Senator Joe McCarthy - Softcover

Rovere, Richard H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0529021544 ISBN 13: 9780529021540

Publisher: Meridian Books / The World Publishing Company, 1966

Synopsis

Rovere injects much of his feelings throughout this book. He has given a graphic description of a short period in the history of this country when one man following a single issue was able to occupy the stage almost by himself and to play to a tremendous audience. He sees no good in the man. Early in his book he states ". . . the social and economic order didn't interest him in the slightest." There is a mass of evidence that Rovere presents as to McCarthy's complete immersion in the cause of anticommunism and the ruthlessness with which he pursued his course. Rovere suggests that McCarthy deliberately selected communism as the expedient issue in politics. Many have thought that his taking up the fight on communism was almost completely accidental since the speech given by him in Wheeling, West Virginia, had been prepared for another speaker. Whether true or not, many have felt that the unexpected response from the Wheeling audience caused him to repeat the speech, that this set off the wave of deep anticommunist reaction, and that McCarthy simply decided to ride the wave. Rovere brings out the fact that at no time did McCarthy try to set up a separate organization, start another political party, or take advantage of what might have been an opportunity to aim for political dictatorship. In fact, as Rovere brings out, McCarthy was almost as critical of the Republican party as he was of the Democrats, of Eisenhower as he was of Truman, and of Dulles and his foreign policy as he was of Acheson.

About this edition

• Publisher: Meridian Books / The World Publishing Company
• Publication date: 1966
• ISBN 10: 0529021544
• ISBN 13: 9780529021540
• Binding: Paperback