Joseph McCarthy was a Republican U.S senator, infamous for making false claims on 205 “communistic citizens” among America. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on November 14, 1908. He represented the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death; ten years later (May 2, 1957). Three years into his term McCarthy became a known figure of the Cold War, believing that their was communist subversion in the nation. He has been caught stating that large numbers of communists and Soviet spies were infiltrating the U.S. government. However, since he had no substantial proof of said claims, the United States Senate censured him.
Joseph McCarthy was born and raised a farm boy, and was the fifth of nine children. At the age of 14 he left school and worked as a chicken farmer, and later a grocery store manager. In 1928 McCarthy returned to high school and earned a spot at Marquette University where he graduated with a law degree in 1935. Originally a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, McCarthy switched parties after failing to become the Democratic candidate. Once a part of the Republican party, he was elected as a circuit court judge. During World War II, McCarthy entered as a volunteer for the United Sates Marine Corps. After completion of the war he ran for United States senate with success, defeating Robert M. La Follete. McCarthy fought dirty in the election against La Follete. His campaign posters picture him in “full fighting gear, with an aviator’s cap. and belt upon belt of machine gun ammunition wrapped around his bulky torso.” McCarthy claimed to have flew in thirty-two missions, when in reality he sat at a desk. McCarthy targeted La Follete for not enlisting during such a harsh war, however when Peal Harbor was attacked La Follete was too old to join. McCarthy then went on to claim that La Follete was financially profiting from the war. This led to a severe loss for La Follete, causing depression and later suicide.
The first three years of McCarthy as Senator were undistinguished and unimpressive. Citizens began questioning McCarthy’s tactics as well as his ethics. There were rumors that McCarthy had been taking bribes from the Pepsi-Cola Company. Afraid that he would lose his position in the next election McCarthy devised a plan, with close adviser Edmund Walsh, that the Democratic administration had communist workers. McCarthy began working with close friends, including journalists and the head of the FBI, trying to find information about politicians and state officials he suspected of being “communists”
It was on February 9th of 1950, however, when Joseph McCarthy really made an impact. He was in West Virginia at a meeting of the Republican Women’s club, when he claimed to have a list of 205 people working in the State Department that were known to be members of the American Communist Party. He argued that these communists were pasting secret information to the Soviet Union. He has been quoted saying, “The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because the enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have had all the benefits that the wealthiest nation on earth has had to offer – the finest homes, the finest college educations, and the finest jobs in Government we can give.” The names were not kept secret, and were actually published by the Secretary of State in 1946. The accused had taken part of a preliminary screening and were not only targeted for being communists, but also for fascists, alcoholics and sexual deviants.
The following two years McCarthy spent his time investigating a surplus of government departments as well as questioning vast amounts of people and their political past. Jobs were lost after the admittance of being a Communist Party member. It was then made clear that the only way to prove that you no longer had left-wing views, was to rat out other party members. This anti-communist, witch hunt became known as McCarthyism.
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McCarthyism
The term came about in 1950 referencing the practices made by McCarthy. The definition of McCarthyism is, “the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, especially of pro-Communist activity, in many instances unsupported by proof or based on slight, doubtful, or irrelevant evidence.” It originated during the United States Red Scare, where it lasted for about six years. It is characterized by the fear given to Americans who believed the government was full of Soviet spies. McCarthyism’s most famous examples include the speeches, investigations and hearings of Joseph McCarthy himself. McCarthyism affected the entire nation and is a major cultural phenomenon in American history. McCarthyism typically attacked Democrats associated with the New Deal, which ironic since McCarthy once supported it. Democrat president Harry S. Truman was portrayed as being lenient on communists, and McCarthy’s reign of terror helped move him out of the office.
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After several attacks on various American citizens, McCarthy decided his next target would be books that he believe to be anti-American. His researchers found 30,000 books written by “communists, pro-communists, former communists and anti anti-communists.” These books were then removed from all libraries. Controversy stuck again for McCarthy when opponents had accumulated evidence concerning his sexual orientation. The first article written on McCarthy’s sexual activities was published on the 25th of October, 1952. It was written by Hank Greenspun of the Las Vegas Sun. Not wanting to push charges against Greenspun and have to answer questions about his sexuality, McCarthy decided to marry his secretary, Jeannie Kerr.
Investigations of the military being infiltrated began in October of 1953. McCarthy attempted to discredit the Secretary of the Army, which did not sit well with President Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower realized that it was time to stop the hysteria McCarthy was bringing onto the nation. The U.S Army passed known information of McCarthy to journalists who opposed him. Writers George Seldes and I.F Stone, as well as cartoonists Herb Block and Daniel Fitzpatrick fought against McCarthy. Media figures, who had once been scared to speak, were now gaining the confidence to attack. Edward Murrow was known for his television program that criticized the methods used by McCarthy. McCarthy was censured by the Senate on December 2, 1954 and had to give up his chairmanship of the Government Committee on Operations of the Senate. Since he had lost all of his power, the media lost their interest in his communist claims.
Having been a long time alcoholic, McCarthy developed cirrhosis of the liver as well as hepatitis. He died in Bethesda Naval Hospital on May 2, 1957 (48 years old).
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