practice making accusations treason proper regard evidence means practice making unfair allegations unfair investigative techniques especially order restrict dissent political criticism term origins period united_states known lasting roughly characterized heightened political repression supposed communists campaign spreading fear influence american institutions espionage soviet agents originally coined criticize anti communist pursuits republican senator wisconsin soon took broader meaning describing similar efforts term generally describe reckless accusations attacks character patriotism political adversaries mccarthy era thousands americans accused communists communist subject aggressive investigations questioning government private industry panels committees agencies primary targets suspicions government employees entertainment industry union activists suspicions given despite inconclusive questionable evidence level threat posed person real supposed leftist associations beliefs greatly exaggerated people suffered loss employment destruction careers suffered imprisonment came trial later overturned laws later declared unconstitutional reasons later declared illegal extra legal procedures come general notable examples include speeches investigations hearings senator mccarthy hollywood associated hearings conducted house american activities committee anti communist activities fbi director widespread social cultural phenomenon affected levels society source great deal debate conflict united_states origins historical period came known mccarthy era began involvement factors contributed extending years inspired communism emergence recognized political force thanks success organizing labor unions early opposition communist_party united_states increased membership 1930s reaching peak members united_states engaged world war allied soviet_union issue anti communism largely muted end world war cold war began immediately soviet_union installed communist puppet united_states backed anti communist forces greece china affairs raised issue soviet espionage far events sharply increased sense threat communism united_states soviet_union tested atomic bomb earlier analysts expected year communist army gained control mainland china despite heavy american financial support opposing korean war began pitting south korean forces communists north_korea china following year saw significant developments soviet cold war espionage activities january high level official convicted effect found guilty espionage statute limitations run crime convicted having denied charge earlier testimony house american activities committee great_britain confessed committing espionage behalf soviet_union working manhattan_project war arrested charges stealing atomic bomb secrets soviets executed subtle forces encouraging rise long practice conservative politicians refer progressive reforms child labor laws women suffrage communist red plots tendency increased 1930s reaction new deal policies president conservatives new deal socialism communism saw policies evidence government heavily influenced communist policy makers roosevelt administration general defined danger communist influence common theme rhetoric anti communist politicians espionage specific activity involvement ongoing cultural phenomenon bear began speech february west_virginia produced piece paper claimed contained list known communists working mccarthy usually quoted saying hand list list names known secretary state members communist_party working shaping policy speech resulted flood press attention mccarthy established path recognized politicians united_states recorded use term political cartoon washington_post editorial cartoonist aka published march cartoon depicted leading republicans trying push elephant traditional symbol republican_party stand stack tar labeled block later wrote particularly ingenious term simply represent national hardly described way prior claim welcome word junior senator wisconsin throw set free dishes case soap institutions number anti communist committees panels loyalty review boards federal state local governments private agencies carried investigations small large companies concerned possible communists work force congress primary bodies investigated communist activities american activities total investigations carried committees congress december united_states senate voted condemn conduct tends bring senate executive branch loyalty security reviews federal government president executive order initiated program loyalty reviews federal employees called dismissal reasonable grounds belief person involved government united_states democrat probably reacting republican sweep congressional election felt need counter growing criticism conservatives anti communists president took office strengthened extended loyalty review program decreasing avenues appeal available dismissed employees chairman referred new rules obliged enforce american way things following year scientific director manhattan_project built atomic bomb working consultant stripped security clearance week hearing received secret clearance denied clearance climate similar loyalty reviews established state local government offices private industries nation estimated roughly employees united_states required pass sort loyalty review person lost job unfavorable loyalty review difficult find employment man ruined forever words chairman president responsible employer likely chance giving job started keeping list organizations deemed subversive beginning list public included items longest comprised organizations identified communist context loyalty review membership listed organization meant raise question considered proof common causes suspicion membership left leaning organization offered lectures literature classical music concerts books fbi fbi director designed president loyalty security program background investigations employees carried fbi agents major assignment led number agents bureau increased sense communist threat standards evidence applied bureau resulted thousands government workers losing jobs insistence keeping identity secret subjects loyalty security reviews allowed cross examine know identities accused cases told accused influence extended federal government employees loyalty security programs records loyalty review hearings investigations supposed confidential routinely gave evidence congressional committees fbi operated secret responsibilities program distributed anonymous documents evidence fbi files communist teachers lawyers people accused blind fired process fbi engaged number illegal practices pursuit information communists including opening mail illegal members left wing attorneys willing defend clients communist related cases particular target office organization fbi fourteen times purposes fbi illegally obtained information alert attorneys planned legal strategies defense lawyers fbi illegal undercover operations disrupt communist political groups increasingly frustrated supreme_court decisions limited ability prosecute communists time covert dirty tricks program actions included planting forged documents create suspicion key person fbi informer spreading rumors anonymous letters leaking information press calling like program remained operation calls fbi single important component anti communist crusade writes observers known 1950s learned 1970s freedom information act opened bureau files probably called congress american activities american activities commonly referred house american activities committee prominent active government committee involved anti communist investigations formed known chaired investigated variety activities including german american nazis world war committee soon focused communism beginning investigation communists significant step investigation charges espionage brought investigation ultimately resulted trial conviction convinced congressional committees communist achieved greatest fame notoriety investigation hollywood film industry october committee began directors movie industry professionals testify known suspected membership communist_party association members support beliefs known question asked member communist_party united_states film industry witnesses committee decided cooperate men known cited amendment guarantee free speech free assembly believed legally protected required answer committee questions tactic failed sentenced prison contempt congress sentenced months rest year future witnesses entertainment industries determined cooperate committee claim fifth amendment protection self usually protected contempt congress citation considered grounds dismissal government private industry employers legal requirements protection person testify association communist_party refuse names colleagues communist faced choice crawl ing mud informer actor known fifth amendment communist epithet senator mccarthy senate committees senate primary committee investigating communists formed charged ensuring enforcement laws relating espionage sabotage protection internal security united_states headed democrat gained reputation careful extensive investigations committee spent year investigating members numerous times collection scholars diplomats associated called accused losing china evidence pro communist attitudes found support accusation conscious articulate instrument soviet conspiracy charged charges rejected federal judge witnesses confessed case dropped headed time number communist hunting investigations mccarthy examined allegations communist influence turned overseas library program card libraries searched works authors mccarthy deemed inappropriate mccarthy recited list supposedly pro communist authors press yielding pressure ordered overseas remove shelves material controversial persons communists fellow travelers etc libraries actually burned newly forbidden books mccarthy committee began investigation united_states_army began laboratory fort mccarthy garnered headlines stories dangerous spy ring army researchers ultimately came investigation mccarthy turned attention case promoted rank major despite having refused answer questions army loyalty review form mccarthy handling investigation including series insults directed brigadier general led hearings army mccarthy trading charges counter charges days nationwide television audience official outcome hearings inconclusive exposure mccarthy american public resulted sharp decline popularity year mccarthy senate position prominent force anti communism essentially ended november day house_of_representatives approved contempt hollywood president issued press release behalf heads major studios came referred statement announced firing hollywood stated employ communist member party group advocates overthrow government united_states marked beginning hollywood spite fact hundreds denied employment studios producers employers publicly admit existed time private loyalty review boards anti communist investigators began appear fill growing demand certain industries employees companies concerned sensitivity business like entertainment industry felt particularly vulnerable public opinion use private services fee teams investigate employees question politics hearings subject usually right presence attorney asked defend accusations allowed cross examine agencies cross referenced lists leftist organizations publications rallies charities like lists individuals known suspected communists books published track communist leftist organizations individuals actual physical lists created maintained private organizations laws arrests efforts protect united_states perceived threat communist particularly enabled federal laws alien registration act criminal offense advocate advise teach government united_states state force violence organize association teaches advises encourages overthrow member affiliate association hundreds communists prosecuted law leaders communist_party convicted smith act square trial defendants given sentences years eleventh sentenced years defense attorneys cited contempt court given prison sentences leaders party indicted including founding member convicted basis testimony later admitted false leaders members communist_party charged law convicted law described scholar mccarthy era important piece legislation smith act technically act real effect legal harassment required registration communist organizations attorney general established investigate possible communist action communist organizations required register numerous hearings delays appeals act enforced regard communist_party united_states major provisions act found unconstitutional act passed law allowed government immigrants citizens engaged subversive activities bar suspected entering country passed overwhelming support houses congress little debate jointly drafted republican democrat law extension sought outlaw communist_party declaring party communist organizations entitled rights privileges attendant legal bodies significant effect notable odd mix liberals conservatives supporters successfully applied twice prevent communist_party members appearing new_jersey state ballot cited deny recognition employer unemployment compensation system new_york_post called act democratic principles nation accused democratic liberals election year anxiety escape charge soft communism expense sacrificing constitutional rights popular support supported variety groups including anti communist organizations core element support variety anti communist women groups minute women organized tens thousands study groups letter writing networks patriotic clubs coordinated efforts identify saw far right bedrock support broad coalition found attractive politically useful common themes uniting coalition opposition particularly united_nations opposition social welfare provisions particularly programs established new deal opposition efforts reduce social structure united_states focus popular concerned provision public health services particularly mental health care services deemed communist plots poison american people times anti aspect literature took anti jewish tone right american hebrew march american jews come contemporary anti fill insane anti semitic viewpoints led major collisions supporters public health programs notably case controversy founder influential conservative political magazine wrote defense mccarthy mccarthy enemies asserted movement men good stern morality close ranks addition points ordinary americans convinced smoke fire lent support january poll found american public supported mccarthy unfavorable opinion senator chief justice united_states commented united states bill rights vote probably defeated portrayals communists sought justify largely characterization communism american communists particular proponents claimed completely moscow control american communist puppet soviet russian intelligence services view supported recent documentation archives post war wartime soviet radio traffic showing moscow provided financial support significant influence policies commented speech communist members body soul property party attitude confined arch conservatives ejected founding member saying membership communist_party civil government communist_party members smith act prosecution case based specific actions statements defendants premise commitment violent overthrow government inherent doctrines passages constitution specifically rejected revolutionary violence dismissed deliberate deception addition claimed party allow member resign person member short time decades previously considered suspect current member hearings trials featured testimony communist_party members speaking expert witnesses historians discussed alleged soviet directed government possible collaboration high government officials victims mccarthy difficult estimate number victims mccarthy number imprisoned hundreds thousand lost jobs cases simply committees sufficient cause fired imprisoned lost jobs questioned committees fact past present connection kind communist_party vast majority potential harm nation nature communist affiliation extremely damaging cambridge spy scandal blunt suspected homosexuality common cause targeted hunt sexual presumed subversive nature resulted thousands harassed denied employment termed aspect scare homosexuality classified psychiatric disorder 1950s context highly cold war environment homosexuality framed dangerous social disease posed potential threat state security family believed cornerstone american strength integrity description sexual meant unable function family unit presented potential poison social body era witnessed establishment widely spread fbi surveillance intended identify homosexual government employees mccarthy hearings according sexual investigations seen driven desire identify individuals ability function loyal citizens compromised began campaign drawing ways embodied traditional american values order self appointed vanguard social morality accusations alleged homosexual behaviour marked end mccarthy political career film industry actors authors directors denied work unofficial hollywood work entertainment industry universities schools levels legal profession fields port security program initiated shortly start korean war required review maritime worker loaded worked aboard american ship regardless cargo destination loyalty security reviews identities nature accusations typically kept secret accused nearly seamen lost jobs program notable people suffered persecution listed young professor history served intelligence officer world war publication decided circumstances wasn wise bring book learned investigators questioning colleagues relatives press published volume critical reactions nation means united policies activities come associated critics aspects including figures generally noted example veto president wrote free country punish men crimes commit opinions unsuccessfully vetoed act provisions denied trade unions protection union leaders signed swearing communists left office criticized current administration evident present administration fully embraced political advantage referring senator wisconsin important taken dictionary meaning word corruption truth abandonment process law use big lie accusation citizen security rise power lives spreading fear destruction faith level society june senator maine republican delivered speech senate called declaration conscience clear attack called end character named basic principles right criticize right hold unpopular beliefs right protest right independent thought said freedom speech america know suspect attitudes republican senators joined smith condemning tactics highly respected news reporters commentators 1940s 1950s spoke saw occasion warned local anti communist movements constituted general attack schools colleges libraries teachers textbooks people think write short freedom mind supreme_court upheld lower court decision new_york approving law allowed state loyalty review boards fire teachers deemed subversive opinion justice wrote present law proceeds principle society guilt association happens law typical happens police state teachers constant surveillance signs watched clues dangerous thoughts influential opponents famed cbs analyst october aired episode dismissal reserve air_force lieutenant accused communists strongly critical air_force methods included presenting evidence sealed envelope attorney allowed open march aired episode issue attacking titled report senator footage mccarthy speeches portray reckless abusive witnesses prominent americans concluding comment said confuse dissent remember accusation proof conviction depends evidence process law walk fear driven fear age dig deep history doctrine remember descended fearful men broadcast cited key episode bringing end april senator mccarthy attack army mccarthy hearings hearings televised live new network allowing public view hand mccarthy interrogation individuals controversial tactics exchange mccarthy reminded attorney army employee law firm belonged organization accused communist sympathies exchange reflected increasingly negative public opinion mccarthy senator sense sir long left sense decline mid- late 1950s attitudes institutions slowly weakened changing public sentiments heavily contributed decline decline charted series court decisions key figure end host afternoon comedy radio leftist active union radio artists aware inc private firms examined individuals signs communist marked aware unfit fired uniquely victims decided sue aware finally won case court decision private notice legally liable professional financial damage caused informal continued private loyalty checking agencies soon thing past verdict hollywood decided time break best known members hollywood publicly credited writing films exodus came hands supreme_court wrote biography took judicial notice mccarthy making fabric liberty wrote series decisions fabric stronger court chief justice proved liberal anticipated later refer appointment warren biggest mistake supreme_court heard case professor fired new_york_city fifth amendment mccarthy committee questioned past membership communist_party court prohibited actions ruling condemn practice sinister meaning exercise person constitutional right fifth amendment privilege self reduced hollow exercise taken equivalent confession guilt conclusive key decision case united_states convictions fourteen communists reversed opinion wrote original smith act trials testimony witnesses comparatively insignificant guilt innocence turn wrote advocated years ago unfamiliar view government reality crucial issue prejudice makes conviction inevitable circumstances supreme_court ruled case united_states power punish witnesses finding contempt congress justice warren wrote decision mere witness compelling testify beliefs expressions associations measure governmental interference forced revelations concern matters unorthodox unpopular general public reaction life witness disastrous decision kent supreme_court halted authority regulations refuse based communist beliefs associations repercussions political divisions created united_states continue manifest politics history anti communism united_states contentious portions massive security apparatus established mccarthy era exist loyalty required officials employees government california highly problematic witnesses beliefs absolute loyalty state federal level portions effect number observers compared oppression liberals mccarthy period recent actions suspected terrorists muslims age anxiety terrorism author compares abuses suffered aliens thrown high security prisons wake mccarthy era similarly written patriot act effect philosophy simply terrorist communist opposite pole conservative writer book treason drawing parallels past opposition mccarthy policies beliefs modern day liberals arguing hindered anti communist cause hinder war terrorism authors drawn comparison current anti terrorism policies include attracts controversy purely historical issue documents soviet archives project coded soviet messages known soviet_union engaged substantial espionage activities united_states 1940s known substantially funded policies controlled soviet_union accusations members recruited spies view contemporary commentators revelations stand partial feel genuinely dangerous subversive element united_states danger justified extreme measures acknowledging argue contemporary historians depth soviet espionage america nature concern shared felt general persecuted opposing view holds recent revelations notwithstanding time began late 1940s fringe group damage interests soviet spies world war minimal criticised pro written country damage constitution later use term time mccarthy word entered american speech general term variety practices aggressively questioning person patriotism making poorly supported accusations accusations pressure person adhere politics discredit opponent civil political rights national security use referred synonymous term witch hunt referring mass moral panic popular culture play salem witch trials metaphor suggesting process style persecution occur time place play focused fact accused person little chance given circular reasoning courts public miller later wrote read salem panic touched corresponding images common experiences fifties film dealt mccarthy era hollywood film
McCarthyism