78. McCarthyism: The Fall of Joseph McCarthy (Ep 5)
Summary
Hosts David Aldashogo and Sarah Churchwell examine the Army-McCarthy hearings, where televised exposure of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s bullying tactics led to his political downfall. They analyze how Joseph Welch’s famous “Have you no sense of decency?” rebuke turned public opinion against McCarthy, aided by the rise of television. The episode also explores cultural responses to the Red Scare, including Elia Kazan’s *On the Waterfront*, J. Robert Oppenheimer’s security hearings, and the continued persecution of figures like Arthur Miller and Paul Robeson.
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