The CrucibleThe Crucible

McCarthyismMcCarthyism

From Witch Trials to From Witch Trials to McCartyismMcCartyism

"Those who cannot remember the "Those who cannot remember the    past are condemned to repeat it."  past are condemned to repeat it."                          George Santayana                          George Santayana

Joseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthy

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s America was Throughout the 1940s and 1950s America was overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of overwhelmed with concerns about the threat of communism growing in Eastern Europe and communism growing in Eastern Europe and China. Capitalizing on those concerns, a young China. Capitalizing on those concerns, a young Senator named Joseph McCarthy made a public Senator named Joseph McCarthy made a public accusation that more than two hundred “card-accusation that more than two hundred “card-carrying” communists had infiltrated the United carrying” communists had infiltrated the United States government. Though eventually his States government. Though eventually his accusations were proven to be untrue, and he accusations were proven to be untrue, and he was censured by the Senate for unbecoming was censured by the Senate for unbecoming conduct, his zealous campaigning ushered in one conduct, his zealous campaigning ushered in one of the most repressive times in 20th-century of the most repressive times in 20th-century American politics.American politics.

While the House Un-American Activities Committee had While the House Un-American Activities Committee had been formed in 1938 as an anti-Communist organ, been formed in 1938 as an anti-Communist organ, McCarthy’s accusations heightened the political tensions McCarthy’s accusations heightened the political tensions of the times. Known as McCarthyism, the paranoid hunt for of the times. Known as McCarthyism, the paranoid hunt for infiltrators was notoriously difficult on writers and infiltrators was notoriously difficult on writers and entertainers, many of whom were labeled communist entertainers, many of whom were labeled communist sympathizers and were unable to continue working. Some sympathizers and were unable to continue working. Some had their passports taken away, while others were jailed had their passports taken away, while others were jailed for refusing to give the names of other communists. The for refusing to give the names of other communists. The trials, which were well publicized, could often destroy a trials, which were well publicized, could often destroy a career with a single unsubstantiated accusation. Among career with a single unsubstantiated accusation. Among those well-known artists accused of communist those well-known artists accused of communist sympathies or called before the committee were sympathies or called before the committee were DashiellDashiell Hammett Hammett, , Waldo SaltWaldo Salt, , Lillian HellmanLillian Hellman, , Lena HorneLena Horne, , Paul RobesonPaul Robeson, , EliaElia Kazan Kazan, , Arthur MillerArthur Miller, , Aaron CoplandAaron Copland, , Leonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein, , Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin and and Group TheatreGroup Theatre members Clifford Odets, Elia Kazan, and members Clifford Odets, Elia Kazan, and Stella AdlerStella Adler. In . In all, three hundred and twenty artists were blacklisted, and all, three hundred and twenty artists were blacklisted, and for many of them this meant the end of exceptional and for many of them this meant the end of exceptional and promising careers.promising careers.

j. Edgar Hooverj. Edgar Hoover

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ComicComic

Jailing of the Hollywood TenJailing of the Hollywood Ten

Hollywood TenHollywood Ten

Famous picture of EthelFamous picture of Ethel

Rosenberg ChildrenRosenberg Children

Ethel and SonEthel and Son

Julius and Ethel RosenbergJulius and Ethel Rosenberg

Julius Julius

PicassoPicasso

LetterLetter ". . .One thing must be crystal clear and ". . .One thing must be crystal clear and

that is that our case if allowed to stand is a that is that our case if allowed to stand is a very great threat directed at the heart of very great threat directed at the heart of the progressive movement and it is an the progressive movement and it is an integral part of the conspiracy to establish integral part of the conspiracy to establish fear in our land. . . " fear in our land. . . "           Letter from Julius  to Michael and          Letter from Julius  to Michael and Robert, October 23, 1952.Robert, October 23, 1952.

                McCarthyism in the 1950's McCarthyism in the 1950's reproduced the Salem Witch Trialreproduced the Salem Witch Trial

protestorsprotestors

David GreenglassDavid Greenglass

The KissThe Kiss

Anti Rosenberg protestorsAnti Rosenberg protestors

The adult boysThe adult boys

ETHEL TO MICHAEL AND ROBERT, JUNE 19, 1953 (the day of execution) ETHEL TO MICHAEL AND ROBERT, JUNE 19, 1953 (the day of execution)  Dearest Sweethearts, my most precious children,  Dearest Sweethearts, my most precious children,           Only this morning it looked like we might be together again after all. Now that          Only this morning it looked like we might be together again after all. Now that this cannot be, I want so much for you to know all that I have come to know. this cannot be, I want so much for you to know all that I have come to know. Unfortunately, I may write only a few simple words; the rest your own lives must teach Unfortunately, I may write only a few simple words; the rest your own lives must teach you, even as mine taught me.  you, even as mine taught me.           At first, of course, you will grieve bitterly for us, but you will not grieve alone.          At first, of course, you will grieve bitterly for us, but you will not grieve alone. That is our consolation and it must eventually be yours.  That is our consolation and it must eventually be yours.          Eventually, too you must come to believe that life is worth the living. Be         Eventually, too you must come to believe that life is worth the living. Be comforted that even now, with the end of ours slowly approaching, that we know this comforted that even now, with the end of ours slowly approaching, that we know this with a conviction that defeats the executioner!  with a conviction that defeats the executioner!          Your lives must teach you, too, that good cannot flourish in the midst of evil; that         Your lives must teach you, too, that good cannot flourish in the midst of evil; that freedom and all the things that go to make up a truly satisfying and worthwhile life, freedom and all the things that go to make up a truly satisfying and worthwhile life, must sometime be purchased very dearly. Be comforted then that we were serene and must sometime be purchased very dearly. Be comforted then that we were serene and understood with the deepest kind of understanding, that civilization had not as yet understood with the deepest kind of understanding, that civilization had not as yet progressed to the point where life did not have to be lost for the sake of life; and that progressed to the point where life did not have to be lost for the sake of life; and that we were comforted in the sure knowledge that others would carry on after us.  we were comforted in the sure knowledge that others would carry on after us.          We wish we might have had the tremendous joy and gratification of living our         We wish we might have had the tremendous joy and gratification of living our lives out with you. Your Daddy who is with me in the last momentous hours, sends his lives out with you. Your Daddy who is with me in the last momentous hours, sends his heart and all the love that is in it for his dearest boys. Always remember that we were heart and all the love that is in it for his dearest boys. Always remember that we were innocent and could not wrong our conscience.  innocent and could not wrong our conscience.          We press you close and kiss you with all our strength.          We press you close and kiss you with all our strength.                                                                                      Lovingly,                                                                                      Lovingly,                                                                                      Daddy and Mommy                                                                                      Daddy and Mommy                                                                                      Julie            Ethel         P.S. to                                                                                     Julie            Ethel         P.S. to Manny:   The Ten Commandments religious medal and chain Manny:   The Ten Commandments religious medal and chain

EthelEthel ". . . We are witnessing the astounding ". . . We are witnessing the astounding

spectacle of the most powerful nation on spectacle of the most powerful nation on earth bound, helpless, powerless to earth bound, helpless, powerless to reverse itself because it is always much reverse itself because it is always much easier to commit new errors, than to right easier to commit new errors, than to right old ones. . ." old ones. . ."                     From Ethel Rosenberg's letter                    From Ethel Rosenberg's letter to Julius, January 19, 1952.to Julius, January 19, 1952.

    FAQ's (Frequently Asked FAQ's (Frequently Asked

June 19, 1953 Sing SingJune 19, 1953 Sing Sing

""It is not amiss to point out that this Court has never reviewed this It is not amiss to point out that this Court has never reviewed this  record and has never affirmed the fairness of the trial.Without an affirmance of the record and has never affirmed the fairness of the trial.Without an affirmance of the fairness of the trial by the highest court of the land, there may always be questions fairness of the trial by the highest court of the land, there may always be questions

as to whether these executions were legally and rightfully carried out." as to whether these executions were legally and rightfully carried out."                         Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on June 19, 1953.                       Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on June 19, 1953.

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Day of ExecutionDay of Execution

We have so much to look forward to and it is so important for our loved ones and all Americans that we win a decisive victory in our case."                                  From a letter from Julius to Ethel, June 2, 1952

Rosenbergs' letter to President Rosenbergs' letter to President Truman, January 9, 1953.Truman, January 9, 1953.

"We are innocent, as we have "We are innocent, as we have proclaimed from the time of our proclaimed from the time of our arrest. To forsake this truth is to pay arrest. To forsake this truth is to pay too high a price even for the too high a price even for the priceless gift of life-- for life thus priceless gift of life-- for life thus purchased we could not live out in purchased we could not live out in dignity and self-respect."dignity and self-respect."

"History will record. . . that we were victims of the most monstrous  frame-up of our country. . . .We die with honor and dignity - knowing  we must be vindicated by history."                                                  Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, June 1953

". . . whatever the outcome may be, to fight for a just cause is a ". . . whatever the outcome may be, to fight for a just cause is a victory in itself."victory in itself."

                              letter from Julius to Ethel, January 22, 1953                              letter from Julius to Ethel, January 22, 1953

"We move towards the ideals of "We move towards the ideals of decency only when a jury of American decency only when a jury of American citizens. . . has the courage to judge citizens. . . has the courage to judge guilt or innocence on the facts, not on guilt or innocence on the facts, not on race, religion or politics."race, religion or politics."      From Barry Naftalis' closing      From Barry Naftalis' closing arguments-Moot Court Trial, August, arguments-Moot Court Trial, August, 19931993