When Leon Trotsky Agreed to Testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee

In 1939, the reprehensible Martin Dies, chair of the House Un-American Activities Committee, invited one Leon Trotsky to testify before his committee on the evils of Joseph Stalin (PDF in link). Trotsky was happy to do so, although many communists and socialists were outraged and it forced Trotsky to defend his decision.

Unfortunately for the comedy/tragedy of history, Dies rescinded his invitation after it became clear that Trotsky was going to use the platform to call for an international workers movement against World War II. And soon after, Trotsky was no longer able to testify for much of anything.