The Cold War at Home Chapter 26 Section 4 Notes 6.0 Objectives… Describe how the United States government fought the Cold War in America Discuss the major causes, personalities and events of the Red Scare Compare the Red Scare of the 1920s to the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s How did the National Security State evolve? Concerns for national security broadened executive power Huge federal bureaucracy – Dependent on military spending Devoted to surveillance at home and abroad Increase focus on national defense Before WWII 10% of 900,000 gov’t workers were in security work After WWII 75% of 4,000,000 gov’t workers “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear” -- Harry S. Truman Fears of Communist Influence The Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, the fall of Red China led many Americans to believe that Communism was spreading around the world in the late 1940’s early 1950’s FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover estimated that there were 100,000 Americans in the Communist Party Some feared that Communist had infiltrated the highest levels of GOV. The US Government Acts The National Security Act of 1947- Established the Department of Defense, the National Security Council (NSC) and the CIA Accused of being soft on Communist President Truman set up the Federal Employee Loyalty Program It was to investigate government employees for “sympathetic associations” and could dismiss anyone for “reasonable grounds that the person was disloyal.” Later added homosexuality as a reason State and municipal programs were enacted as well (6.6 million investigated) US Attorney General Clark drew up a list of 91 “subversive groups” What was the National Security Act of 1947? Coordinate and administrate defense policies and to advise the President Department of Defense National Security Council Gather military, political and economic information CIA Why were there concerns about American security? Est. CP members in U.S. 80,000 Many more sympathetic “Loss” of China Spy network exposed Atomic bomb secrets Military secrets What was the Federal Employee Loyalty Program? Executive Order 9835 Response to criticisms – “soft” on communism – lax internal security Goal: root out subversives in government jobs Barred members of CP from federal employment Loyalty checks on all government employees How did the program work? FBI checked files for people engaged in suspicious activity Cases review board People accused found themselves under attack – hard to clear their names Fed. Employees Loyalty & Security Act Accused not able to see evidence or face their accusers 6.6 million investigated – 500 dismissed and 6,000 resigned objecting to the investigation What role did Attorney General Clark play in this? Published a list of hundreds of potentially subversive organizations Membership was rationale for dismissal at nearly all levels of government Fed. Employees Loyalty & Security Act Outlawed many political and social organizations including church, civil rights, musical groups and summer camps Stigmatized thousands who had committed no crime What was the McCarran Act? Internal Security Act Truman’s Loyalty Review Board did not go far enough Required communist organizations to register with the Subversive Activities Control Board - give membership list and financial statement The Internal Security/ McCarran Act To be even tougher on subversives Congress passed the McCarran Act Truman called it “the greatest danger to freedom.” Communist organizations must register with the US Gov. Illegal to plan a totalitarian dictatorship in the US Communists could be interned during national emergencies No Communists in Defense Industries Immigration and Nationality Act barred subversives and homosexuals Communists could be deported Terminated in 1973 Truman’s reaction? Vetoed the bill “In a free country, we punish men for the crimes they commit, but never for the opinions they have.” – HST Law was passed over Truman’s veto What was the House Un-American Activities Committee? Started as a committee under Martin Dies Chaired by J. Parnell Thomas Expose communist influence in Am. Life Blurred the distinction between dissent and disloyalty Threatened people with the loss of jobs How did the HUAC affect American Life? Unions: Expel communist members Stay away from progressive causes championing social justice Strictly pay and benefits Leaders had to sign a loyalty oath Educators: School teachers and college professors had to sign loyalty oaths… How did the HUAC affect Hollywood? Probed the motion picture industry Films had the ability to corrupt –said that some Hollywood figures had left-wing inclinations Called witnesses to testify about communist influence in films “friendly witnesses” cooperated Result: Content of movies very light – avoid social or controversial issues The House Un-American Activities Committee The HUAC was a Congressional Committee that was to investigate Communist activity In 1947 it targeted the movie industry 43 “friendly” witnesses from Hollywood were subpoenaed ( Ronald Reagan, Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck) Some “unfriendly” witnesses were Orsen Wells, and Charlie Chaplin Even Humphrey Bogart and Lucille Ball received bad publicity J. Parnell Thomas "Practically every play presented under the auspices of the (Federal Theater) Project is sheer propaganda for Communism or the New Deal." HUAC “Are you now – or have you ever been – a member of the communist party?” The Hollywood Ten What was the Hollywood Ten? 19 screenwriters, actors, and producers called to testify 10 refused to testify – “unfriendly” witnesses Sent to jail for contempt of Congress Original 10 were blacklisted by Hollywood Others who were accused of communist leanings and were also blacklisted The Hollywood Ten Ten “Unfriendly witnesses” refused to testify, they thought the hearings were unconstitutional, they were sentenced to prison by the committee (Hollywood Ten) Hollywood executives instituted a “blacklist” 500 actors, writers, producers and directors had their careers ruined The blacklist remained in effect until 1960 Committee for the First Amendment – Hollywood liberals protesting HUAC Spy Cases Stun the Nation In 1948 a former Communist spy Whittaker Chambers (Time Magazine Editor) named former State Department Official Alger Hiss of Spying for the USSR Who was Alger Hiss? State Department official accused by admitted communist, Whittaker Chambers, of being a communist and a spy Denied the charges and sued Chambers for slander Congressman Richard Nixon pursued the case – found microfilm with government documents Hiss found guilty of perjury The Hiss Case Chambers produced micro-film and documents allegedly passed to him from Hiss “The Pumpkin Papers” Hiss denied the charges Congressman Richard M. Nixon pursued the charges which increased his popularity Hiss was indicted for perjury--the statute of limitations for espionage during the 1930s having long expire Sentenced to 5 years in prison, he served 2 years still claiming his innocence Ethel and Julius Rosenberg Who were Ethel and Julius Rosenberg? 1950 – Klaus Fuchs arrested for passing passing atomic secrets to the Soviets He implicated David Greenglass who was a machinist at Los Alamos He said his brother-in-law Julius Rosenberg had recruited him Rosenbergs were tried, convicted, and executed for espionage Who was Senator Joe McCarthy? “Tailgunner” Joe Republican Senator from Wisconsin Weak – wanted reelection Identified himself as a leader against communism in U.S. government Gave a speech to a the Republican Women’s Club in Wheeling, W. Virginia McCarthy… Claimed to have a list of 205 communists in the State Department – then 81 – then 57 McCarthyism – synonym for public charges without sufficient regard for the evidence Demogogue… Senator Joe McCarthy What tactics did he use? Made slanderous attacks on the Senate floor Democrats – “soft on communism” Democratic Party – “the party of treason” Sec. of State Dean Acheson – “Red Dean” Fed on people’s fears Used the press effectively – called press conferences Who supported him? Republicans who wanted a campaign issue for ’52 Those who opposed aid to Europe and the New Deal Those who resented privilege and the eastern elite American Legion and the Chamber of Commerce Religious leaders and blue collar workers What brought McCarthy’s downfall? He went too far Made attacks against the US Army Nationally televised investigation Bullied witnesses and alienated the audience Censured by the Senate Joe Welch – Counsel for the Army "Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness." Americans watched the televised ArmyMcCarthy Hearings Damage and other Anti- Communist Measures Because of McCarthy many repressive federal and state laws remained in effect Basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and assembly were eroded Dissent had become dangerous The US Government investigated union leaders, librarians, teachers, reporters, entertainers, and scientists