John E. Swift

Who is John E. Swift?

John E. Swift was an American judge and the ninth Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from October 24, 1945 to August 31, 1953.

Swift was born in Milford, Massachusetts in 1879 and served as judge in Boston for many years. After being elected the ninth Supreme Knight in 1945 Swift began a nationwide crusade against a perceived Communist threat to the United States. President Harry Truman reportedly endorsed the effort and mentioned in a letter to Swift, that he hoped the entire membership "will join the crusade with zeal and enthusiasm".

President Truman further stated that "[O]ur goal must be to drive out of our American life every movement which aims to promote within our borders any form of totalitarianism or any subversive movement.".

A Manual for Discussion Groups was prepared by the Knights. Boston Auxiliary Bishop John J. Wright lauded that the manual was "an amazing production, profoundly thought-provoking and admirably condensed".