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McCarthy sought to characterize President Truman and the Democratic party as soft on or even in league with the Communists.  McCarthy's allegations fell flat with Truman who was unaware of [[Venona project]] decrypts which corroborated [[Elizabeth Bentley]]'s debriefing after her defection from the Communists.  While innocent persons may have been abused, many of the truly guilty walked away free under the cloak of "McCarthyism".

McCarthy sought to characterize President Truman and the Democratic party as soft on or even in league with the Communists.  McCarthy's allegations fell flat with Truman who was unaware of [[Venona project]] decrypts which corroborated [[Elizabeth Bentley]]'s debriefing after her defection from the Communists.  While innocent persons may have been abused, many of the truly guilty walked away free under the cloak of "McCarthyism".

McCarthy's support and popularity peaked in early 1954. CBS broadcast a TV documentary attacking McCarthy.  A special Senate committee was appointed to study and evaluate McCarthy's methods and actions. The committee exonerated McCarthy on all substantive charges.<ref>44 of the 46 charges were dropped. [http://www.xmission.com/~nccs/newsletter/nov05nl.html]</ref> Following the recommendations of this committee, the full Senate voted to censure Senator McCarthy by a vote of 65 to 22 (the votes for censure included all the Democratic senators and about half the Republican senators) for failing to cooperate with the subcommittee that was investigating him, and for insults to the committee that was trying to censure him <ref>Senate Report 104-137 - Resolution For Disciplinary Action. Library of Congress (1995). Retrieved on 2006-10-19.</ref>, making him one of the few senators ever to be disciplined in this fashion. <ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/60.htm]</ref>. His power and clout to continue the search for Communists in positions of power in America was extremely curtailed.  McCarthy died of acute hepatitis in Bethesda Naval Hospital on May 2, 1957, at the age of 48.

McCarthy's support and popularity peaked in early 1954. CBS broadcast a TV documentary attacking McCarthy.  A special Senate committee was appointed to study and evaluate McCarthy's methods and actions. The committee exonerated McCarthy on all substantive charges.<ref>44 of the 46 charges were dropped. [http://www.xmission.com/~nccs/newsletter/nov05nl.html]</ref> Following the recommendations of this committee, the full Senate voted to censure Senator McCarthy by a vote of 65 to 22 (the votes for censure included all the Democratic senators and about half the Republican senators) for failing to cooperate with the subcommittee that was investigating him, and for insults to the committee that was trying to censure him <ref>Senate Report 104-137 - Resolution For Disciplinary Action. Library of Congress (1995). Retrieved on 2006-10-19.</ref>, making him one of the few senators ever to be disciplined in this fashion. <ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/60.htm]</ref>. His power and clout to continue the search for Communists in positions of power in America was extremely curtailed.  McCarthy died of acute hepatitis in Bethesda Naval Hospital on May 2, 1957, at the age of 48. Friends assert that McCarthy had a history of alcohol abuse, a disease which may have led to his Hepatitis and physical decline.

==VENONA files ==

==VENONA files ==