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Senator Joe McCarthy
The story of Senator Joseph McCarthy's rise to unprecedented power and the decline of his influence is a dramatic one. Richard Rovere documents the process by which a clever, power hungry individual came to mislead and manipulate members of Congress and the American public and to damage countless lives. A new foreword for this edition by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. places the book in historical context and relates it to current issues in American public life.
297 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 25, 2019
One of the most influential books on Joe McCarthy, Richard Rovere's biography seems, somehow, both dated and valuable today. Certainly Rovere, a journalist who knew McCarthy well and covered his time in Washington, provides a valuable portrait of the climate of hysteria and recrimination wrought by McCarthy's charges; certainly he gives interesting views of McCarthy's personal style, a broad, bullying bonhomie that could be used to flatter or destroy colleagues, officials and reporters as he saw fit. Yet Rovere often seems content to spin facile, simplistic views of McCarthy: he portrays him as a shallow opportunist with no interest in Communism, nor an understanding of what his actions wrought, manipulated by others (Catholic officials, conservative millionaires, anticommunist reporters) into a crusade that wasn't his. This is so shallow a depiction of its subject that it's barely worth remarking on after more thorough biographies by Herman, Oshinsky and Reeves; nor does Rovere's peddling long-debunked rumors about McCarthy's supposedly grim childhood (it was difficult, but hardly repressive) and alleged dishonesty as a Judge (ironically, the one time in McCarthy's career where he behaved honorably and honestly), or mouthing Drew Pearson's assertion that McCarthy flippantly grasped onto Communism after a chance conversation with some conservative backers. I don't make these comments to defend McCarthy, as odious a figure as American politics has produced, merely to assert that caricaturing the man affords us little understanding of him personally or why he was so successful. For that matter, Rovere offers little view of the Red Scare as a broader phenomenon; more than any other work, I suspect this one is responsible for the idea that the witch hunts were primarily McCarthy's responsibility and essentially vanished when he did. The book has marginal value today as an historical document, but it's still engaging and highly readable as an acid diatribe - an insight, more than anything, into liberal responses to McCarthy and how they shaped our later understanding of this era.
January 31, 2021
Senator Joe McCarthy by Richard H. Rovere is essentially an essay that illustrates the negative actions that he took, and he then explains how he got to that point. It also shows how he was just a man, allowing people to show sympathy to the villain so to speak. It is a spectacular essay that shows the similarities and differences between demagogues such as Senator Joe McCarthy and common politicians. This book is a great essay that illustrates the actions of this demagogue and the effects of his actions. This book does a great job at illustrating the cause of the peak of the Cold War. I would recommend this book to people who like to peer into history and see things that may shape people like Joe McCarthy into the people they become.
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May 13, 2025“About a decade ago, I’d read Richard Rovere’s 1959 classic Senator Joe McCarthy. That work portrayed its subject as a dishonest, ignorant buffoon, whose political antics fully matched the very negative popular conception of ‘McCarthyism.’ That account of McCarthy’s rise and fall strongly influenced my own perceptions.
Although relatively short, Rovere’s book was so widely praised after its publication that I think it may have played a leading role in shaping the academic and media verdict on McCarthy that remained in place during the generations that followed.”
-Ron Unz, “McCarthyism Part I”
Although relatively short, Rovere’s book was so widely praised after its publication that I think it may have played a leading role in shaping the academic and media verdict on McCarthy that remained in place during the generations that followed.”
-Ron Unz, “McCarthyism Part I”
April 16, 2017
he was condemned for conduct that tended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute. p. 5
he was the first American ever to be actively hated and feared by foreigners in large numbers. p. 10
. . . the Chief Justice of the U. S. was probably right when he said that if the Bill of Rights were put to a vote, it would lose. p. 23
Thucydides . . . The meaning of words had no longer the same relation to things but was changed by them as they thought proper. Reckless daring was held to be courage, prudent delay was the excuse of a coward; moderation was the disguise of unmanly weakness, to know everything was to do nothing. Frantic energy was the true quality of a man. . . . He who succeeded in a plot was deemed knowing, but a still greater master in craft was he who detected one. * * * His (McCarthy) tongue was loose and always wagging; he would say anything that came into his head and worry later, if at all about defending what he had said. Joseph Welch said he had something of a genius for creating confusion. p. 46
good at . . . leading the populace to mischief with empty words. p. 52
McCarthy's charges of treason, espionage, corruption, perversion are news which cannot be suppressed of ignored, Walter Lippmann once wrote. They come from a U. S. Senator and a politician in good standing at the headquarters of the Republican Party. When he makes such attavks agains the State Department and Defense Dept., it is news which has to be published. * * * because McCarthy was a true innovator, because he lied with an unprecedented boldness, because he invented new kinds of lies -- even those newspapers tht were willing to expose him found that they lacked the technical resources. p. 166
And he knew something even more arcane and delicate -- that we will take the symbols of the "established fact" for the fact itself. p. 167
I know of no sinner so quick to attribute his own sings to others. p. 171
. . . the conduct of the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, is contrary to Senatorial traditions and is hereby condemned. * * * . . . acted contrary to Senatorial ethics and tended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute, to obstruct the constitutional processes of the Senate, and to impair its dignity; and such conduct is hereby condemned. p. 230
he was the first American ever to be actively hated and feared by foreigners in large numbers. p. 10
. . . the Chief Justice of the U. S. was probably right when he said that if the Bill of Rights were put to a vote, it would lose. p. 23
Thucydides . . . The meaning of words had no longer the same relation to things but was changed by them as they thought proper. Reckless daring was held to be courage, prudent delay was the excuse of a coward; moderation was the disguise of unmanly weakness, to know everything was to do nothing. Frantic energy was the true quality of a man. . . . He who succeeded in a plot was deemed knowing, but a still greater master in craft was he who detected one. * * * His (McCarthy) tongue was loose and always wagging; he would say anything that came into his head and worry later, if at all about defending what he had said. Joseph Welch said he had something of a genius for creating confusion. p. 46
good at . . . leading the populace to mischief with empty words. p. 52
McCarthy's charges of treason, espionage, corruption, perversion are news which cannot be suppressed of ignored, Walter Lippmann once wrote. They come from a U. S. Senator and a politician in good standing at the headquarters of the Republican Party. When he makes such attavks agains the State Department and Defense Dept., it is news which has to be published. * * * because McCarthy was a true innovator, because he lied with an unprecedented boldness, because he invented new kinds of lies -- even those newspapers tht were willing to expose him found that they lacked the technical resources. p. 166
And he knew something even more arcane and delicate -- that we will take the symbols of the "established fact" for the fact itself. p. 167
I know of no sinner so quick to attribute his own sings to others. p. 171
. . . the conduct of the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. McCarthy, is contrary to Senatorial traditions and is hereby condemned. * * * . . . acted contrary to Senatorial ethics and tended to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute, to obstruct the constitutional processes of the Senate, and to impair its dignity; and such conduct is hereby condemned. p. 230
February 12, 2014
Picked up last night off my own shelves while looking for something to read. I have SO MANY books that I've obtained in various ways and yet about half the books I read come from the local libraries! I wanted to read some non-fiction... I vaguely remember the Army-McCarthy hearings being on TV back in the day because my mother was glued to the tube watching them. Along with "The Guiding Light" and "Search for Tomorrow"...
Nowadays there's plenty of remnant McCarthyism about in the political world. Mostly on the right in the ideological sense but also on the far left in the tactical and emotional(paranoid) sense. So far the overview of McCarthy's personality and career is easy to read and baffling. How'd all that weird stuff happen, anyway? Mr. Rovere will explain...
And now done after last night's late-ish session. This is a very good book to use for an introduction to the JM phenomenon. It's easy reading and compelling. For a more scholarly experience look elsewhere. Of course the big question comes up: how'd this destructive demon, this semi-lunatic/narcissist come to have so much power? What kind of weakness does the story reveal in our culture and politics? How are these issues affecting us today? At one time 50% of Americans had a generally positive view of the guy and another 21% had no firm opinion. That means that only 29% were actively and consciously opposed - scary!
McCarthy: maverick! alcoholic! gambler! womanizer!(?) liar! narcissist!(d'ya think!) Homo?(maybe... that's 1950's-speak by the way; I'm not trying to offend) Wanna-be President? Apparently not.
- It's been nagging at me that there's a current day counterpart to JM. And would be... Michelle Bachman of neighboring Minnesota. The same incessant droning of ridiculous paranoid baloney.
Nowadays there's plenty of remnant McCarthyism about in the political world. Mostly on the right in the ideological sense but also on the far left in the tactical and emotional(paranoid) sense. So far the overview of McCarthy's personality and career is easy to read and baffling. How'd all that weird stuff happen, anyway? Mr. Rovere will explain...
And now done after last night's late-ish session. This is a very good book to use for an introduction to the JM phenomenon. It's easy reading and compelling. For a more scholarly experience look elsewhere. Of course the big question comes up: how'd this destructive demon, this semi-lunatic/narcissist come to have so much power? What kind of weakness does the story reveal in our culture and politics? How are these issues affecting us today? At one time 50% of Americans had a generally positive view of the guy and another 21% had no firm opinion. That means that only 29% were actively and consciously opposed - scary!
McCarthy: maverick! alcoholic! gambler! womanizer!(?) liar! narcissist!(d'ya think!) Homo?(maybe... that's 1950's-speak by the way; I'm not trying to offend) Wanna-be President? Apparently not.
- It's been nagging at me that there's a current day counterpart to JM. And would be... Michelle Bachman of neighboring Minnesota. The same incessant droning of ridiculous paranoid baloney.
July 28, 2010
The playbook that Joe McCarthy wrote in the 1950s is being played out in today's political arena. The book, which was written 2 years after McCarthy's death, builds the case that he was demagogue (one that, according to the Merriam Dictionary, "...makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power." McCarthy fed the flames of fear surrounding communism in the United States with blatant lies. He expertly worked the press to report stories that kept the sensational headlines coming. In the end, he got what he deserved (censure), but during the 4 years that he fought his "cause" he was seen as a crusader by many.
Me personally? As I was reading this book, I wanted to go back in time just to punch him in the face. Hate to think what he would have done if there was a Fox News during the 1950s.
Me personally? As I was reading this book, I wanted to go back in time just to punch him in the face. Hate to think what he would have done if there was a Fox News during the 1950s.
November 21, 2020
It's remarkable how relevant this book is today. Rovere, harshly critical of McCarthy, has an important perspective on a conviction-less, cynical demagogue with zero regard for the truth. What's conventionally taught about this figure masks just how crooked he was, from his county judgeship on up to the US Senate. In so doing, we miss a lot of McCarthyism's lessons for the current moment. While Rovere skipped connecting details, making sections of the book seem a little disjointed, it's one HELL of a pertinent read. McCarthy, like a more recent figure, alleged a broad conspiracy within the government composed of his ideological enemies. With scant evidence, he attempted to go after revered American institutions like the military while engaging in his own clear corruption. This came back to bite and McCarthy ended up repudiated but with a large cadre of followers who revered him even after his downfall (Birchers go unmentioned in the book but they definitely remained relevant). In shaking the American tree (a metaphor Rovere uses), McCarthy damaged some institutions and the general discursive climate. However, by and large, the country and its reputation recovered from this shaking. Rovere implores us not forget that "the grievances and discontents were all there before he came along, and I assume that most of them persist to this day" (266). It's worth keeping this in mind as we leave the Trump years. He was a symptom of a deeper problem, one that must be addressed. Rovere concludes that as a country we're both "more vulnerable than many of us had guessed to a seditious demagogy -- as well as less vulnerable than some of us feared" (271). This was the takeaway then and I think today too.
September 10, 2018
You could replace "McCarthy" with Trump for 80% of this book's description of the late-Senator and it would be just as relevant. Just the right amount of background on the subject without too much psycho-analyzing his methods and madness. Incredible detail of sustained graft and corruption and the way McCarthy used his limited means as the leader of a "weak" subcommittee to launch his red scare. Well worth a look.
May 30, 2020
Riveting. Beautifully written, about a very ugly subject. Takeaway: we are living today in the era of the second coming of McCarthy--if not his person, his techniques, his tactics, his strategies, and his utter shamelessness driven by an amoral lust for glory without any redeeming principles. Call it Roy Cohn's legacy, and revenge . . .
August 3, 2020
Interesting book. I didn't like more things than I liked. I don't think I'll read another one of
Rovere's books. I can't believe that a man like McCarthy could last as long as he did. But we have another today in Trump. I think our educational system has failed.
Rovere's books. I can't believe that a man like McCarthy could last as long as he did. But we have another today in Trump. I think our educational system has failed.
May 22, 2020
I was going to click 'I liked it', but couldn't because the reporting of McCarthy's actions brought to mind Donald Trump too often. Well written book (published 1959) by a journalist of the day.
January 10, 2019
This was given to me by a friend who purchased it used at a bookstore established in 1970 in North Olmstead, Ohio.
What a read! This guy was a world class nut job. Unfortunately, while the initial detail about his life before he became famous is very interesting and told carefully, details about his actions during the height of his popularity are very thin. The writing, by a New Yorker contributor, is top shelf.
His made up facts, obfuscations and scaremongering put me in mind of a similar present day figure.
What a read! This guy was a world class nut job. Unfortunately, while the initial detail about his life before he became famous is very interesting and told carefully, details about his actions during the height of his popularity are very thin. The writing, by a New Yorker contributor, is top shelf.
His made up facts, obfuscations and scaremongering put me in mind of a similar present day figure.
December 2, 2009
This book was actually first published about 1959. Walter Lippman read the book and thought there was nothing left to be said about McCarthy. Rovere does surgery on McCarthy without anasthesia, and leaves no blood on the blade. Fascinating, penetrating and a reminder that demagoguery flows from many springs, and not just the spring of ambition. Conditions have to be right. A great book and still relevant.
August 22, 2015
For reasons rather beyond my ken, I've always been fascinated by Joe McCarthy and the intense search of Communists. From this 21st century vantage point it all seems bizarre and obvious, but in his time he must have been really scary. A good, solid book with no attempt on Rovere's part to imitate any objectivity.
November 18, 2008
How come more people don't know about Rovere? This shit is awesome!
Read
September 8, 2011Very good; read 1 books on McCarthy ... got 2 different insites.
April 13, 2015
Charles Johnson? Is that you? Interesting look at a rather controversial figure in modern American history.
April 29, 2017
We don't get political analysis like this any more and this one is even more important because Joe McCarthy could be called 'Trump Lite'.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews