While attending a social function in 1935, Draper was approached by Harry Gannes, the foreign editor of the Communist Party's newspaper, "The Daily Worker." The editor asked Ted whether he would be willing to put his prospective academic career aside and to instead come to work at the paper as his assistant. After giving the matter careful consideration, Draper decided to accept the offer and went to work at the "Daily Worker," where he remained for two years as assistant foreign editor, writing for publication under the name Theodore Repard.