The Downfall of McCarthyThe Downfall of McCarthy

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

George Santayana

1. Declaration of Conscience

1. Declaration of Conscience

Margaret Chase Smith condemns Joe McCarthy before the Senate.

“I think it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some real soul-searching and to weigh our consciences . . .”

2. Book-burning and Roy Cohn

2. Book-burning and Roy Cohn Searching for books that

showed America in an unfavorable way.

Roy Cohn lawyer for McCarthy

Ex. Grapes of WrathPresident Eisenhower asks

Americans not to give in to the “book burners.”

McCarthy confers with Cohn

3. Army-McCarthy Hearings

3. Army-McCarthy Hearings McCarthy alleges subversion

in the US military Dr. Irving Peress: Army

Dentist, accused of being a subversive.

General Ralph Zwicker gave Peress an honorable discharge.

“. . . General, you should be removed from any command. . . . Not fit to wear that uniform, . . . Disgrace to the Army. .”

4. Doctored photo & phony letter

4. Doctored photo & phony letter McCarthy and Cohn are charged

with pressuring the Army officials to give their staffer David Schine preferential treatment when he was drafted.

Joseph Welch, Army lawyer, claims a photograph of Schine has been doctored. (Play Chapter 11 Point of Order 30:00-33:36)

Welch also claims a letter from J. Edgar Hoover was a “phony.” (Play Chapter 18 &19 Point of Order 53:16- 58:00)

5. Reckless Cruelty5. Reckless Cruelty McCarthy calls out Fred Fisher, lawyer at

Welch’s firm, as a communist.

“If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty I would do so . . . But your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me.”

Joseph Welch

“Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator.” counters Welch. “You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?”

Joseph Welch

Play Chapter 24-25 Point of Order 1:16:33-1:24:54

Welch condemns McCarthy before the Committee

Exhuming McCarthy by REM

You’re beautiful, more beautiful than me

You’re honorable, more honorable than me

Loyal to the Bank of America

It’s a sign of the times, It’s a sign of the times

You’re sharpening stones, walking on coals, To improve your business acumen

You’re sharpening stones, walking on coals, To improve your business acumen

Vested interest, united ties, landed gentry rationalize

Look who bought the myth, by jingo, buy America

Enemy sighted, enemy met, I’m addressing the Realpolitik

“Let us not assassinate this lad further Senator, you’ve done enough, have you no sense of decency sir, at long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

You’re sharpening stones, walking on coals, To improve your business acumen

You’ve seen start and you’ve seen quit, I’m addressing the table of content

I always thought of you as quick

Exhuming McCarthy

(Meet me at the book burning)