How Can I Keep from Singing
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John Kiriakou named How Can I Keep from Singing, a biography of Pete Seeger, when asked for his favorite book. He described Seeger as, beyond his father and grandfather, the most important man in his life.

Kiriakou and Seeger exchanged Christmas cards for years. When Kiriakou came under prosecution, Seeger rallied to his support. Seeger once asked Kiriakou why he was so drawn to him, noting the gulf between their backgrounds. Kiriakou's answer: "You stood up to them. In 1958, you stood up to them."

The moment Kiriakou referred to: Seeger's 1958 appearance before the House Un-American Activities Committee. While other witnesses pleaded the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination, Seeger refused that approach. He said he didn't need to plead the Fifth, he invoked the First Amendment directly, stating he did not have to tell the government with whom he associated. He was sent to prison for it. The conviction was later overturned on appeal: "He wasn't afraid of them. And so I wanted to be like Pete."

See also

- Pete Seeger
- John Kiriakou
- Espionage Act
