The Hollywood Ten Scandal and Communism

McCarthyism and the Anti-Communist Movement

Introduction

McCarthyism is often synonymous with Senator Joseph McCarthy's anti-communist campaign in the 1950s, but as Ellen Schrecker and Phillip Deery argue in The Age of McCarthyism 3d Edition, this term is a misnomer because the anti-communist movement was much broader than just McCarthy's antics. This paper will argue that while McCarthy played a significant role in the anti-communist movement, it was not central, and without him, McCarthyism would have still occurred in substantially similar ways. This argument is supported by various historical examples from The Age of McCarthyism. The thesis of this paper is that

McCarthy's role in the anti-communist movement was significant, but not central, and without him, McCarthyism would have still occurred in substantially similar ways due to the broader political and cultural context that fostered anti-communist sentiments—it would just be known today under a different name or banner.

A Question of Loyalty

The Loyalty-Security Program, which was initiated by President Truman in 1947, was a clear example of how the anti-communist movement was more significant than just McCarthy's crusade. The program required all federal employees to undergo background checks and loyalty tests to determine whether they posed a security risk. The program continued long after McCarthy's censure in 1954, which shows that the anti-communist movement was a broader societal concern that existed beyond the senator's actions (Deery and Schrecker).

The program was not just an isolated initiative but reflected the general fear of communism that existed in American society at the time. Truman himself was a fervent anti-communist who believed that communism posed a significant threat to American democracy. The program aimed to root out supposed communist subversion within the government, which was seen as a grave threat to national security. This fear of communist infiltration existed before McCarthy became a senator and continued after his downfall, further demonstrating that the anti-communist movement was much more significant than just McCarthy.

The FBI

Another example of the movement can be found the role of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The HUAC was established before McCarthy's rise to power and continued to operate after he was discredited. The HUAC was a key player in the anti-communist movement, investigating individuals for communist ties and staging public hearings to discredit them. This example shows that McCarthy was not central to the anti-communist movement, but rather one player among many (Deery and Schrecker).

Additionally, the role of the FBI in the anti-communist movement is important. The FBI's COINTELPRO program, initiated before McCarthy's rise to power, aimed to infiltrate and disrupt leftist organizations. This program continued after McCarthy's downfall, and the FBI played a significant role in the anti-communist movement. This example further supports the argument that McCarthy was not central to the anti-communist movement. Additionally, Hoover’s testimony before Congress showed that he was hunting Communists independent of anything McCarthy was doing.

Societal Fears

Krysak's testimony before the HUAC is a clear example of how the anti-communist movement was not solely a product of McCarthy's crusade, but rather a broader societal concern. Krysak's testimony is a reflection of the fear and paranoia that existed during the McCarthy era, where the perceived threat of communist infiltration was believed to be a danger to national security.

Krysak's testimony indicates that the Communist Party had a plan to infiltrate Hollywood and use films to spread communist propaganda. This perceived threat to the movie industry was seen as a potential threat to the country's security. Krysak's testimony demonstrates that the fear of communist infiltration was not limited to government officials like McCarthy but also shared by people in various industries.

The anti-communist sentiment was not limited to Hollywood. In fact, it was widespread, as evident in the testimonies of Johnson, Friedman, and Frantz. All these testimonies reflect the fear that the Communist Party was trying to infiltrate various sectors of society, including labor unions and educational institutions.

Finally, there is the role of the media in the anti-communist movement, as Chapter 20 shows: the Hollywood Ten and the Blacklist were enormous media topics that kept the nation enthralled for months (Deery and Schrecker). Hollywood has always been a hot topic in American media, and here was a giant Hollywood scandal that the media could hype to sell papers and advertising. The media, particularly newspapers, played a significant role in stoking anti-communist sentiments, framing communism as an existential threat to American values. This example further demonstrates that McCarthy was not central to the anti-communist movement, but rather one player among many who were instrumental in promoting anti-communist sentiment.