What is the message? What is this an example of?

1. What is the message?What is this an example of?

2. Loyalty Program – 47’House on Un-American Activities – 47’ McCarran Act – 50’ • Klaus Fusch • Spy Los Alamos • Alger HissState Department

3. The Accusation • February 9, 1950 • J. McCarthy gave a speech to the Senate, “205 card carrying communists had infiltrated the US government” – cited 81 cases • Senate called for a full investigation

4. McCarthyism Took Hold of the USA • “Witch hunt” ensued • Government officials, entertainers, union officials, educators • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJzV6-wJ3SQ • Hollywood 10 • "Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist party?“ • McCarthy started accusing high level officials such as Dean Acheson and George Marshall

5. McCarthy lost credibility • McCarthy's accusations went on into 1954, when the Wisconsin senator focused on the United States Army. • For eight weeks, in televised hearings, McCarthy interrogated army officials, including many decorated war heroes. • "At long last, have you no sense of decency left?“ • McCarthy died in 57’

6. McCarthyism • McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

7. McCarthyism Dead, BUT…. • Led many schools and libraries to ban Robin Hood • Thousands in state government and school boards lost their jobs and had their reputations tarnished. • No politician could consider opening trade with China or withdrawing from Southeast Asia without being branded a communist • Don't criticize the United States. Don't be different. Just conform

8. Reactions to McCarthyism • We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men , Murrow CBS Newscaster

9. – Ronald Reagan, testifying in front of the HUAC as president of the Screen Actors Guild (1947) • Sir, I detest, I abhor their [communists'] philosophy, but I detest more than that their tactics, which are those of the fifth column, and are dishonest, but at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment. I still think that democracy can do it.

10. Any truth to all the hype? • many of the accused had attended party rallies 15 or more years before the hearings — it had been fashionable to do so in the 1930s. • Soviet spy ring did penetrate the highest levels of the American government, the vast majority of the accused were innocent victims

13. It is now evident that the present Administration has fully embraced, for political advantage, McCarthyism. I am not referring to the Senator from Wisconsin. He is only important in that his name has taken on the dictionary meaning of the word. It is the corruption of truth, the abandonment of the due process law. It is the use of the big lie and the unfounded accusation against any citizen in the name of Americanism or security. It is the rise to power of the demagogue who lives on untruth; it is the spreading of fear and the destruction of faith in every level of society, Truman

14. 56’ Slochower v. BOE – firing 5th amendment • 57’ Yates v. US – reversed convictions • 57’ Watkins v. US – contempt congress • 58’ Kent v. Dulles - passports