There are some of us who lived through those dark times. Pete forgave Burl.
The red-baiting that goes on now is reminiscent of the McCarthyism of the 50's.
If it weren't for the Left, there would have been no folk music revival. I give Pete
credit for being a one-man PR campaigner for folk music and Burl for being one of the first to popularize folk songs.

Burl studied lieder with a Metropolitan Opera coach. I think he mentions it in "Wayfaring Stranger".