◆ SpookStack

The actual facts were far dtfverent. Pope Plus XII _ made no personel oppect for clemency whatsoever, but merely a nottsted the ‘Department of Justice tn routine fashion through oo : ‘Catholte offtetals tn Foshington, Be Co, of the fact that he had “recetved a number of appeale ek ing tn to request clemency for _ the Rosenbergs. According to Ps atatenent loter tesued by the Apostolte Delegation tn Washington, the Pope hod made no attempt "to judge the nerits of the case” but had merely informed the Department of Juatice of the fact that the Yatican had recetved . appeals on behalf of the Rosenbergs, Thts tnformation was oOn~ firmed by former Attorney General McGranery tn an tntervies reported by the "“Vew Yerk Tines" on February 15, 1953, Despite these statements, the Comnuntets and NCSJRC propaganda continued to use the Pope’ @ Rane and to suggest thot the Vatican had tntervened tn support of the clemency drive, Pro-Rosenberg propagandtste, Jully aware of the natura sverston which many people feel toward capttal puntshrent, were not above playtng upon thie sentinent with morbid references to the Rosenbergs’ “charred bodtes,” “seared flesh," etc., tn the ‘event the death eentence should be carried eut. The “Datly York eharactertged the sentence cs “savage, * “vindictive, * "“sadtatic, etc. It apoke of the *brutol accente” of Preatdent Eisenhower's dental of clemency and described Departuent of Justice briefe tn support of the sentcnce as “cold-blooded" documents. Altogether the tnpreseton was conveyed that the Government had becn mottvat = 82 =