The committee lost considerable prestige as the 1960s progressed , increasingly becoming the target of political satirists and the defiance of a new generation of political activists . HUAC subpoenaed Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman of the Yippies in 1967 , and again in the aftermath of the 1968 Democratic National Convention . The Yippies used the media attention to make a mockery of the proceedings . Rubin came to one session dressed as a Revolutionary War soldier and passed out copies of the United States Declaration of Independence to those in attendance . Rubin then " blew giant gum bubbles , while his co-witnesses taunted the committee with Nazi salutes " . Rubin attended another session dressed as Santa Claus . On another occasion , police stopped Hoffman at the building entrance and arrested him for wearing the United States flag . Hoffman quipped to the press , " I regret that I have but one shirt to give for my country " , paraphrasing the last words of revolutionary patriot Nathan Hale ; Rubin , who was wearing a matching Viet Cong flag , shouted that the police were communists for not arresting him as well
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
House Un-American Activities Committee