This is John Batchel, a conversation with Scott Eamond. The book is Charlie Chaplin v. America

when art, sex, and politics collided. It is a revelation to me, perhaps to you, that Charlie

Chaplin was driven from America by Red Hunters, the FBI chiefly, but all of the voices in the

newspapers. Red hunters, suspect as a communist agent.

He fled eventually, never really reconciled his mind to being persecuted for nothing.

And why did he choose Europe and how did he choose Switzerland?

Scott explains his brother Sidney, always looking out for Charlie and for himself.

That was the reason for Switzerland.

Here's Scott Ayman, driven from America by the Red Hunters.

Astonishing.

More of this tonight.

And it was Sydney's suggestion, actually, that Chaplin considered Switzerland.

Chaplin initially thought, well, maybe London, maybe England.

But I don't think he really wanted to go back and immerse himself in all those memories that England had for him.

You know, I think Switzerland, there England had for him, you know.

I think Switzerland, there were Tavi's tax advantages, which were of a considerable importance to Sydney.

Sydney spent most of his life devising wild schemes to avoid being income tax.

And Charlie was not terribly well-disposed towards paying income tax either, although he always paid everything he owed to the U.S. government, certainly.

All the audits he had to endure prove that.

So he decided to settle in Switzerland.

He also needed to lower the temperature.

I mean, he endured a lot since 1942, since the Russian speeches, the Joan Berry thing, Monsieur Verdue. He needed to lower the

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