Costigan, Howard

Howard Costigan (1904-1985) was a long-time political organizer, researcher and writer. He was noted mostly for his work as co-founder and executive secretary of the Communist-dominated Washington Commonwealth Federation, and then later as a fervent anti-communist in both Washington and California.

Born and raised in Seattle, Costigan later attended high school in Centralia, and then went to Whitman College. He worked briefly as a high school teacher in Vancouver, but did not commit to a career until he discovered politics. In 1934, he helped organize the Commonwealth Builders, serving as its executive secretary and editor of the organization newspaper. A year later he organized the convention at which the Washington Commonwealth Federation was created, and also served as its executive secretary. He was known as an exceptional orator, particularly before large crowds, and he combined that ability with keen organizational skills to help the WCF become an influential force in Democratic Party politics.

At the same time, Costigan began working as a radio commentator for KIRO radio, writing and broadcasting political analyses, and interviewing local, national and international politicians. He continued in the radio business until 1946, with his broadcasts carried by both the CBS and Mutual radio networks.

Costigan joined the Communist Party in 1936, but later split with both the Party and the Washington Commonwealth Federation after the Soviets signed the Non-Aggression Pact with the Nazis in 1939. He long referred to the incident as the one which turned him into an outspoken opponent of Communism.

In 1944, Costigan ran in the Democratic primary for the Congressional seat given up by Warren Magnuson, but was defeated by the eventual winner, Washington Commonwealth Federation President Hugh DeLacy. Later that year, Governor Monrad Wallgren appointed him director of publicity for the Division of Progress and Industry Development and executive secretary of the Governor's Advisory Commission. He resigned from those positions in 1946 to again challenge DeLacy in the Democratic primary, this time focusing on DeLacy's Communist Party connections. Although he lost to DeLacy by a narrow margin, Costigan's attacks on DeLacy's Communist leanings eventually caused DeLacy to lose the general election.

Early in 1947, Costigan began working as a paid researcher and consultant to the Committee on Un-American Activities in Washington State (Canwell Committee). After several witnesses testified about Costigan's own Communist Party membership, he was compelled to clear his name before the committee as well. Costigan's first wife, Isabel (Harley), whom he had married in 1936, also appeared before the committee. The backlash from their former associates, as well as the general public, stressed their marriage to the breaking point. Costigan left his family in April 1948, moved to Los Angeles, and eventually divorced Isabel. He had been working as the regional director for the United Nations Appeal for Children in Seattle, and he continued working for the campaign in California. After leaving that job, he served from 1948 to 1949 as executive secretary for the Labor League of Hollywood Voters, a film industry political group whose chairman was Ronald Reagan. He also was director of publicity for the Hollywood Film Council in 1948, and worked for the Democratic State Central Committee in 1948 and 1949.

Between 1948 and 1954, Costigan continued his involvement in various political and labor issues as a researcher and publicist. From 1950 to 1954, he was administrative assistant to Roy Brewer, who served in the multiple roles of Hollywood Film Council president, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators, and vice-chairman of the Council Against Communist Aggression.

After 1955, he worked primarily as an independent publicist, researcher, consultant, and writer in the labor and political fields. He was often sought for his inside knowledge of labor organizations, including their connections with the Communist Party. Among his clients was the House Committee on Un-American Activities, for whom he acted as a consultant and researcher on Communist activities in Hollywood. Because of the adverse publicity generated by his testimony before the Canwell Committee, he generally did his work behind the scenes. In 1955, however, he was compelled to testify at a hearing in Seattle looking into the Communist-dominated Washington Pension Union.

Costigan moved to Fresno, California in 1970. He served as a volunteer in Henry Jackson's 1972 presidential campaign, and was the coordinator of Jackson's 1976 campaign for the 17th Congressional District in California, as well. He also involved himself in local Fresno politics, serving as a consultant and researcher for local political groups, such as the Fresno Community Development Commission.

In the late 1970s, he began researching a book about his life, particularly during his years in the Washington Commonwealth Federation. His second wife, Barbara, assisted him in this work, and continued it after his death on October 7, 1985. The book was never finished.

From the guide to the Howard Costigan papers, 1933-1989, 1947-1989, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)