Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
He was not, shall we say, a widely respected judge. He further infuriated oppon-
ents by stumping for higher office—by exaggerating, some say—from the South Pa-
cific, while in World War II; Tail Gunner Joe was born.
THE JUNIOR SENATOR
McCarthy was swept up in the GOP wave of 1946 and made it to Washington, best-
ing a La Follette (the name is legendary here). He incessantly angered the Senate
with his intractable attitude, personal attacks, and rules violations. By 1949, the con-
gressionalleadershiploathedhim,andmostassumedhewassimplyalame-duckem-
barrassment.
What no one counted on was his shrewd prescience about the national paranoia
over Communism. In part, McCarthy concocted the Red Scare. He was once again
reelected. His path culminated in his antics in the Special House Committee on Un-
American Activities. McCarthyism was born.
By1953,hehadreached the pinnacle ofhispowers,attacking hispeers andfend-
ing off censure attempts from his many Senate enemies. One charge finally stuck—a
kickback scheme. On December 2, 1954, he was officially censured, diminishing the
blindly firing junior senator from Wisconsin.
WISCONSIN AND MCCARTHY
Washeanutcaseobscenity?Aprescient,passionateRedfighter?Stridentopposition
to McCarthy was ever-present throughout his reign. The large press in Madison and
Milwaukee lobbed as many editorial shells as it could to bring him down. “Joe Must
Go” recall petitions were collected with almost half a million signatures statewide.
Ask Wisconsinites today about McCarthy, and they'll likely dodge the question
or roll their eyes and shudder. There are still those who support him.
Perhaps most tellingly, Appleton, his adopted hometown, removed his bust (and
all other signs) from the courthouse, while favorite resident Harry Houdini is celeb-
rated with Houdini Plaza and its huge memorial sculpture smack in the city center.
Art Galleries
Lawrence University's Wriston Art Center (E. College Ave., 920/832-6621,
www.lawrence.edu/s/wriston , hours vary Tues.-Sat., free) is worth a trip simply for the
building's otherworldly design.
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