Senator Joseph R. McCarthy
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member WascoZooKeeper
N 44° 14.686 W 088° 26.395
16T E 385031 N 4900067
During his ten years in the U.S. Senate, Joseph R. McCarthy ("Tail Gunner Joe") won fame, and ultimately infamy, for his aggressive pursuit of alleged communists in the military and government. He is now buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Appleton, WI.
Waymark Code: WM3QZM
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 05/07/2008
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member rangerroad
Views: 96

Born in Grand Chute, WI, in 1908, Joseph R. McCarthy was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Marines in 1942 and served as an aerial observer in the South Pacific, from whence he earned his nickname "Tail Gunner Joe". After the war, he won election as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in 1946, narrowly defeating Democratic candidate Howard MacMurray.

His first term was largely undistinguished; however, late in his term he rocketed to fame as he and his staff aggressively campaigned against persons in the U.S. government and military who, they claimed, were either Communists or Communist sympathizers. This campaign then extended into other facets of American society, resulting in the infamous Hollywood "black lists", for example, in which numerous directors, producers, actors, and actresses found themselves unable to work in the movie industry either due to unfounded allegations of Communist leanings, or their refusal to perjure themselves by testifying against others.

His charges against the U.S. Army ultimately led to a televised Senate investigation, which ended in December, 1954, with a 67-22 vote to censure Senator McCarthy. Suddenly thrust from fame to infamy, from prestige to humiliation, his heavy drinking escalated into alcoholism, resulting in his death on May 2, 1957.

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Description:
Senator Joseph R. McCarthy's (R-WI, 1946-1957) name lives on today in the term "McCarthyism" -- "the practice of publicizing accusations of political disloyalty or subversion with insufficient regard to evidence" and "the use of unfair investigatory or accusatory methods in order to suppress opposition." (Webster's 3rd) The "Red Scare" of the early 1950's directly resulted from his aggressive pursuit of alleged Communists based on hearsay, rumor, and the flimsiest of circumstantial evidence.


Date of birth: 11/14/1908

Date of death: 05/02/1957

Area of notoriety: Politics

Marker Type: Monument

Setting: Outdoor

Visiting Hours/Restrictions: None noted

Fee required?: No

Web site: [Web Link]

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