Joseph McCarthy
U.S. Congressperson
1908 – 1957
Who was Joseph McCarthy?
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visible public face of a period in which Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread Communist subversion. He was noted for making claims that there were large numbers of Communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers inside the United States federal government and elsewhere. Ultimately, his tactics and inability to substantiate his claims led him to be censured by the United States Senate.
The term McCarthyism, coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was soon applied to similar anti-communist activities. Today the term is used more generally in reference to demagogic, reckless, and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents.
Born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, McCarthy earned a law degree at Marquette University in 1935 and was elected as a circuit judge in 1939, the youngest in state history. At age 33, McCarthy volunteered for the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II.
We need you!
Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!
- Born
- Nov 14, 1908
Grand Chute - Also known as
- Joseph Raymond McCarthy
- Joe McCarthy
- Senator Joseph R. McCarthy
- Tailgunner Joe
- Joe
- The Pepsi Cola Kid
- Tail-Gunner Joe
- Low-Blow Joe
- Parents
- Spouses
- Jean Kerr
(1953/09/29 - 1957/05/02)
- Jean Kerr
- Children
- Religion
- Catholicism
- Nationality
- United States of America
- Profession
- Education
- Law degree, Marquette University Law School
( - 1935)
- Law degree, Marquette University Law School
- Lived in
- Wisconsin
- Appleton
- Died
- May 2, 1957
Bethesda
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Joseph McCarthy." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/joseph_mccarthy>.
Discuss this Joseph McCarthy biography with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In