Notes on McCarthy and McCarthyism

Overview of McCarthyism

Between 1945 and 1950, American-Soviet relations deteriorated, shifting from an alliance during World War II to increasing antagonism marked by heightened fears of Soviet expansion internationally and alleged radical infiltration within the United States. This fear fostered a pervasive anticommunist sentiment that influenced various facets of postwar American life.

Rise of Joseph McCarthy

In early 1950, the landscape of American politics was significantly affected by the Korean Conflict, which prompted a more militaristic foreign policy. Amidst this backdrop, Wisconsin junior Senator Joseph Raymond McCarthy emerged, amplifying concerns of internal subversion. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Investigations, McCarthy presided over a period often characterized as a reign of terror, during which he became a figure of fear and notoriety—depicted by Richard Gid Powers as "the most feared man in America."

On February 9, 1950, McCarthy delivered a pivotal speech to the Republican Women's Club in Wheeling, West Virginia, where he claimed to possess a list of 205 communists infiltrating the U.S. State Department. This marked the inception of "McCarthyism," a term that came to encapsulate the fervent hunt for alleged domestic communist subversives. McCarthy's political career, which began with his election to the Senate in 1946, skyrocketed as the atmosphere of international fear—driven in part by the Soviet acquisition of atomic capabilities and the sensationalism surrounding the Alger Hiss case—provided fertile ground for his accusations.

Investigative Actions and Public Perception

Initially, the American public was receptive to McCarthy’s accusations. However, by 1953, when he expanded his investigations to the military, skepticism began to surface regarding the credibility of his claims. The televised Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954 were pivotal; they unveiled the questionable nature of McCarthy's tactics, especially when the Army accused him and his chief counsel, Roy Cohn, of attempting to leverage their influence for personal favor concerning Private G. David Schine, a member of McCarthy's committee drafted into the Army.

In December 1954, the Senate officially censured McCarthy, condemning his contemptuous behavior, effectively signaling a decline in his political fortunes and marking the beginning of the end for the fervent anticommunist sentiment in America.

McCarthy’s Legacy and the Shift in Anticommunism

Post-censure, McCarthy’s swift descent into obscurity starkly contrasted with his rapid rise to notoriety. His extreme tactics ultimately discredited legitimate anticommunist arguments, leading to a retreat among liberal anti-communists from the consensus that had previously characterized the early Cold War era. By 1964, with Bar Goldwater’s presidential campaign, anticommunism became increasingly associated with right-wing extremism, in part due to organizations like the John Birch Society, which further tainted the public image of anticommunism.

The Role of Father Edmund A. Walsh in Anticommunism

Amidst this tumultuous backdrop, key figures influenced the discourse surrounding anticommunism. Notably, Father Edmund A. Walsh, S.J., founder of Georgetown's School of Foreign Service and a prominent anticommunist voice prior to McCarthy, is seen as playing a significant, albeit controversial, role. He was well-known for his diplomatic efforts and engagements during critical times, such as the Nuremberg Trials, and established himself as a pivotal figure in Catholic anticommunism. Walsh was alleged to have inspired McCarthy’s focus on communism, particularly following a dinner that included McCarthy himself. Despite this, when Walsh suffered a stroke in 1952, he faded from the public realm just as the anticommunist movement was gaining intensity.

Divided Catholic Opinion on McCarthy

Among Catholic Americans, opinions on McCarthy were divided. While some Catholic publications and figures supported him, others—such as the journals Commonweal and America—were critical of his approach. There were notable supporters and detractors within the clergy, signaling a lack of unanimous consensus regarding his methods and motivations.

By the mid-1950s, public opinion polls showcased a nominal difference in support between Catholics and Protestants for McCarthy, challenging the notion of widespread Catholic endorsement for his campaign against communism.

The Decline of Anticommunism and Its Lasting Effects

Following McCarthy's death, the relationship between American Catholicism and anticommunism began to deteriorate. Factors like John F. Kennedy’s election and the papacy of John XXIII contributed to a transformed understanding of the Church’s stance on contemporary issues, including communism. As Vatican II and subsequent social changes unfolded, anticommunism faded as a priority within Catholic discourse, culminating in the abandonment of institutional support by the bishops, as seen in their 1983 letter, "The Challenge of Peace," which disassociated the concept of anticommunism from justifiable acts of nuclear warfare. Overall, McCarthyism left a complex legacy that impacted American political and religious landscapes well beyond the direct events of its time.