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Dying for Joe McCarthy's Sins: The Suicide of Wyoming Senator Lester Hunt
"Joe McCarthy's Cold War witch-hunts targeted people with same-sex attractions as much, maybe more than those with Communist sympathies." This introduction to Rodger McDaniel's book sets the stage for a story of the most wretched political blackmail in American history. Lester Hunt was the kind of person we'd all want to be a part of our national government. Kind and empathetic, honest and hardworking, he was as one of his eulogists said, "ill prepared for the cruel, brutal, rough aspect of national partisan politics." Hunt committed suicide in his Senate office in 1954. His death was tragic enough. Yet readers will find even more about which to lament reading of his extraordinary life. Dying for Joe McCarthy's Sins is not only Lester Hunt's story. It's the story of America during the virulent years of the early Cold War, of McCarthyism, and the way the voluntary death of a Wyoming senator helped to bring the curtain down on Joe McCarthy.
364 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 25, 2018
“While few people take their own lives for a single reason, there is reason to conclude that Lester Hunt would not have done so but for the villainous behavior of Joe McCarthy, Styles Bridges and Herman Welker.” There you have it, the central thesis of this book.
My reading of this book is that the principal villain here was Styles Bridges, the corrupt senator from New Hampshire. He was ably assisted by the none too bright Senator Joe McCarthy and to a lesser extent by Senator Herman Welker. Welker comes across as more a follower than a leader. The fact that the author makes much of McCarthy’s alcoholism seems to slightly lessen McCarthy’s villainy, but there should be no doubt that McCarthy did incalculable harm to so many. But, for pure villainy with malice of forethought Bridges is the devil in this book.
The book portrays Lester Hunt in a very favorable light. But, the more you learn about him the more you see that he is very susceptible to pressure and the influence of others. He also lacks real depth. He was, like many in his time, anti civil rights and opposed to Harry Truman’s efforts to make things better for people of color. Lester Hunt does not come across as particularly bright, but he does come across as a hale fellow, well met.
The author, in one instance at least, attempts to suggest collusion by someone in the White House, possibly by Eisenhower himself, to pressure Hunt, not to run for re-election. the relevant passage follows:
“A single page found among Eisenhower’s official papers is headed “L.C. Hunt, Senator-Possibilities.” The document bears a notation verifying it was “Received May 3, 1954-Central Files.” It lists eight executive branch jobs. Someone who likely had the authority to commit to a presidential appointment placed a mark near “Tariff Commission: $ 15,000—Six year term.””
A single page, no signature, a page which could have been written by any number of people on the White House is hardly a basis for suggesting collusion. More to the point the author states that “emissary from the Republicans” made such an offer to Hunt. Ah, in my opinion, this rather vague proposal from a “messenger” needed more substantiation to be taken seriously.
Quite frankly, the book is boring in places. I suspect that is mostly due to Lester Hunt’s character. I had to kind of mentally force myself to finish the book.
The strongest part of the book is the “Afterword on the nature of suicide.” That section was fascinating both for it’s recounting of what people like Origen, St. Augustine, and many more said about suicide and for it’s gruesome accounting of how Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame) killed himself.
My reading of this book is that the principal villain here was Styles Bridges, the corrupt senator from New Hampshire. He was ably assisted by the none too bright Senator Joe McCarthy and to a lesser extent by Senator Herman Welker. Welker comes across as more a follower than a leader. The fact that the author makes much of McCarthy’s alcoholism seems to slightly lessen McCarthy’s villainy, but there should be no doubt that McCarthy did incalculable harm to so many. But, for pure villainy with malice of forethought Bridges is the devil in this book.
The book portrays Lester Hunt in a very favorable light. But, the more you learn about him the more you see that he is very susceptible to pressure and the influence of others. He also lacks real depth. He was, like many in his time, anti civil rights and opposed to Harry Truman’s efforts to make things better for people of color. Lester Hunt does not come across as particularly bright, but he does come across as a hale fellow, well met.
The author, in one instance at least, attempts to suggest collusion by someone in the White House, possibly by Eisenhower himself, to pressure Hunt, not to run for re-election. the relevant passage follows:
“A single page found among Eisenhower’s official papers is headed “L.C. Hunt, Senator-Possibilities.” The document bears a notation verifying it was “Received May 3, 1954-Central Files.” It lists eight executive branch jobs. Someone who likely had the authority to commit to a presidential appointment placed a mark near “Tariff Commission: $ 15,000—Six year term.””
A single page, no signature, a page which could have been written by any number of people on the White House is hardly a basis for suggesting collusion. More to the point the author states that “emissary from the Republicans” made such an offer to Hunt. Ah, in my opinion, this rather vague proposal from a “messenger” needed more substantiation to be taken seriously.
Quite frankly, the book is boring in places. I suspect that is mostly due to Lester Hunt’s character. I had to kind of mentally force myself to finish the book.
The strongest part of the book is the “Afterword on the nature of suicide.” That section was fascinating both for it’s recounting of what people like Origen, St. Augustine, and many more said about suicide and for it’s gruesome accounting of how Meriwether Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame) killed himself.
August 11, 2019
Interesting story that I hadn't encounted before, but the author is a bit murky on how exactly McCarthy is to blame for Hunt's suicide.
September 15, 2018
Written Rodger McDaniel a former Wyoming state legislator, Dying for Joe McCarthy's Sins is the story of the life and tragic end of US Senator Lester C. Hunt who shot himself in the summer of 1954.
Undue partisan pressure was brought to bear on Hunt by Joe McCarthy supporters Republicans Styles
Bridges of New Hampshire and Herman Welker of Idaho.
Hunt was a liberal Democrat who had previously served as Wyoming's Secretary of State and Governor
when he ran for the Senate and won in 1948. He was a dentist by profession and got interested in
politics after World War I. He had already made a decision to retire after that one term, but he wasn't
moving fast enough to suit some.
The US Senate was a lot like it is now almost evenly divided and the Republicans were most concerned
about holding control after the midterm elections. This was also the McCarthy era where the Senate
and the House were busy ferreting out suspected Communists for loyalty issues. Gay people and
remember this was an era when there were sodomy laws nationally and in all 48 states were thought to be ipso facto security risks. Joe McCarthy's counsel Roy Cohn did a great job in ferreting and persecuted his own because it was a rather open secret that Cohn was himself gay.
Welker was a nonentity of sorts, a one term wonder who was defeated in 1956 and died the following year. Bridges was discreetly corrupt and that only revealed after his death in 1962.
As scurvy a pair of persecutors you will not find. They are quite revolting.
Hunt was not a closet case, but his son Lester, Jr. aka Buddy Hunt was gay. He was in fact a
seminary student when he was arrested in Lafayette Park in DC for soliciting sex from an undercover cop. The Republicans learned about it and that opened the stage for tragedy.
Hunt the father was an ordinary man, no better or worse than the rest of us. I'm sure he'd be one
of the herd in the Senate had he lived out an allotted span of years. Yet fate and imbecilic sodomy
laws made him a martyr. That and the fact he was a loving father.
McCarthy's own role is mysterious and sinister. He's not directly connected to the other two, but
both were supporters of his. His papers are sealed by agreement and will only be opened when
his daughter passes away. As of the writing of this book in 2013 she's still with us.
This is a book highly recommended for students and historians studying the LGBTQ history in
America. May we never see another story like Lester Hunt's/
Undue partisan pressure was brought to bear on Hunt by Joe McCarthy supporters Republicans Styles
Bridges of New Hampshire and Herman Welker of Idaho.
Hunt was a liberal Democrat who had previously served as Wyoming's Secretary of State and Governor
when he ran for the Senate and won in 1948. He was a dentist by profession and got interested in
politics after World War I. He had already made a decision to retire after that one term, but he wasn't
moving fast enough to suit some.
The US Senate was a lot like it is now almost evenly divided and the Republicans were most concerned
about holding control after the midterm elections. This was also the McCarthy era where the Senate
and the House were busy ferreting out suspected Communists for loyalty issues. Gay people and
remember this was an era when there were sodomy laws nationally and in all 48 states were thought to be ipso facto security risks. Joe McCarthy's counsel Roy Cohn did a great job in ferreting and persecuted his own because it was a rather open secret that Cohn was himself gay.
Welker was a nonentity of sorts, a one term wonder who was defeated in 1956 and died the following year. Bridges was discreetly corrupt and that only revealed after his death in 1962.
As scurvy a pair of persecutors you will not find. They are quite revolting.
Hunt was not a closet case, but his son Lester, Jr. aka Buddy Hunt was gay. He was in fact a
seminary student when he was arrested in Lafayette Park in DC for soliciting sex from an undercover cop. The Republicans learned about it and that opened the stage for tragedy.
Hunt the father was an ordinary man, no better or worse than the rest of us. I'm sure he'd be one
of the herd in the Senate had he lived out an allotted span of years. Yet fate and imbecilic sodomy
laws made him a martyr. That and the fact he was a loving father.
McCarthy's own role is mysterious and sinister. He's not directly connected to the other two, but
both were supporters of his. His papers are sealed by agreement and will only be opened when
his daughter passes away. As of the writing of this book in 2013 she's still with us.
This is a book highly recommended for students and historians studying the LGBTQ history in
America. May we never see another story like Lester Hunt's/
February 3, 2017
A well-researched history of Senator Lester Hunt (D-Wyoming) who committed suicide in 1954. Hunt was probably driven to it by Joe McCarthy and his minions, who threatened to expose the senator's son, who had been arrested for soliciting gay sex. The period now, thanks to David K. Johnson, now known as the Lavender Scare involved the harassment of homosexuals who held government jobs, and eventually spilled out to destroy the lives of any D. C. resident accused, or suspected, of homosexuality. McDaniel gives a full view of Senator Hunt's career, which includes anecdotes about Japanese internment camps, the Kefauver Crime Committee, the initial battles for civil rights and universal healthcare, and, especially, the rise of McCarthy. It ends with a disquisition on the meaning of suicide. McDaniel is a tad redundant and the story is not told in true chronological order. However, it is one of the few cases of blackmail in the senate, documented by a dedicated researcher.
March 21, 2014
We think our current political atmosphere is the worst it has ever been. This book shows it's the same thing year after year. Hunt, former governor of Wyoming and current Senator at the time of his death, committed suicide in response to threats from fellow Senators, men working with McCarthy during the communist witch hunt of the 1950s. Hunt's loss was a tragedy for Wyoming and for the country.
April 10, 2013
Very interesting book. Well written and an enthralling story. Love the discussions in the last two chapters about the relative guilt of the three republican senators involved (McCarthy and his cohorts). Also liked the discussion of the history and ethics of suicide.
August 13, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Mr. Book just finished Dying For Joe McCarthy’s Sins: The Suicide Of Wyoming Senator Lester Hunt, by Rodger McDaniel.
I first heard about the story of Senator Lester Hunt from Rachel Maddow’s Ultra podcast series. As soon as Rachel had mentioned that there was this book about the topic, I knew that I had to get it.
This was a very good look at the entirely of Hunt’s life. His life sounded interesting from Maddow’s excellent series. But, as great a job she does, a whole book on the topic was able to do into more detail and make things even more interesting.
The book covers all aspects of Hunt’s career, from his time in the Wyoming state legislature, to him serving as state Secretary of State, then to him becoming the first person elected to two terms as governor before becoming US Senator. Tragically, Hunt’s encounters with Joe McCarthy and his allies led to Hunt’s suicide. Hunt’s son was gay and was arrested after a raid in DC. McCarthy and his allies then used leverage over Hunt to first force him to announce he wouldn’t run for reelection, but then weren’t just satisfied with that and the pressure on him led Hunt to kill himself in his office.
I give this book an A. Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on August 13, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished Dying For Joe McCarthy’s Sins: The Suicide Of Wyoming Senator Lester Hunt, by Rodger McDaniel.
I first heard about the story of Senator Lester Hunt from Rachel Maddow’s Ultra podcast series. As soon as Rachel had mentioned that there was this book about the topic, I knew that I had to get it.
This was a very good look at the entirely of Hunt’s life. His life sounded interesting from Maddow’s excellent series. But, as great a job she does, a whole book on the topic was able to do into more detail and make things even more interesting.
The book covers all aspects of Hunt’s career, from his time in the Wyoming state legislature, to him serving as state Secretary of State, then to him becoming the first person elected to two terms as governor before becoming US Senator. Tragically, Hunt’s encounters with Joe McCarthy and his allies led to Hunt’s suicide. Hunt’s son was gay and was arrested after a raid in DC. McCarthy and his allies then used leverage over Hunt to first force him to announce he wouldn’t run for reelection, but then weren’t just satisfied with that and the pressure on him led Hunt to kill himself in his office.
I give this book an A. Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on August 13, 2024.
October 21, 2024
This book is important, if difficult to get through at times.
I was mostly interested in learning about the relationship between Lester Hunt and Joesph McCarthy, but this doesn’t really touch on that until nearly the end.
While I struggled to get through the detailed biography, much of which focused on Wyoming politics, I did find myself learning a lot between the lines. I hadn’t previously thought much about the role individual states played in supporting both World Wars. I also learned about how things like universal healthcare ultimately didn’t make it into the U.S. budget along with social security.
There are editing errors throughout, so be warned if you are the type to be annoyed by such things.
It seems, though, an important account of an all but forgotten U.S. Senator that was willing to stand up to a bully and generally make sensible choices throughout his career—characteristics we rarely find in our current politics.
I was mostly interested in learning about the relationship between Lester Hunt and Joesph McCarthy, but this doesn’t really touch on that until nearly the end.
While I struggled to get through the detailed biography, much of which focused on Wyoming politics, I did find myself learning a lot between the lines. I hadn’t previously thought much about the role individual states played in supporting both World Wars. I also learned about how things like universal healthcare ultimately didn’t make it into the U.S. budget along with social security.
There are editing errors throughout, so be warned if you are the type to be annoyed by such things.
It seems, though, an important account of an all but forgotten U.S. Senator that was willing to stand up to a bully and generally make sensible choices throughout his career—characteristics we rarely find in our current politics.
March 2, 2020
I've been interested in learning more about Hunt for a long time, and was very excited to read this book. It was a decent, interesting read, and I appreciated the discussion at the end regarding suicide. Bonus points for referencing a few of my own favorite books on the topic: The Myth of Sisyphus, Night Falls Fast, and Lincoln's Melancholy. It still didn't quite dig deeply into the life of Senator Hunt, but that is largely because so little information exists. My main gripe with this book was the poor editing job. Grammatical errors and stylistic errors abound. Otherwise, well-researched and written with care and obvious respect for the subject.
September 26, 2019
The book’s chief merit as a biography (the author doesn’t assert what he cannot document) is also the reason I can’t give the book 5 stars. I just wanted to know more about how Lester Hunt and his family felt about the tragedy that was overtaking their lives. The book does give the reader a good sense of how political politics really is, always was, and evermore shall be. Grim, yes, but not cynical.
March 20, 2017
Several months ago I read Advise and Consent, winner of the 1959 Pulitzer Prize. I had not idea, until I read this book, that Advise was based on a true story, the suicide, in his Senate office, of the junior Senator from Wyoming, Lester Hunt.
What made this story all the more interesting to me is that I graduated from Riverton, H.S., in Fremont county; Lander was our county seat. Yet no mention was *ever* made in any of our classes regarding the Senator, the political environment at the time, or his demise. I hope that has changed, but frankly, considering how Wyoming has shifted even further to the right politically, I doubt that it has.
What made this story all the more interesting to me is that I graduated from Riverton, H.S., in Fremont county; Lander was our county seat. Yet no mention was *ever* made in any of our classes regarding the Senator, the political environment at the time, or his demise. I hope that has changed, but frankly, considering how Wyoming has shifted even further to the right politically, I doubt that it has.
May 27, 2022
Excellent book about Lester Hunt who was a successful Wyoming politician and governor before he was elected to the Senate. He lamented partisan politics at the national level and the lack of making a difference. His honesty made him an enemy of Joe McCarthy and his followers. A sad part of U.S.A. history.
February 1, 2025
I wanted to read this book after listening to Rachel Maddow do a show on Lester Hunt and McCarthyism. Very interesting read - I was not alive in the early fifties so I really didn’t know a lot about McCarthy or HUnt but the story was enlightening - and scary at the same time as we could be on a similar part presently….
July 25, 2024
I learned a lot!
This is a well written book which tells about Senator Hunt's rise to senator with excellent background and his sad ending. I alway knew Joe McCarthy was evil, but I didn't realize quite how evil and how many lives he and his followers ruined.
This is a well written book which tells about Senator Hunt's rise to senator with excellent background and his sad ending. I alway knew Joe McCarthy was evil, but I didn't realize quite how evil and how many lives he and his followers ruined.
May 31, 2022
Should illicit good discussion
July 6, 2023
The man who led to McCarthy's downfall, Senator Lester Hunt was presented as a kind, even-tempered man who did what he thought was best for everyone, regardless of party and worked for the masses. A rare individual who was beloved by most in state politics, governor, and later federal office. However, he overlapped during the time of Joseph McCarthy. When the Senator's son was caught by the Metropolitan Police Department for soliciting another man, he would have normally have been fined and let go. But McCarthy and his cronies caught on and tried to blackmail the Senator. Dealing with internal strife, Sen. Hunt shot himself in his office. With the loss of their colleague, the Senate turned against McCarthy. The story later inspired Advise and Consent.
September 9, 2013
This is probably going to appeal mostly to Wyomingites with interest in WY history or anyone digging into the McCarthy era.
I was a little frustrated with the excess details on Lester Hunt's family going back generations - I skimmed. The last third of the book is where the meat is regarding the blackmail etc. It was a little difficult to understand where the blackmail occurred since Les Hunt Jr's trial was public. A little more detail that the blackmail was to perpetrate a cover-up story and alleged bribe would have been welcome.
I was also a bit frustrated about the lack of detail on Les Hunt Jr's role at the time his father was contemplating suicide. Were he and his father still talking? Did the father provide unconditional love or was he mad or disgusted with his son? There must have been a lot of guilt on Jr's part, plus anger that the father laid that guilt on extra by committing suicide.
All and all worth the read for me, but then I'm a Wyomingite with an interest in the State's history.
I was a little frustrated with the excess details on Lester Hunt's family going back generations - I skimmed. The last third of the book is where the meat is regarding the blackmail etc. It was a little difficult to understand where the blackmail occurred since Les Hunt Jr's trial was public. A little more detail that the blackmail was to perpetrate a cover-up story and alleged bribe would have been welcome.
I was also a bit frustrated about the lack of detail on Les Hunt Jr's role at the time his father was contemplating suicide. Were he and his father still talking? Did the father provide unconditional love or was he mad or disgusted with his son? There must have been a lot of guilt on Jr's part, plus anger that the father laid that guilt on extra by committing suicide.
All and all worth the read for me, but then I'm a Wyomingite with an interest in the State's history.
May 24, 2013
Outstanding, amazing, a masterpiece! Rodger McDaniel manages to weave together history, biography and a murder mystery and do it flawlessly. He has also started to fill a hole in the historical record that has not before been filled: Wyoming political history. Hopefully this is not the last of books about Wyoming's political leaders. He also shines a light on the Lavender Scare, a tragic historical period is unknown to many Americans.
Read this book! You will learn so much!
Read this book! You will learn so much!
July 3, 2016
Remarkable insight into the inhumanity of McCarthy
Available best through the lens of his victims and their contrast with his ambition and futile and false ideology. The humanity of the Hunts and their core concerns for others absolutely transcends the corruption of post WWII Washington.
Available best through the lens of his victims and their contrast with his ambition and futile and false ideology. The humanity of the Hunts and their core concerns for others absolutely transcends the corruption of post WWII Washington.
September 25, 2013
An interesting story that has remained untold for far too long.
September 11, 2016
Great book about a controversial topic in Wyoming History.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews