Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy
United States Senator
from Wisconsin
In office
January 3, 1947 – May 2, 1957
Preceded byRobert M. La Follette Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam Proxmire
Personal details
Born
Joseph Raymond McCarthy

(1908-11-14)November 14, 1908
Grand Chute, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedMay 2, 1957(1957-05-02) (aged 48)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeSaint Mary's Cemetery
Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (1944–1957)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic (c. 1936–1944)
Spouse(s)
Jean Fraser Kerr Minetti
(m. 1953)
ChildrenTierney Elizabeth McCarthy
EducationUniversity of Wisconsin
Marquette University Law School (LL.B.)
ProfessionAttorney, judge, politician
Signature
Military service
Nickname(s)Tail-Gunner Joe
Allegiance United States
Branch/service U.S. Marine Corps
Years of service1942–45
Rank Captain
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14, 1908 – May 2, 1957) was an American politician who was a Republican U.S. Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 to his death. In 1950, McCarthy began to be the most visible public face of a period of intense anti-communist suspicion, which was inspired by the tensions of the Cold War.

He told Americans that many of communist and Soviet spies and sympathizers were in federal government and elsewhere. McCarthyism is a term that was coined in 1950 to refer to McCarthy's practices, and it was soon applied to similar anti-communist pursuits.

During World War II, he was a captain in the United States Marine Corps.

McCarthy died of hepatitis at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Other websites

  • Media related to Joseph Raymond McCarthy at Wikimedia Commons
  • Quotations related to Joseph McCarthy at Wikiquote
  • United States Congress. "Joseph McCarthy (id: M000315)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2008-07-11
United States Senate
Preceded by
Robert M. La Follette Jr.
United States Senator (Class 1) from Wisconsin
1947–1957
Served alongside: Alexander Wiley
Succeeded by
William Proxmire
Preceded by
John L. McClellan
Chairman of Senate Government Operations Committee
1953–1955
Succeeded by
John L. McClellan
Honorary titles
Preceded by
William F. Knowland
Baby of the Senate
1947–1948
Succeeded by
Russell B. Long