yr13_ia_2007_kirby_c

=Evaluation of Sources (250-400 words)=

Communists in Government] - See Appendix 1**
 * Source 1: [First Speech Delivered in Senate by Senator Joe McCarthy on

The first source is the speech that Senator McCarthy gave to the senate in the wake of his 'wheeling' speech which caused so much public interest. This source is particularly valuable because it shows what it was that so worried the American public and the way that he wielded this information (or arguably untruths) for political effect. It shows us that the very nature of McCarthy's 'information' is somewhat clouded by his refusal to show his sources, which also mean that he is able to continue making the alligations. We see that the public outrage at the notion of communist infiltration is so powerful that the relatively unpopular and unknown McCarthy is able to Accuse the president himself and even give what are essentially orders: 'I believe the following is the minimum which can be expected of you'. This source also shows us the primary power of McCarthy's accusations 'Failure on your part will label the Democratic Party of being the bedfellow of international communism'. This essentially unsubstantiated claim is typical of those that are to follow and the affect that it later had upon the Democratic party is also telling of the Politicians knowledge as to the public sentiment on Communism which was to greatly influence any political attempt to counter McCarthy's accusations. This source is an overview of the manner which

However this source is limited in a number of ways. The speech took place at the beginning of the stage of McCarthy's attacks and as such is not necessarily a fair representation of McCarthy's later tactics. He has only recently made his first speech on the entire subject of communism. He is not yet fully aware of the public reaction to his accusations and therefore it is not a full on attack as he is later to make. Similarly the source is also limited because it is before McCarthy is trully forced to back up his wild statements and as such the manner of his speech is different. He is not as agressive as he is later to be during the televised trials of accused communists.


 * Source 2: [Censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy] - See Appendix 2**

The second source is a justification for the censuring of McCarthy that essentially ended his career. He lost the ability to express himself in congress. It is particularly interesting because senators are no longer fearful of being labelled ‘soft on communism’ because McCarthy is censured and there has been a gradual backlash to the extreme methods used by McCarthy. This is valuable because it shows us the way that there *was* a gradual reversion to traditional values and a realization (albeit over time) that there was no true justification for McCarthy's claims and that he had in fact abused many rights that were more important. 'its responses [to fear] have not done credit to its democratic nature'. It also seems to be a very reliable peice because of its honesty: 'even Dwight Eisenhower, who detested McCarthy, was afraid to stand up to him', this quote is not to the advantage of those writing the peice, it is quite self defacing, this seems to indicate taht the piece as a whole is nort in the aim of self-exoneration but instead an honest depiction of a period wherein nobody come out well. Either the senators that supported McCarthy's accusations or the people who didn't stand up to him.

However it is limited because the source is the justification for McCarthy's censure, it is therefore an argument not a balanced conclusion. We cannot see any possible justification for McCarthy's hearings despite the fact that there were some [Alder Hiss]. Despite not claiming to be devoid of responsability the paper tends to blame society as a whole 'Americans regained their senses, and the Red Scare finally began to wane'. It is however evident from further reading that many senators were too scared to affront McCarthy despire there supposed principles and many mroe were in fact supportive of him because of the public support he mustered for their political party (Republicans). All this is seemingly brushed over in the piece and as such it is not a particularly useful for a general understanding of McCarthyisms repercussions. It is however a good representation of what politicians felt after the red scare had ended and what their sentiments *may* have been during it. However this also shows us the extent to which they were unprepared to combat McCarthy despite apparently so strongly believing him to be wrong.