In Memoriam: Arthur ‘Rodger’ Swearingen, 92

Professor Emeritus of International Relations Arthur “Rodger” Swearingen, who founded a USC institute devoted to research on communist strategy and propaganda and brought his expertise on communism to national television during the Cold War, has died. He was 92.

Swearingen died on Aug. 27, 2015, at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., from heart failure.

Describing Swearingen as “a scholar and gentleman,” Steven Lamy, vice dean for academic programs and professor of international relations at USC Dornsife, said, “Rodger was an expert on the Soviet Union and was part of a community of scholars that included the likes of Henry Kissinger who watched every Soviet move, wrote thoughtful analysis and made recommendations to United States leaders.

Jonathan Aronson, professor of international relations, agreed. “Rodger epitomized the phrase ‘a gentleman and a scholar,’” said Aronson, who holds a joint appointment at USC Annenberg. “His decades-long study of the Soviet Union inspired generations of students. He will be missed.”

A former World War II intelligence corps officer and top aide to General Douglas MacArthur, Swearingen became a close friend and colleague of then future Secretary of State Henry Kissinger while both were graduate students at Harvard University in the late 1940s. Swearingen’s wife, Darlene Swearingen, said that during the 1970s and 1980s, her husband and Kissinger took numerous trips to China and the Soviet Union. Their findings assisted the U.S. government in developing international relations policies, she said.

Rodger Swearingen joined USC Dornsife’s School of International Relations in 1954, creating a teaching and research focus on Soviet policy and world communism.

In the 1960s, Swearingen was one of a group of Cold War scholars who convinced USC Trustee and donor Henry Salvatori to contribute $1.25 million to establish the USC Research Institute on Communist Strategy and Propaganda.

After founding the institute, Swearingen went on to direct it, teaching courses and seminars there until his retirement in 1993. He also played a vital role in writing for the journal published by the institute.

During the Cold War, Swearingen also brought his knowledge to television, moderating a 35-week documentary series on the “dangers” of communism. Titled Communism: Myth vs. Reality, it aired nationwide and on U.S. Armed Services stations abroad.

In later years, Swearingen was a key advisor to several military committees — providing expert testimony on both Soviet and Chinese military strategies.

A critical war-time role

Swearingen was born on April 23, 1923, in Los Angeles. His father was the chief real estate broker for the City of Los Angeles and was in charge of negotiating home purchases to make room for the city’s expanding freeway system.

After two years at USC, Swearingen enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 as an officer in the intelligence corps. He attended the Army Intensive Japanese Language School and the Intelligence Service Language School, learning to speak fluent Russian, Chinese and Japanese.

One of General Douglas MacArthur’s top aides during World War II, Swearingen held the rank of captain and served as an interrogator of prisoners of war in the counter intelligence section of G-2 General Headquarters Armed Forces Pacific Theater.

“General MacArthur wanted Rodger on his staff so that when he met foreign dignitaries Rodger could be near him to ensure that translations provided by interpreters were accurate,” Swearingen’s wife of 44 years, Darlene Swearingen, said. “MacArthur also had Rodger mingle with aides who spoke other languages to make sure no one was lying.”

Rodger Swearingen was with MacArthur on the USS Missouri when Japan surrendered in September 1945.

Darlene Swearingen said her husband played an important role in the signing of the treaty ending hostilities with Japan.

“One of Emperor Hirohito’s aides asked Rodger how many nuclear bombs America had, and Rodger looked him in the eye and said, ‘You tell the emperor we have a whole arsenal of nuclear weapons and if he does not sign the treaty he will not have a country left to govern.’ And Hirohito’s representatives then signed the treaty,” she said. “That was an informal thing Rodger did, but it saved American and Japanese lives.”

Rodger Swearingen remained with G-2 in Japan during the occupation, playing a key role in intelligence and policy matters. Upon his discharge in August 1946, he was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, American Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.

He returned to USC to finish his undergraduate degree in 1946, followed by his master’s degree in international relations in 1948. He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1950. While there, he held a fellowship at the Russian Research Center.

At USC, Swearingen mentored the future prime minister of South Korea Kang Young-hoon, who earned his master’s degree in international relations in 1966 and his Ph.D. in political science in 1973 from USC Dornsife.

Swearingen was awarded a USC citation in 2002 for Life Time Achievement.

“Rodger was always a gentleman,” Darlene Swearingen said. “He was devoted to his students and told them they could call him day or night if they needed help. He was always as nice as could be, even if they called very late at night. Rodger was very gracious and kind to people, and if he did something, he did it with his whole heart. He really honored his students. He felt it was so important that they be well-trained and well-educated because they could be leaders.”

The author or editor of 10 books, Rodger Swearingen’s readership ranged from high school and college students to former presidents.

After reading The Soviet Union and Postwar Japan (Hoover Institution Press, 1978), former U.S. President Richard Nixon wrote to Swearingen praising the book as “an indispensable analysis for policy makers during the next 20 years.” Nixon bought copies for every Congressman to read.

The World of Communism (Houghton Mifflin, 1966) was used as a school text book throughout the U.S. Swearingen’s most recent, edited volume, Siberia and the Soviet Far East (Hoover, 1987), was selected as Book of the Year by the American Association of Research Libraries.

Swearingen also served as a consultant to the Rand Corporation for 14 years.

As a student at USC, Swearingen played lead trombone in the Trojan Marching Band, encouraging a life-long love of Tommy Dorsey-style jazz. While a professor at USC Dornsife, he continued to play trombone, performing with jazz groups at Hollywood venues. He wrote poetry throughout his life.

A memorial service was held on Sept. 21 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif., where Swearingen was an active member.