But DeMille's tenure came to an abrupt end in January 1945, in a political...

But DeMille's tenure came to an abrupt end in January 1945, in a political dispute with the American Federation of Radio Artists, the actors' union. At issue was Proposition 12, a ballot proposal popularly known as the "right to work" law. This would allow anyone to work in radio without union membership. AFRA decided to build a war chest to fight it, levying a one-dollar fee against each union member for this purpose. DeMille refused to pay it, or to allow it to be paid on his behalf. He claimed to sympathize with union ideals, but in fact he distrusted AFRA power. It was an issue of freedom, he insisted, and on that there could be no compromise. The argument dragged through late 1944, with AFRA setting and then extending several arbitrary deadlines. DeMille refused to budge, and on Jan. 22 the man who "wouldn't take a million" for his Lux job gave it up over a dollar, hosted his final show, and never returned. In the fall, William Keighley was given the job on a permanent basis.

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