A Deep Dive into Joseph McCarthy's Fear and Political Strategy

This assignment delves into the historical context of Joseph McCarthy's career, focusing on his accusations of communist infiltration within the U.S. government. Part 1 examines his early career, highlighting potential concerns raised by his actions as a judge and military officer, and his initial Senate activities. Part 2 analyzes McCarthy's rhetoric and arguments presented in his speeches, particularly his claims about the threat of communism post-World War II and his use of dramatic language. Part 3 involves an interview simulation where the student, acting as a journalist, questions McCarthy's motives and responses regarding his accusations. The assignment concludes with an analysis of McCarthy's primary fears, political motivations, and the exploitation of public anxieties during the Red Scare. The assignment aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of McCarthy's actions and the impact of McCarthyism.

What was Joseph McCarthy Afraid of?
Part 1: From Wisconsin to the U.S. Senate
Use information from Site 1 and Site 2 to answer the following questions:
1. What evidence from Joseph McCarthy's early career as a judge and military officer
might cause concern about his later accusations of communist infiltration of the
U.S. government?
McCarthy carried with him a strong nationalistic approach in his career first as a judge
and then as a military man. Attacks on the part of McCarthy started to emerge within the
compliance of political and social environment. Being a judge McCarthy was referred to
be fair and hard working. Side by side he faced sharp disapproval by the Supreme
Court of Wisconsin in relation to abuse of Judicial Authority. Briefly after the beginning
of the world war II, in July 1942, McCarthy was positioned as first lieutenant in the
marines and he have to take leave from his judicial office. He was stationed in the
pacific, as an intelligence officer he used to participate in combat actions, but he never
get hurt while in action, when he recalled later. So it was partly fabrication of truth that
also reflected later in his accusation that communists have infiltrated the government of
US.
2. What was McCarthy's career in the Senate like before he began his political
attacks on suspected communists?
McCarthy’s early years in senate were quite unremarkable to say the least, though he
was a powerful speaker and spoke on an array of topics. He was not liked by his fellow
senators who found him impatient, ill-tempered. He was active on labor front in post war
period. But he became famous for lobbying against the death sentence awarded to a
group of Waffen-SS soldiers for 1944 Malmedy massacre. He even accused US army of
judicial cover up without presenting any evidence.
3. What added credibility to McCarthy's charges that there were communist spies in
the federal government?
In his speech on February 9, 1950 McCarthy alleged that a list was made known to the
then Secretary of State. They were the names of people who were members of the
Communist party and were working in the State Department. He referred to a letter
written by the Secretary in 1946 that said State Department Security investigations
resulted in recommendation against 284 persons and 79 of these have been removed
from their jobs. By the time McCarthy gave his speech, in fact, only 65 of them were still
with the department and they too had gone further security checks.

What was Joseph McCarthy Afraid of?
Part 2: McCarthy's Speech
Use information from Site 3 to answer the following questions:
1. According to Joseph McCarthy, why were Americans still threatened after the
victory in World War II?
Post World War II, the labor movement was still quite strong in the United States and
the Communist Party was pretty active. In the United States of America, communism
was an important concern. The concern grew as Soviet Union expanded its influence in
Eastern Europe. Simultaneously, in civil war of china communist party turn out be
victorious. The then Soviet Union had developed nuclear weapon and it was considered
a major threat to the United States. McCarthy used these events to drive home the point
that America was under threat of Communism.
2. What evidence did McCarthy provide to argue that communism is a growing force
around the world?
The critics of McCarthy points out that he scarcely presented any evidence to that
effect. He extrapolated the events that were shaping up post World War II and
painted them as growing influence of Communism across the world. He was
deeply frightened by establishment of communist rule in Eastern Europe after the
Warsaw Pact. McCarthy have this fear that Soviet Union intends to unfurl
communism across the world. He used to saw peril at all the places even when
there is nothing to worry about, and seriously believed that USA is full of
communist spies and soviet supporters, who were secretly planning to destabilize
the government of US.
3. What were some examples of McCarthy's use of dramatic language?
McCarthy was known for his powerful and dramatic speeches. One of the most
dramatic one was his Lincoln day speech in West Virginia in 1950, where he
produced a piece of paper and claimed it detained a list containing names of well-
known Communists workers working for the state. He said that, the state
department is full of communists and he have the list of total 205 names. This list
consists of names that were made familiar to the Secretary of the state, who were

What was Joseph McCarthy Afraid of?
known to be the members of communist party and side by side still worked and
shaped policies in state department.
Part 3: Interviewing McCarthy
Assume the role of a newspaper journalist interviewing Joseph McCarthy. On a
separate sheet of paper, write four questions exploring his motives for accusing people
of communist activities. The questions should investigate whether McCarthy was
legitimately fearful of communists or simply making accusations to further his political
career. Next, imagine how McCarthy would have responded to your questions and write
those responses. (The text of McCarthy's speech in Site 3 is a good example of
McCarthy's positions on key issues, speaking style, and rhetoric.) Attach your interview
questions and responses to the Respond sheet.
Q1---Senator, you are being accused of making false allegations against people in
administration of conspiring with communists without providing any proof. How would
you defend yourself?
A1----It’s not true. Whenever I make allegations I back them with documents. When I
said that communists and their supporters have penetrated the State department it was
with the evidence. My stand got vindicated when the Department made investigation
and 79 people were removed from their jobs. In fact the State Department investigations
actually identified 284 people with such links who were part of decision making.
Q2---do you actually see communists and communism a threat to the United States or
this is just a rabble rousing political theatrics to further your political career?
A2----I do stand against the Communists and their ideology and that is not to further my
political career. I see them as a threat to the country and they are trying to subvert the
United States. I do not exploit the fear of communism. The government has failed to
deal with the communists in its ranks. I have been called names and have been voted
worst senator but that has not forced me to change my position. His accusations that I
have made have received wide publicity and that has led to a massive increase in my
following.
Q3--- you are so fearful of communists that you even suspect civil liberties union. Is that
a kind of paranoia that you are suffering from?

What was Joseph McCarthy Afraid of?
A-3 ---as I said I do not exploit fear of communism. When I examined Reed Harris, a
civil servant in the State Department, during the hearing, he accepted that he was
offered an attorney by the civil liberties union. Now, union of civil liberties have been
listed as a frontend for, working for the Communist Party. And it’s a known fact that they
do. How can you call it paranoia?
Q4----you are constantly accused of shifting your stand on issues. During Tydings
Committee hearing you moved away from unknown Lee list and accused nine persons
and named them? You make accusations and then shift your stand. Why so?
A4----I don’t agree with these accusations. Tydings committee was guided by a partisan
politics. And despite the evidence that I provided, committee concluded that individuals
on my list were neither Communists or pro-communist. I stood my ground during the
hearing but my charges were labeled ‘fraud and hoax by the committee. But my party
stood solidly behind me and termed Tydings Committee report as most immodest
whitewash of treacherous plot in the history of America.
Write a concluding paragraph answering the Focus Question: What was Joseph
McCarthy really afraid of?
Well the obvious answer is Communism and their growing influence across the globe
and within the United States. But he used that to his advantage. The Communists were
an easy target and he attacked them fiercely to his advantage.
His lists constantly kept changing but his charges remained the same. While on the face
of it and his speeches and rhetoric’s always suggested that he feared Communism but if
he was actually afraid of any one, specially the thinkers, who did not share his political
beliefs. He used his fear to his political advantage as even the public was afraid of
Communism and he preyed on their fear.
In the year 1953, McCarthy took the working responsibilities of the committee on
government operations and subcommittee on investigations. In that capacity he even
angered the new president fellow Republican Eisenhower by accusing the
administration of sheltering communists. His isolation began from these with the tacit
support of Eisenhower.