McCarthyism

THE RED SCARE

OF

COMMUNISM

• Alliance with Soviet Union ended

• Cold War set in

• The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in full swing

World War II Ended

• Prove the Screen Writer’s Guild had communist members

• Hoped to prove writer’s inserted treasonous propaganda in Hollywood films

• Lastly, J. Parnell Thomas (head of committee) argued Roosevelt had encouraged pro-Soviet films through duration of war

HUAC Agenda (1947)-- The Witch Hunts

Hollywood “10”• 3 options

*Claim to never have been members of the Communist Party*Admit to membership of said party*Plead the 5th

• Held in Contempt; serve year in jail• Blacklisted

Hollywood RespondsHollywood Exec’s released statement: “We, will not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force, or by any illegal or unconstitutional method.”

The Unofficial Blacklist

• 1951-1954, directed by John S. Wood

• 324 current or former Hollywood workers

• 212 working, but lost jobs

Bank Involvement• During war--banks were loose with funds

• During the “Red Scare”--pressure on banks

• Push for conservative films--no social commentary In fact, anti-Communist feel

• Censorship and Monitoring of Content--Big Push!!

• Production Code Administration (PCA)

Joseph McCarthy• Senator of Wisconsin• 1950--claims the name of 81 communist in State

Department• McCarran Act (Internal Security Act of 1950)

*Authorizes concentration camps*Truman originally vetoed the legislation (Truman noted as Un-American)

• Led second wave of HUAC hearings

Smear Campaigning • 1947 McCarthy Elected• Immediately began investigations into

State Dept.–Weakened character of opponents for

re-election–Launched fear of communist penetration–Smear campaigning (picked up from

Nixon)

Entertainers Subpoenaed

• Orson Welles• Lucille Ball• Dashielle Hammett• Lillian Hellman• (All of the above were pressured to

name Names!!)

Communism in the Army?

• Robert Stevens confrontation with McCarthy

• Investigations

• Army receives vindication

McCarthy Trials End

• 1954--Senate Votes

• 67-22 to censure McCarthy

• “Conduct contrary to Senatorial tradition”--abuse of powers

• 1957--McCarthy dies at the Naval Medical Center in Maryland at age 48