Joseph R. McCarthy

Date of Birth: November 14, 1908

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: May 2, 1957

Biography

Joseph Raymond “Joe” McCarthy was born on November 14, 1908, in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. He was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. McCarthy is best known for his role in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a leading figure in the anti-communist movement in the United States, a period often referred to as the “Red Scare.” His aggressive and often unsubstantiated accusations of communism, treason, and subversion within the U.S. government and other institutions led to the term “McCarthyism,” a term that denotes reckless and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries. McCarthy’s career in public service began after he completed law school at Marquette University in Milwaukee. He initially worked as an attorney before serving as a judge in Wisconsin. During World War II, McCarthy served in the U.S. Marine Corps, which boosted his public profile and helped him secure a Senate seat in 1946. His most infamous moment came in 1950 when he claimed to have a list of communists working in the State Department, a claim that was never substantiated but nevertheless caused widespread panic. Despite his initial popularity, McCarthy’s influence waned by the mid-1950s. The Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954, which were televised and showed McCarthy’s aggressive and often baseless tactics, led to his censure by the Senate. His health deteriorated in the years following, exacerbated by alcoholism.

5 Interesting Facts about Joseph R. McCarthy

1. Joseph McCarthy served as a Marine Corps officer during World War II, where he earned the nickname “Tail-Gunner Joe.”

2. McCarthy’s sensational claim in 1950 of having a list of communists in the State Department was never substantiated.

3. He was censured by the United States Senate in December 1954 for conduct unbecoming of a senator.

4. McCarthy’s aggressive tactics and unsubstantiated accusations led to the coining of the term “McCarthyism.”

5. Despite his controversial career, McCarthy retained significant public support until the televised Army-McCarthy hearings exposed his methods.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joseph R. McCarthy

1. “I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department.”

2. “The reason why we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our only powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores, but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this Nation.”

3. “You don’t have to be a communist to be an anti-anti-communist.”

4. “In my opinion, the State Department, which is one of the most important government departments, is thoroughly infested with communists.”

5. “When a great democracy is destroyed, it will not be because of enemies from without, but rather because of enemies from within.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Joseph McCarthy’s highest net worth is not well-documented. However, his net worth was relatively modest given his career as a public servant, estimated to be in the range of $500,000 adjusted for inflation at the time of his death.

Children

Joseph McCarthy did not have any biological children. He and his wife, Jean Kerr, whom he married in 1953, adopted a daughter named Tierney Elizabeth McCarthy.