the brig upon his return.

"I felt that I was a little too old to spend even six months in Leaven worth,"Wechsler says. So the decided to wait. Now, hesays he feels the political climate is morefavorable for his return.

Wechsler says he felt it was "now or never,"fearing that by the time of his 50th reunion toomany of his college friends will have died to makereturning worthwhile.

Since 1952, Wechsler has held a variety of jobsranging form factory work to teaching, but he hasworked mainly as a journalist, In addition, he haswritten numerous books on American history andpopular culture.

Wechsler continued his education afteremigrating, receiving a degree from Karl MarxUniversity in Leipzig, Germany. He says he isprobably the only man in the world to hold degreesfrom both there and Harvard.

While living in Berlin, he assumed the name ofVictor Grossman, an alias given to him by theSoviets. Wechsler remained relatively isolated inEast Berlin, where he lived with his wife, ahalf-German, half-Serb named Renate, and twochildren.

In 1989, Wechsler wrote for the 1949 ClassBulletin, after not responding to previousrequests for information, Since then, he hasregained contact with a number of his classmatesand college friends.

The night before returning to the UnitedStates, Wechsler said he was "very, very excitedto come back" as he has many "pleasant memories"of this country.

Marc Fisher, a reporter for The Washington Postwho met Wechsler in Berlin in 1989 while coveringthe fall of the Berlin Wall, says he feels it is"very exciting" and "very heart-warming" to seeWechsler fulfill his wish to return to the UnitedStates.

Fisher, who is writing of Wechsler's experiencefor The Post, said Wechsler was amazed by how muchthe country had changed since he left. When theformer New Yorker walked from 104th down to 34thStreet in New York City, Wechsler said he wasoverwhelmed by how different things were, Fishersays.

While Wechsler had a very exciting career and afamily in Germany, "this was always his home,"Fisher says.

Wechsler likens himself to Rip Van Winkle,although he concedes that his 42-year hiatus hasbeen somewhat longer than the fabled old man'sslumber.

He plans to spend the remainder of his summertravelling around the United States and visitingfriends, family and "the scenes of his childhood."

Wechsler came to Harvard after attending theBronx High School of Science and the FieldstonSchool, both of which were centers of radical andleftist politics during the 1940s, according toThe Washington Post.

While at Harvard, Wechsler resided in DunsterHouse and concentrated in economics. The classyearbook lists him as a member of the Harvard GleeClub, but also of the John Reed Society and theLiberal Union. Wechsler said most of hisactivities gravitated toward "left-wing studentorganizations."

Wechsler was secretary and later president ofHarvard Youth for Democracy, a sociallyprogressive student organization with Communisttendencies

Wechsler says he felt it was "now or never,"fearing that by the time of his 50th reunion toomany of his college friends will have died to makereturning worthwhile.

Since 1952, Wechsler has held a variety of jobsranging form factory work to teaching, but he hasworked mainly as a journalist, In addition, he haswritten numerous books on American history andpopular culture.

Wechsler continued his education afteremigrating, receiving a degree from Karl MarxUniversity in Leipzig, Germany. He says he isprobably the only man in the world to hold degreesfrom both there and Harvard.

While living in Berlin, he assumed the name ofVictor Grossman, an alias given to him by theSoviets. Wechsler remained relatively isolated inEast Berlin, where he lived with his wife, ahalf-German, half-Serb named Renate, and twochildren.

In 1989, Wechsler wrote for the 1949 ClassBulletin, after not responding to previousrequests for information, Since then, he hasregained contact with a number of his classmatesand college friends.

The night before returning to the UnitedStates, Wechsler said he was "very, very excitedto come back" as he has many "pleasant memories"of this country.

Marc Fisher, a reporter for The Washington Postwho met Wechsler in Berlin in 1989 while coveringthe fall of the Berlin Wall, says he feels it is"very exciting" and "very heart-warming" to seeWechsler fulfill his wish to return to the UnitedStates.

Fisher, who is writing of Wechsler's experiencefor The Post, said Wechsler was amazed by how muchthe country had changed since he left. When theformer New Yorker walked from 104th down to 34thStreet in New York City, Wechsler said he wasoverwhelmed by how different things were, Fishersays.

While Wechsler had a very exciting career and afamily in Germany, "this was always his home,"Fisher says.

Wechsler likens himself to Rip Van Winkle,although he concedes that his 42-year hiatus hasbeen somewhat longer than the fabled old man'sslumber.

He plans to spend the remainder of his summertravelling around the United States and visitingfriends, family and "the scenes of his childhood."

Wechsler came to Harvard after attending theBronx High School of Science and the FieldstonSchool, both of which were centers of radical andleftist politics during the 1940s, according toThe Washington Post.

While at Harvard, Wechsler resided in DunsterHouse and concentrated in economics. The classyearbook lists him as a member of the Harvard GleeClub, but also of the John Reed Society and theLiberal Union. Wechsler said most of hisactivities gravitated toward "left-wing studentorganizations."

Wechsler was secretary and later president ofHarvard Youth for Democracy, a sociallyprogressive student organization with Communisttendencies