American History In Video: Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R-WI) (Sept. 1952)
Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R-WI) (Sept. 1952) from Chronoscope (Columbia Broadcasting System, 1952) 14:38.
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200 LW 144 Authorized Agency LONGINES WITTNAUER Watches ESTABLISHED 1866
Frank Knight It's time for the Longines Chronoscope. A television journal of the important issues of the hour brought to you every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A presentation of the Longines-Wittnauer Watch Company. Maker of Longines, the world's most honored watch and Wittnauer, distinguished companion to the world honored Longines.
Frank Knight Good evening. This is Frank Knight . May I introduced our co-editors for this edition of the Longines Chronoscope. Mr. William Bradford Huie , Editor of the American Mercury and Mr. Henry Hazlitt , Contributing Editor of Newsweek Magazine. Our distinguished guest for this evening is the Honorable Joseph R. McCarthy , United States Senator from Wisconsin . The opinions expressed are necessarily those of the speakers.
William Bradford Huie Well, Senator McCarthy our viewers, of course, know that you are one of the most controversial political figures of our time, and this is your first appearance since your rather overwhelming victory in the Wisconsin primaries. Now, sir, ah, what, ah, brings you East at this time?
Senator Joseph McCarthy Your program largely, Mr. Huie .
William Bradford Huie And, ah, I believe that, ah, also this week you expect to ah, make an address in Connecticut , is that correct, sir?
Senator Joseph McCarthy I'm expected tomorrow night at the Klein Memorial Hall at Bridgeport, Connecticut .
William Bradford Huie And, ah, of course, our viewers know that, ah, in Connecticut , ah, ah, that's the home state of, ah, a man that you had a few words with, Senator Bill Benton . Now, sir, ah, ah, what, what, what's the purpose of your going into, into Connecticut ? Is it to defeat Senator Brenna, Benton or to try to help defeat Senator Benton ?
Senator Joseph McCarthy My purpose, ah, Mr. Huie , will be about the same as the purpose in some 12, 13 states I'll visit and that is to bring important facts to the American people. You see I, I got a very strong feeling that ah, the most of our people in public life underestimate the intelligence of the American people. Ah, they tried to argue and tell people how to vote. I think you need merely give the people the facts and then you can go home and don't worry they'll vote right.
William Bradford Huie Well, now at Bridgeport, Connecticut , ah, and I understand you correct, that you say, when you, to say that you are opening a, a, a, a 12 or 13-state ah, drive now in support of the national ticket?
Senator Joseph McCarthy I think I'll be in, I may be wrong in the number, Mr. Huie , I think that I am now scheduled to speak in some 13 or 14 states where they have close senatorial contest.
Henry Hazlitt Well, Senator, a lot of people came into your state into Wisconsin to try to defeat you in the primaries and it seemed to have worked the other way. (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy Uh hmm.
Henry Hazlitt Now, don't you think that perhaps when you go into these states it may have that sort of effect?
Senator Joseph McCarthy Well, Mr. Hazlitt , ah, ah, Mr. Hazlitt , right?
Henry Hazlitt That's right.
Senator Joseph McCarthy I'm sorry. Mr. Hazlitt , I do not intend to go into those states and tell the people how to vote. I don't intend to go and, and discuss the local men running for Congress or for Senator. I intend to go into those states and give the American people ah, the cold, documented picture of the sell-out in Korea , the extent to which communism has been directing our foreign policy, ah, our suicidal foreign policy, if you please. And if the American people want more of that, then they can vote for the present administration. I may say this, ah, that my appeal is, ah, is largely made to Democrats. Ah, I feel that the millions of Americans who have long voted the Democrat ticket are just as loyal, they love America just as much, they hate communism just as much as the average Republican. And I think it is up to those ah, loyal Democrats to realize that as of today they don't have a party in Washington . The only way they can ah, have a change is by voting Republican.
Henry Hazlitt Well, do you think a lot of Democrats came in and voted for you in the Wisconsin election?
Senator Joseph McCarthy I don't think it, I, I know it. Ah, our normal as for (inaudible ) about two years ago the Democratic vote was about 47 percent of the total, the Republican vote 53 percent. This year we had a, let's see, I think the figures are at 83 percent Republican vote, 17 percent Democrat vote and most of the Democrats, ah, apparently voted for McCarthy because I carried the Democrat wards ah, normally better than I carried the Republican wards, which, which, ah, proves my contention and that is that in this fight against communism, it isn't a Democrat fight, it isn't a Republican fight and for that reason I don't go into any State and tell the people how to vote.
Henry Hazlitt What is the broader interpretation of your own victory in Wisconsin as you see it?
Senator Joseph McCarthy Well, I would say, Mr. Hazlitt , number one, ah, it was not a vote for McCarthy . Ah, it was a vote on an issue, an all-important issue. The American people recognized that the one real issue, ah, not the phony issue, is the issue of communism, ah, corruption, all tied up with the Korean War and, ah, World War call it two and half, called it police action, called it what you may. It means that the American people are sick way down deep inside at what's been going on and that, it, it was, I'd like to consider the tribute to McCarthy but it does not, it was a vote upon an all-important issue and I just hope that, ah, many of our good friends realize that that is the issue this year. (crosstalk)
William Bradford Huie Well, what you are implying Senator by saying that they didn't vote for McCarthy , you imply that you've become something of a symbol now to a large group of the Americans. Now, as just what do you believe you symbolize in the American political scene now?
Senator Joseph McCarthy No, I don't, ah, quite like the way you put that question, Mr. Huie . Ah, let's put it this way. Ah, ah, many people have been waiting for someone to expose the extent to which our suicidal foreign policy has been dictated from the Kremlin. Ah, they have been waiting for someone to really get up and fight corruption, knowing men like Senator Williams have fought it. And, ah, I think my people in Wisconsin were voting an approval of a fight against communism, corruption, the sell-out of American interest and that, ah, they weren't voting for, they weren't voting for Joe McCarthy , (crosstalk)
William Bradford Huie What would you. (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy I, I, I happened to be the recipient of the vote, (crosstalk)
William Bradford Huie Yeah.
Senator Joseph McCarthy and I certainly appreciate it a great deal.
William Bradford Huie Well, would say the other side of that coin is that you are the recipient of all the protest vote in Wisconsin ? I mean that, that they were voting for you in order to protest against, ah, ah, what, what you outlined ah, have been the failures of the administration?
Senator Joseph McCarthy That, that might well be, ah, Mr. Huie .
Henry Hazlitt Senator, I want to ask you about this word, McCarthyism.
Senator Joseph McCarthy Uh hmm.
Henry Hazlitt Am I right in supposing that the first one who used that word was Owen Lattimore in testimony before the Tydings Committee?
Senator Joseph McCarthy Owen Lattimore first used it ah, let me see, let me correct myself. I think it is first used by Lattimore or by the Daily Worker but the testimony now is that 40 top communists met in New York and decided how they would fight McCarthy and that they then coined the phrase McCarthyism. Now, as to the date of that, well, that was the day before Lattimore testimy, testified or the day after, I frankly don't know.
Henry Hazlitt But that's the origin as you see it. Either the Daily Workers publication of it or the Owen Lattimore testimony was the first time it was used. (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy Yes. Or, or that the testimony by, ah, Howard Rushmore that... (crosstalk)
Henry Hazlitt Right.
Senator Joseph McCarthy ...40 communists met and said we'll, we'll coin the phrase McCarthyism and use that.
Henry Hazlitt I want to ask you here something about a point that came up in the testimony ah, the Congressional testimony about the Institute of Pacific Relations. Ah, this was about a year ago and it was a letter, ah, written by the, ah, Secretary of the IPR, ah, to a Mr. Barnett asking about a meeting they were going to have at Mount Tremblant and the people that they ought to invite to that meeting.
Senator Joseph McCarthy Uh hmm.
Henry Hazlitt And, ah, ah, William Lockwood ah, says here in, in writing the Secretary of the IPR, "Another possibility we might consider as someone from Knox's office are Stimpson . Cole and Hiss ," meaning Alger Hiss , "mentioned Adlai Stevens , one of Knox's Special Assistance." Well, that must mean Adlai Stevenson because, ah, there, ah, he was one of Knox's Special Assistance then... (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy Uh hmm.
Henry Hazlitt ...and there was no Stevens . Now, why in your opinion would, ah, Hiss back in 1942 have recommended Adlai Stevenson as a participant in that meeting? Ah, what qualifications did Adlai Stevenson have as a, let's say, a Far Eastern expert at that time?
Senator Joseph McCarthy All the qualifications that Alger Hiss wanted in a man, I would say, and ah keep in mind that Cole , the other man recommended by Alger Hiss , has been named under oath seven times as either a communist or an espionage agent.
Henry Hazlitt But Senator. (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy Now, let, let, let me say this. I'd rather not go to Stevenson's record in too great detail at this time because we have just completed a complete and thorough research on Adlai Stevenson .
Henry Hazlitt Who is we? (crosstalk)
Senator Joseph McCarthy I, ah, ah, well, and ah, and I intend to, ah, give that picture on a nationwide network ah, television I hope also. And after I give that picture of Stevenson , it isn't the picture that I've created, it's his own history. It's Adlai Stevenson's , history of Adlai Stevenson , since the time he entered the Agricultural Department in 1933 when Alger Hiss (inaudible ) and the rest entered. And after I give that history of Stevenson , ah, if the American people want him, they can have him. I don't think they'll want him.
William Bradford Huie Well, ah, Senator, I gather from what you say that it's fair to infer that you will not avoid personalities, ah, in your 13 states that you expect to speak in a.
Senator Joseph McCarthy I will never avoid giving the facts to the American people, Mr. Huie . It's so easy, you see, to talk about communism generally, to talk about the sell-out in China and Korea generally. But unless you call the rule of the traitors, unless you call the rule of those who have been responsible for the suicidal foreign policy, it's a waste of the speaker's time and the audience's time and I don't intend to ever get up and, in general terms, talk about treason, talk about sell-outs. I, you see, foreign policy isn't like little tops it doesn't just grow. Treason is like little tops. It doesn't just grow. It's created by men with faces and men with names and I think those of us who've been elected by the American people to manned the watch towers must have the intelligence to recognize the traitors and then if I may use a word which we use in Wisconsin , at least, we have the guts to name them which should be taken down from those watch towers and should not be representing the American people and I don't intend to ever avoid giving the names of traitors, giving the names of communists, I discover them in important position.
Henry Hazlitt Well, Senator, we appreciated very much for your being with us tonight.
Senator Joseph McCarthy Well, thank, thank you, Mr. Hazlitt .
[sil.]
Frank Knight The Editorial Board for this edition of the Longines Chronoscope was Mr. William Bradford Huie and Mr. Henry Hazlitt . Our distinguished guest was the Honorable Joseph R. McCarthy , United States Senator from Wisconsin .
[sil.]
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200 LW 145
McCarthy 14:38
Joseph McCarthy Discusses McCarthyism and His Symbolic Value to the American People, 1952 03:00