Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, several KGB officials were granted political asylum in the US. With their in-depth knowledge of people and developments behind the Iron Curtain, these people were used by the Americans for counter-espionage.

The Americans, afraid of being double-crossed, were watching them and many more like hawks. There was this odd instance here and there when they did get ▒double-crossed▓. On the whole, however, it simply resulted in an atmosphere of paranoia in the US. Even artists and actors were not spared during this ▒Reds under the beds▓ era.

In 1949, the authorities did not spare even Charlie Chaplin. Certainly, no other movie star enjoyed the international status he attained early in the silent era and right through to the advent of the talkies. Chaplin was the first actor to appear on the cover of Time magazine (July 6, 1925). He was also the first to have a comic strip detailing his adventures titled ▒Pa▓s Imported Son-in-Law▓.

Vladimir Nabokov▓s controversial classic Lolita was inspired by Chaplin▓s relationship with Lita Grey, his wife through his second marriage. Adolf Hitler was a big fan of his ≈ so big, that some say that he changed his 1880-style handlebar mustache to that made famous by Chaplin▓s ▒Tramp▓. But never mind his iconic status. Chaplin was identified as being a ▒communist sympathiser▓.

Republican Senator Harry Cain had demanded that the 63-year old Chaplin be deported from the US. In a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he accused the British actor of coming perilously close to treason against the US. Chaplin had sent Pablo Picasso a ▒treasonable▓ message: ⌠Can you head a committee of French artists in protest to the American embassy in Paris against the outrageous deportation proceedings against Hans Eisler here, and simultaneously send me a copy of the protest for use here? Greetings!■ That was evidence enough for Cain that Chaplin was a communist.

US Attorney General McGranery announced that he was ordering an inquiry to determine whether Chaplin should be allowed to re-enter the US after he sailed to London with his wife. The star comedian addressed a press conference aboard the ship, in which he asserted that he was never involved in any kind of politics. In any case, he added, he was a ⌠liberal with an open mind■. The case against Chaplin was not watertight and, thankfully, the dice were cast heavily in favour of the man who enjoyed tremendous goodwill among Americans.

Tired of being dragged into political and moralistic controversies and plagued by tax collectors, he left the US for Switzerland in 1952. In 1972, he returned to Hollywood to accept a Lifetime Achievement Oscar. His ▒Tramp▓ bowler hat and cane were sold for $ 150,000 in 1987. He was named Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1975. His iconic stature never dimmed. Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889, and died in his sleep on December 26, 1977. ⌠All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl,■ he had said. One can very well see that he wasn▓t exaggerating.