HISTORY This Week "Have You No Decency, Sir?"
Jun 12, 2025
Ellen Schrecker, a renowned historian and McCarthyism expert, dives into the gripping saga of Senator Joseph McCarthy's rise and fall. She discusses the intense Senate hearing of June 9, 1954, where five crucial words dismantled McCarthy's power. The conversation reveals how anti-communist hysteria fueled McCarthy's ascent amidst Cold War fears, and scrutinizes the dual life of Roy Cohn, McCarthy's notorious associate. Schrecker highlights the dramatic shift in public sentiment that ultimately led to the senator's downfall, reshaping American political history.
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A Teen Sees 'Have You No Decency' Live
- Ellen Schrecker remembers being in ninth grade and turning on the TV live during the Army-McCarthy hearings.
- She immediately witnessed Joseph Welch's line, 'Have you no decency, sir?' which shaped her lifelong study.
Cold War Fueled A National Hysteria
- Postwar anti-communist consensus grew from real Cold War fears and policy choices like Truman's Loyalty Order.
- That consensus enabled mass investigations and civil-rights infringements despite limited evidence of widespread subversion.
McCarthy's Rise Was Narrative-Driven
- Joseph McCarthy rose quickly by exploiting public fear and making bold, specific accusations without solid evidence.
- His claims resonated because they fit a simple narrative blaming Democrats for national security failures.