Eric Johnston: podcast appearances and interviews

Eric Allen Johnston was a prominent figure in the American film industry and business community. He served as president of the Motion Picture Association of America and was known for his role in shaping industry policies. Johnston convened a significant closed-door meeting of motion picture company executives at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in 1947, which led to the issuance of the Waldorf Statement and the subsequent Hollywood blacklist, including the firing of the Hollywood Ten. During his tenure, he also discreetly liberalized the Motion Picture Production Code. Beyond his work in the film industry, Johnston was a business owner and held the position of president of the United States Chamber of Commerce. He was actively involved in political circles as a Republican Party activist and served as a U.S. government special projects administrator and envoy under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Johnston's influence extended across different sectors and administrations, and he remained president of the MPAA until his death in 1963.