#7 McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare

Summary

In the years following World War II, America was engulfed in a wave of paranoia and fear known as the Second Red Scare. This period was marked by a widespread fear of communism and a nuclear war, significantly fueled by political figures, with Senator Joseph McCarthy at the forefront. The infamous McCarthy era was characterized by aggressive investigations and unfounded accusations against many individuals, particularly within the entertainment industry, education, and government, often depriving them of their reputations and careers. The Hollywood 10, a group of writers and directors, famously chose to go to jail rather than testify about their political beliefs. The chaos continued until McCarthy's fall in 1954, which marked the end of this oppressive wave of fear and censorship.

Highlights

• The infamous $64,000 question: Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party? 🎤
• Americans' fear of communism post-WWII led to mass hysteria and government inquiries. 🔍
• The House Un-American Activities Committee targeted Hollywood for alleged communist propaganda. 🎥
• The Hollywood 10 chose jail over betraying their beliefs, standing firm on their First Amendment rights. 📜
• Senator Joseph McCarthy's witch hunt tactics eventually led to his censure in 1954. ⚖️

Key Takeaways

• During the Second Red Scare, fear of communism surged leading to aggressive investigations. 🚨
• Senator Joseph McCarthy was a central figure in propagating anti-communist hysteria. 🕵️‍♂️
• The Hollywood 10 were jailed for refusing to testify about their political beliefs. 🎬
• Margaret Chase Smith boldly opposed McCarthy's witch hunts. 🗣️
• McCarthy's downfall began when his tactics were publicly scrutinized during televised hearings in 1954. 📺

Overview

In the aftermath of World War II, the Communist specter looming over America evolved into what is now known as the Second Red Scare, a period fraught with fear and suspicion. This era saw rampant accusations of communist affiliations fueled by politicians eager to rally public sentiment against perceived threats. The influence of these suspicions extended far beyond politics, touching the lives of individuals in various sectors, including Hollywood, academia, and government.

With Senator Joseph McCarthy emerging as a leading figure in this anti-communist movement, the fear and paranoia were at an all-time high. McCarthy's aggressive pursuit of alleged communists led to a climate where mere accusations could result in careers being destroyed. The Hollywood 10, consisting of directors and screenwriters, presented a bold stand against this scrutiny, choosing incarceration over compromise of their personal beliefs and freedoms.

The fall of McCarthy came as a relief to many, marking the end of a particularly dark period in American history. His decline began when his methods were exposed during the televised Army-McCarthy hearings, revealing the extent of his manipulation and the unjust nature of his claims. This shift in public perception was pivotal, discrediting McCarthy and dismantling the widespread fear and hysteria that had once supported him.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction The introduction chapter sets the stage by presenting the tension and paranoia that gripped America during the post-World War II era. It highlights the intense fear of communism and nuclear war that led to widespread hysteria. A particular focus is placed on the 'The $64,000 Question,' a question that could drastically alter a person's life based on their affiliation with the Communist Party. This reflects the era's cultural and political climate where an accusation or suspicion could ruin lives and careers, illustrating the profound impact of McCarthyism and the Red Scare on American society.
• 00:30 - 01:00: The Second Red Scare The Second Red Scare was a period of intense anti-communist sentiment in the United States, occurring between 1945 and 1952. During this time, political figures and other influential individuals sought to rally American support against communism by shaping public perception to align with their own views. This era was marked by heightened suspicion and prejudice compared to the earlier Red Scare following Russia's 1917 Communist revolution. A notable aspect of this period was the extensive investigations into communist influence within the American entertainment industry, with congressional committees holding 82 hearings on the matter.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Congressional Hearings and HUAC The chapter titled 'Congressional Hearings and HUAC' delves into the infamous hearings conducted by Congressman J. Parnell Thomas's House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1947. It highlights how the committee investigated communist influences within the Hollywood film industry. These hearings aimed to uncover whether members of the Communist Party had penetrated the industry, marking a significant intersection of higher education unions and federal government actions. The chapter opens with Chairman J. Parnell Thomas of New Jersey ordering an inquiry, setting the stage for a notorious chapter in American history.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Hollywood Ten and First Amendment The chapter discusses the Hollywood Ten and the First Amendment, focusing on the involvement of prominent figures from the motion picture industry in a government committee investigation. Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, acknowledges that there are communists and communist sympathizers within Hollywood, similar to other parts of America, but assures that the industry neither shields nor defends these individuals.
• 02:30 - 03:30: Rise of McCarthyism The chapter titled 'Rise of McCarthyism' discusses how individuals were compelled to expose not only their own activities and beliefs but also those of their friends and coworkers. This occurred during a time when invoking the First Amendment right to freedom of speech was a significant action. A notable group, the Hollywood 10, consisting of writers and directors, chose imprisonment over answering questions about their political beliefs, indicating the climate of fear and coercion prevalent in the anti-communist era.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Margaret Chase Smith's Response This chapter delves into the era of McCarthyism, highlighting the oppressive actions led by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin during 1950 to 1954. McCarthy orchestrated a relentless campaign through his Senate subcommittee, which essentially terrorized citizens, infringing on free speech, devastating countless lives, and leaving people in fear of expressing any political opinions divergent from aggressive anti-communist rhetoric. The narrative sets the stage for understanding the political climate leading up to Margaret Chase Smith's response.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Fall of McCarthy Undocumented accusations against government employees gave McCarthy significant political power and public support.

#7 McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 are you a member of the Communist party or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party it was The $64,000 Question Answer correctly and your life might return to normal give the wrong answer or refuse to answer at all and your life was ruined in the Years following World War II Americans fear of Communism and nuclear war led to Mass hysteria fueled
• 00:30 - 01:00 by politicians and others who wanted Americans not only to support the war against communism but also to view the world as they viewed it this was the country's second Red Scare more intense than the fear that erupted after the Communist takeover of Russia in 1917 between 1945 and 1952 congressional committees conducted 82 hearings investigating communist influence in the entertainment industry
• 01:00 - 01:30 higher education unions and the federal government the most infamous hearings began in 1947 when Congressman J Parnell Thomas's house unamerican Activities Committee conducted hearings on communist influence in Hollywood calling the house unamerican Activities Committee to order chairman J Parnell Thomas of New Jersey opens an inquiry into possible communist penetration of the Hollywood film industry the committee is seeking to determine if if red party members have
• 01:30 - 02:00 reached the screen with subversive propaganda a long list of prominent Motion Picture Witnesses appear before the committee speaking for the films Eric Johnston president of the Motion Picture Association talks frankly concerning the attitude of The Producers we are accused of having Communists and communist sympathizers in our employ undoubtedly there are such persons in Hollywood as you will find elsewhere in America but we neither Shield nor defend
• 02:00 - 02:30 them we want them exposed Witnesses were forced not only to tell about their own activities and beliefs but to talk about their friends and co-workers invoking the First Amendment which protects the right to freedom of speech a group of Hollywood writers and directors known as the Hollywood 10 went to jail rather than answer questions about their political beliefs today we call the anti-communist
• 02:30 - 03:00 hysteria of the postwar McCarthyism a name synonymous with the excesses of Republican senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin between 1950 and 1954 McCarthy ran a campaign of Terror from his Senate subcommittee that curbed Free Speech ruined many people's lives and made people afraid to express political opinions different from hostile anti-communists McCarthy's Reckless and
• 03:00 - 03:30 undocumented accusations against government employees and others won him tremendous political power and public support very few had the courage to speak out against McCarthy one of the first was Margaret Chase Smith a Republican senator from Maine who condemned communist witch hunts on the senate floor on June 1st 1950 the only thing necessary for the Triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
• 03:30 - 04:00 those of us who shout the loudest about americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who by our own words and acts ignore some of the basic principles of americanism the right to criticize the right to hold unpopular beliefs the right to protest the right of independent thought Margaret Chase Smith despite its excesses the Red Scare dragged on for years McCarthy's fall
• 04:00 - 04:30 from Power finally came in 1954 when he went after supposed Communists in the US Army Americans watching the hearings on television were appalled by McCarthy's bullying of witnesses and falsification of evidence no longer finding him a political asset Republican Senators joined their Democratic colleagues in a formal censure of McCarthy his reign of terror was over