Joseph McCarthy

Early Years

• 1908: Born in Appleton, Wisconsin
• Was the fifth of nine children
• Attended Marquette University and worked as a lawyer
• Originally a supporter of FDR
• After failing to become the Democrat candidate for district attorney, he switched parties and became the Republican candidate for Circuit Court judge.
• Joined the Marines during World War II

Political Career

• 1946: McCarthy defeated Robert LaFollette for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate. suspects.
• 1950: In Wheeling, W.Va., he claimed he had a list of 57 people in the State Department who were known to be members of the American Communist Party.
• Was chair of Senate Committee on Government Operations
• FBI Chief Hoover started giving McCarthy information about suspects.

Final Days

• December 1954: Overstated his case and was censured by the Senate and lost his chair
• May 1957: Died in the Bethesda Naval Hospital