Joseph McCarthy and The Second Red Scare (1950s)

1. Joseph McCarthy and The Second Red Scare (1950s)

2. Paranoia • After World War II, the Soviet Union gobbled up Eastern Europe. For the first time, the Soviet Union and Communism were world powers. • There were small groups of communist supporters in the US. A fear spread that these Americans might engage in subversive (secret, anti-government) activities • The Republican party, in particular, more heavily made up of the wealthy and conservative Americans, led the attacks on these subversives

3. Early Hunts for Subversives • Truman, a democratic president, feared losing office if he was seen as “weak” on communism • He set up Loyalty Review Boards, which reviewed government employees in order to remove/fire subversives • The House of Representatives set up a committee (the House Un-American Activities Committee or HUAC) to find and root out subversives. • They did not just search in the government. For example, famously, they held hearings to find subversives in Hollywood. • Blacklists • Robin Hood?... More on that later

5. Paranoia  Hysteria • A number of events pushed the fear of communism to absurd heights • 1949 • China fell to Communism • Soviets get the atom bomb • Spy cases!!! • Alger Hiss  accused of smuggling secret American documents to the Soviets • The Rosenbergs  couple accused of selling the atom bomb plans to the Soviets • Executed!

6. Judge in the Rosenberg case, when handing down his sentence “I consider your crime worse than murder... I believe your conduct in putting into the hands of the Russians the A-Bomb years before our best scientists predicted Russia would perfect the bomb has already caused, in my opinion, the Communist aggression in Korea, with the resultant casualties exceeding 50,000 and who knows but that millions more of innocent people may pay the price of your treason. Indeed, by your betrayal you undoubtedly have altered the course of history to the disadvantage of our country. No one can say that we do not live in a constant state of tension. We have evidence of your treachery all around us every day for the civilian defense activities throughout the nation are aimed at preparing us for an atom bomb attack.”

7. Witch Hunts • Joe McCarthy • Republican senator from Wisconsin • Felt he was unlikely to win reelection • Decided to use fear of communism to boost his career • McCarthyism • McCarthy went on a rampage, announcing that the government was stuffed with ‘reds’ • Made claims that he had inside knowledge and proof (for example, he’d say ‘I have a list of 205 people in the government who are members of the communist party’, but then would refuse to produce the names. • Senators, when speaking in the senate, are immune from the charge of slander (knowingly telling lies to hurt another person’s reputation) • Successful strategy • McCarthy won reelection and became famous • However, when he accused the army of having tons of communist subversives, and called hearings on this issue, army officials blasted McCarthy and burst his imaginary bubble. He became a national disgrace • Have you no sense of Decency Video

8. Who was Joseph McCarthy? • Senator from Wisconsin during the 1950s • Former U.S. Marine • Gained national recognition due to a speech he gave in 1950 in Wheeling, WV

9. What did McCarthy do? • In his speech, McCarthy accused a list of 205 members of the U.S. State Department, claiming they were members of the Communist Party. • He did this during the Cold War, a time of great hysteria throughout the world, so his allegations seemed reasonable to most Americans.

10. John Service • In his speech, McCarthy went on to list specific individuals, one being John Service. • According to the Senator, Service, who had been working in China, sent back reports saying Communism was in China's best interests. • McCarthy instantly condemned him as a communist.

11. What happened to John Service? • McCarthy felt that Service should be punished and prosecuted for his actions, but instead the State Department promoted him. • On top of that, the man who wanted to prosecute Service, Joseph Grew, was forced to resign. • McCarthy then fledged a full- force attack on the State Department.

12. Why all the craziness? • McCarthy, along with many other Americans, radically feared Communism and all things related to it. • McCarthy quoted a historical figure, agreeing that, “When a democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of enemies from without, but rather because of enemies from within.”

13. McCarthy's Plan • On February 20, 1950, McCarthy brought a plan to the Senate. He provided a list of 81 cases. The Senate set up a committee and began investigations for each of the cases. • The trials were extremely unfair. If accused refused trial, the committee said it was because they wouldn't own up to their Communist actions. If found guilty, their reputation and career were in jeopardy, and they faced a possibility of jail time along with a fine.

14. Where did McCarthy get his information? • A Jesuit priest from Georgetown University informed McCarthy that Communism was a major issue in U.S. Politics. • He supposedly received inside information from a friend, J. Edgar Hoover, who was head of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

15. What next? • McCarthy did not stop after accusing the State Department. • He went on to affirm that Communists had penetrated American life at all levels. • McCarthyism had only begun, and the accusations continued.

16. Hollywood • McCarthyism had a huge effect on Hollywood. • Studios would no longer hire anyone associated with the Communist Party. • Many talented artists moved to England, Mexico, or elsewhere to continue their work. • Lucille Ball and Shirley temple were among those questioned.

17. Arthur Miller • Miller, married to Marilyn Monroe, was accused and asked to sign an anti- Communist declaration. • He was subpoenaed in 1956 for contempt of Congress because he would not name others. • The hearing cost him $40,000 in lawyer fees, and $500 fine, and a one year suspension. • The process inspired Miller to write The Crucible, which is one of few pieces of writing left from the McCarthy era.

18. Subject Matter • Beyond traumatizing the lives of numerous actors, screenwriters, and producers, McCarthyism had an impact on the finished products that made their way out of Hollywood. • Anything referring to Communism was not allowed. • Controversial topics were to be avoided. • Entertainment became sillier and less meaningful.

19. Beyond Hollywood • No one was safe from his accusations. • He accused Hollywood, government workers, gays Jews, etc. • McCarthy attacked universities. • State governments and school boards followed suit. • Books were taken off of shelves for “Communist-like” material. • One book taken was Robin Hood, due to its message regarding taking from the rich and giving to the poor.

20. How far is too far? • Rather than quit while he was ahead, McCarthy took his witch hunt to the next level and began attacking the U.S. Army in 1954. • The hearings were televised, and the trials lasted eight weeks. • This allowed Americans to see McCarthyism for what it truly was, a cruel, unfair witch-hunt. • The army lashed back, questioning methods and credibility. • Council for the Army asked, “At long last, have you no sense of decency left?”

21. Military Officials • Rising doubts did not slow McCarthy. • He began attacking even higher military officials, including Robert Stevens, the Secretary of the Army. • Stevens released evidence of unjust strategies used by the committee, including intimidation, offers of protection, and promises of promotion.

22. President Eisenhower • The President had had enough. • McCarthy then went on to accuse Eisenhower himself of having Communist connections. • More people began to doubt McCarthy's accuracy. • Eisenhower asked Vice President, Richard Nixon, to attack McCarthy.

23. The Results • In the end, not a single charge against a government official was ever proven to be true. • Everyone was getting tired of McCarthyism, from fellow Republicans to the American public. • A subcommittee was formed to look into his claims. • The committee found that his accusations were unjust and unreasonable.

24. The Downfall • McCarthyism lived a powerful but short life. • McCarthy lost his chairmanship of the Government Committee on Operations of the Senate. • The government and media lost interest in him. • The hearings ended, and the Senator was removed from the public eye.

25. Aftermath • People were angry after the charade was over. • Senate decided to have McCarthy condemned for charging the Senate itself. • People got more confident in their statements against McCarthy, including writers and cartoonists. • Many felt he gave anti- Communism a bad name.

26. What happened next? • The state of paranoia calmed down, but the results did not disappear. • For years after the era, movies, books, and television upheld their anti-Communist approach. • People were less open about their views because they feared being interrogated. • McCarthy's popularity waned, and he died of alcohol abuse in 1957.

27. Why did this happen? • McCarthy became too powerful and didn't know what to do with himself. • He took advantage of the power given to him, eventually taking things too far. • Much like in The Crucible, the accusations started out plausible only to become extremely unreasonable, causing great unrest. • McCarthy out-did himself, and it cost him.

28. Impact of the Red Scare on American People • Bomb shelters in suburbia • “Duck and Cover” drills in schools • Demand for conformity (doing the same thing everyone else is doing) to prove loyalty • Same clothes, same haircut, same lifestyle and goals, etc.