Changes

In Washington, McCarthy was a mainstream conservative in domestic policy, and, like many veterans, was an internationalist in foreign affairs, supporting the [[Marshall Plan]] and [[NATO]].  His speeches rarely mentioned domestic Communism or flaming issues like the [[Alger Hiss]] espionage case, but that suddenly changed in early 1950 when his vivid [[anti-Communist]] rhetoric drew national attention. "The issue between the Republicans and Democrats is clearly drawn. It has been deliberately drawn by those who have been in charge of twenty years of treason.”  Alleging there were many card-carrying Communists in [[Harry S. Truman]]’s State Department, McCarthy forced a Senate investigation led by Millard Tydings, Democrat of Maryland. McCarthy named numerous suspect diplomats but failed to convince the three Democrats on the panel; they  concluded his allegations were “a fraud and a hoax,” while the two Republicans dissented. McCarthy retaliated by campaigning against Tydings, who was defeated for reelection in November, 1950.  What the senator himself called McCarthyism was a factor in key races across the country; all his candidates won and his stock soared. A few weeks later American forces were crushed by the Chinese in Korea, and in spring 1951 Truman tried to shift the blame by firing General [[Douglas MacArthur]].

In Washington, McCarthy was a mainstream conservative in domestic policy, and, like many veterans, was an internationalist in foreign affairs, supporting the [[Marshall Plan]] and [[NATO]].  His speeches rarely mentioned domestic Communism or flaming issues like the [[Alger Hiss]] espionage case, but that suddenly changed in early 1950 when his vivid [[anti-Communist]] rhetoric drew national attention. "The issue between the Republicans and Democrats is clearly drawn. It has been deliberately drawn by those who have been in charge of twenty years of treason.”  Alleging there were many card-carrying Communists in [[Harry S. Truman]]’s State Department, McCarthy forced a Senate investigation led by Millard Tydings, Democrat of Maryland. McCarthy named numerous suspect diplomats but failed to convince the three Democrats on the panel; they  concluded his allegations were “a fraud and a hoax,” while the two Republicans dissented. McCarthy retaliated by campaigning against Tydings, who was defeated for reelection in November, 1950.  What the senator himself called McCarthyism was a factor in key races across the country; all his candidates won and his stock soared. A few weeks later American forces were crushed by the Chinese in Korea, and in spring 1951 Truman tried to shift the blame by firing General [[Douglas MacArthur]].

==Catholic base==

==Support from Catholics and Kennedys==

The great majority of Catholics were anti-Communist, but they were also loyal Democrats, so to enlarge his base McCarthy, a Republican, needed an alliance with anti-Communist Catholics.<ref> Martin E. Marty, ''Modern American Religion: 1941-1960'' (1996) 3:358</ref> The Catholic bishops and the Catholic press was "among McCarthy's most fervid supporters." <ref> Charles R. Morris, ''American Catholic'' (1997) p. 248-50, quote on p. 248; James Waldron Arnold, ''Objectivity in Selected Catholic Diocesan Newspapers'' (1954) p. 49.</ref> A major connection was with the powerful Kennedy family, which had very high visibility among all Catholics in the Northeast.<ref>Kevin Kenny, ''The American Irish'' (2000), 242-43.</ref> Well before he became famous McCarthy became closely associated with [[Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.]]. He was a frequent guest at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, and at one point dated Joe's daughter Patricia. After McCarthy became nationally prominent Kennedy was a vocal supporter, and helped build McCarthy's popularity among Catholics. Kennedy contributed cash and encouraged his friends to give money. Some historians have argued that in the Senate race of 1952, Joe Kennedy and McCarthy made a deal that McCarthy would not make campaign speeches for the Republican ticket in Massachusetts, and in return, Congressman [[John F. Kennedy]] would not give anti-McCarthy speeches. In 1953 McCarthy hired [[Robert Kennedy]] as a senior staff member. When the Senate voted to censure McCarthy in 1954, Senator Kennedy was in the hospital and never indicated then or later how he would vote; he told associates he could not vote against McCarthy because of the family ties.<ref> Michael O'Brien, ''John F. Kennedy: A Biography'' (2005); Crosby, ''God, Church, and Flag'' </ref>

The great majority of Catholics were anti-Communist, but they were also loyal Democrats, so to enlarge his base McCarthy, a Republican, needed an alliance with anti-Communist Catholics.<ref> Martin E. Marty, ''Modern American Religion: 1941-1960'' (1996) 3:358</ref> The Catholic bishops and the Catholic press was "among McCarthy's most fervid supporters." <ref> Charles R. Morris, ''American Catholic'' (1997) p. 248-50, quote on p. 248; James Waldron Arnold, ''Objectivity in Selected Catholic Diocesan Newspapers'' (1954) p. 49.</ref> A major connection was with the powerful Kennedy family, which had very high visibility among all Catholics in the Northeast.<ref>Kevin Kenny, ''The American Irish'' (2000), 242-43.</ref> Well before he became famous McCarthy became closely associated with [[Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr.]]. He was a frequent guest at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, and at one point dated Joe's daughter Patricia. After McCarthy became nationally prominent Kennedy was a vocal supporter, and helped build McCarthy's popularity among Catholics. Kennedy contributed cash and encouraged his friends to give money. Some historians have argued that in the Senate race of 1952, Joe Kennedy and McCarthy made a deal that McCarthy would not make campaign speeches for the Republican ticket in Massachusetts, and in return, Congressman [[John F. Kennedy]] would not give anti-McCarthy speeches. In 1953 McCarthy hired [[Robert Kennedy]] as a senior staff member. When the Senate voted to censure McCarthy in 1954, Senator Kennedy was in the hospital and never indicated then or later how he would vote; he told associates he could not vote against McCarthy because of the family ties.<ref> Michael O'Brien, ''John F. Kennedy: A Biography'' (2005); Crosby, ''God, Church, and Flag'' </ref>