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The hearings also investigated such matters as [[communist]] [[infiltration]] of the [[United Nations]]; [[Korean War]] atrocities;  and the transfer to the [[Soviet Union]] of occupation currency plates.

The hearings also investigated such matters as [[communist]] [[infiltration]] of the [[United Nations]]; [[Korean War]] atrocities;  and the transfer to the [[Soviet Union]] of occupation currency plates.

In April 1954, McCarthy`s exchange of charges with Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens led to the appointment of a special subcommittee of the PSI to investigate the charges. Chaired by [[Karl Mundt]] of [[South Dakota]], the proceedings became known as the [[Army-McCarthy Hearings]].

In April 1954, McCarthy's exchange of charges with Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens led to the appointment of a special subcommittee of the PSI to investigate the charges. Chaired by [[Karl Mundt]] of [[South Dakota]], the proceedings became known as the [[Army-McCarthy Hearings]].

==Labor racketeering==

==Labor racketeering==

From 1955 until 1972, [[John McClellan]] of [[Arkansas]] chaired the PSI.  McClellan continued extensive hearings of the Army Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and added new inquiries relating to communist activities in the United States and to business activities and alleged improper activities by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower Administration]] appointees and political associates.  In the 86th Congress (1957), members of the Subcommittee were joined by Members of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee on a special committee to investigate labor racketeering. Chaired by Senator McClellan and staffed by [[Robert F. Kennedy]], the Subcommittee’s Chief Counsel, and other staff members, this special committee directed much of its attention to criminal influence over the [[Teamsters|International Brotherhood of Teamsters]], most famously calling Teamsters’ leaders Dave Beck and [[Jimmy Hoffa]] to testify. The televised hearings of the special committee also introduced Senators [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[John F. Kennedy]] to the nation, as well as leading to passage of the Landrum-Griffin Labor Act. After each day’s hearings, moreover, Robert Kennedy and other staff members, including [[Pierre Salinger]] and Kenneth O’Donnell, would meet in the committee’s back room to plan strategies for Senator John Kennedy’s upcoming 1960 presidential campaign.

From 1955 until 1972, [[John McClellan]] of [[Arkansas]] chaired the PSI.  McClellan continued extensive hearings of the Army Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and added new inquiries relating to communist activities in the United States and to business activities and alleged improper activities by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower Administration]] appointees and political associates.  In the 86th Congress (1957), members of the Subcommittee were joined by Members of the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee on a special committee to investigate labor racketeering. Chaired by Senator McClellan and staffed by [[Robert F. Kennedy]], the Subcommittee's Chief Counsel, and other staff members, this special committee directed much of its attention to criminal influence over the [[Teamsters|International Brotherhood of Teamsters]], most famously calling Teamsters’ leaders Dave Beck and [[Jimmy Hoffa]] to testify. The televised hearings of the special committee also introduced Senators [[Barry Goldwater]] and [[John F. Kennedy]] to the nation, as well as leading to passage of the Landrum-Griffin Labor Act. After each day's hearings, moreover, Robert Kennedy and other staff members, including [[Pierre Salinger]] and Kenneth O’Donnell, would meet in the committee's back room to plan strategies for Senator John Kennedy's upcoming 1960 presidential campaign.

After the select committee expired in 1960, the PSI continued to investigate labor racketeering and other labor-related matters.  From 1961 through 1968, it also investigated [[gambling]] and [[organized crime]] in which [[Joe Valachi]] testified about the activities of the [[La Cosa Nostra|"Cosa Nostra"]], the [[Billie Sol Estes]] case, irregularities in missile procurement, procurement of the [[General Dynamics F-111|TFX]] fighter plane, excessive risks in underwriting [[Federal Housing Administration]] mortgages, [[riot]]s, and [[civil disorder]]s, the [[United States Agency for International Development|Agency for International Development]] commodity import program, and procurement of railway bridges for [[South Vietnam]] under the [[Counterinsurgency operations|counterinsurgency]] program.  The Subcommittee’s investigations also led to passage of major legislation against organized crime, most notably the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations]] (RICO) provision of the Crime Control Act of 1970.

After the select committee expired in 1960, the PSI continued to investigate labor racketeering and other labor-related matters.  From 1961 through 1968, it also investigated [[gambling]] and [[organized crime]] in which [[Joe Valachi]] testified about the activities of the [[La Cosa Nostra|"Cosa Nostra"]], the [[Billie Sol Estes]] case, irregularities in missile procurement, procurement of the [[General Dynamics F-111|TFX]] fighter plane, excessive risks in underwriting [[Federal Housing Administration]] mortgages, [[riot]]s, and [[civil disorder]]s, the [[United States Agency for International Development|Agency for International Development]] commodity import program, and procurement of railway bridges for [[South Vietnam]] under the [[Counterinsurgency operations|counterinsurgency]] program.  The Subcommittee's investigations also led to passage of major legislation against organized crime, most notably the [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations]] (RICO) provision of the Crime Control Act of 1970.

In 1973, Senator [[Henry "Scoop" Jackson]], a Democrat from Washington, replaced McClellan as the Subcommittee’s chairman and Senator [[Charles Percy]], an Illinois Republican, became the Ranking Minority Member. During Senator Jackson’s chairmanship, the Subcommittee conducted landmark hearings into [[energy]] shortages and the operation of the [[oil industry]].

In 1973, Senator [[Henry "Scoop" Jackson]], a Democrat from Washington, replaced McClellan as the Subcommittee's chairman and Senator [[Charles Percy]], an Illinois Republican, became the Ranking Minority Member. During Senator Jackson's chairmanship, the Subcommittee conducted landmark hearings into [[energy]] shortages and the operation of the [[oil industry]].

==Nunn-Roth era==

==Nunn-Roth era==

The regular reversals of political fortunes in the Senate of the 1980s and 1990s saw Senator [[Sam Nunn]] trade chairmanship three times with Delaware Republican [[William Roth]]. Nunn served from 1979 to 1980 and again from 1987 to 1995, while Roth served from 1981 to 1986, and again from 1995 to 1996. Senator Roth led a wide range of investigations into commodity investment fraud, off-shore banking schemes, [[money laundering]], and [[child pornography]]. Senator Nunn inquired into federal drug policy, the global spread of [[Weapons of mass destruction#Differences among WMD types|chemical and biological weapons]], abuses in federal student aid programs, [[computer security]], [[Air safety|airline safety]], and [[health care]] fraud.

The regular reversals of political fortunes in the Senate of the 1980s and 1990s saw Senator [[Sam Nunn]] trade chairmanship three times with Delaware Republican [[William Roth]]. Nunn served from 1979 to 1980 and again from 1987 to 1995, while Roth served from 1981 to 1986, and again from 1995 to 1996. Senator Roth led a wide range of investigations into commodity investment fraud, off-shore banking schemes, [[money laundering]], and [[child pornography]]. Senator Nunn inquired into federal drug policy, the global spread of [[Weapons of mass destruction#Differences among WMD types|chemical and biological weapons]], abuses in federal student aid programs, [[computer security]], [[Air safety|airline safety]], and [[health care]] fraud.

In January 1997 Republican Senator [[Susan Collins]] of Maine, became the first woman to chair the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Senator [[John Glenn]] of Ohio became Ranking Member. Upon Senator Glenn’s retirement from the Senate, Senator [[Carl Levin]] became Ranking Member in 1999. In June 2001, when the Democrats resumed control of the Senate, Senator Levin assumed the chairmanship of the Subcommittee until January 2003 when Senator Norm Coleman assumed the Chairmanship.

In January 1997 Republican Senator [[Susan Collins]] of Maine, became the first woman to chair the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Senator [[John Glenn]] of Ohio became Ranking Member. Upon Senator Glenn's retirement from the Senate, Senator [[Carl Levin]] became Ranking Member in 1999. In June 2001, when the Democrats resumed control of the Senate, Senator Levin assumed the chairmanship of the Subcommittee until January 2003 when Senator Norm Coleman assumed the Chairmanship.

==External links==

==External links==