American politian US Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (1908 - 1957) speaks from behind a bank of microphones, mid 20th century. (Photo by Photoquest/Getty Images)
Senator Joe McCarthy is seen here waving a transcript of a monitored call between Pvt. G. David Schine (L) and Army Secretary Stevens, during the Army-McCarthy hearings, June 7, 1954 in Washington D.C. Schine appeared to listen to the transcript as it was read into the record. On the right is McCarthy's chief counsel, Roy Cohn. (Photo by APA/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Attorney Roy Cohn talking to American senator Joseph McCarthy (right), circa 1954. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, : US Senator (R.-Wisc) Joseph McCarthy (1909-57) makes his first major public address in 1954 in San Diego since his controversy with the US Army. He achieved fame for his unsubstantiated accusations in the early 1950s that 250 Communists had infiltrated the State Department, and in 1953 became chairman of the powerful Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation. By hectoring cross-examination he arraigned many innocent citizens and officials, overreaching himself when he came into direct conflict with the army. The kind of anti-Communism witchhunt he instigated became known as "McCarthyism". (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP via Getty Images)
