Did President Eisenhower Support the McCarthy Hearings?
The question of whether President Dwight D. Eisenhower supported the McCarthy hearings is a complex issue that requires a nuanced understanding of the political and historical context of the time. Eisenhower, a World War II hero turned president, often grappling with the pressures of his position, displayed a mix of tolerance, disgust, and political savvy regarding McCarthyism.
Eisenhower’s Relevance during the Rise of McCarthyism
When Dwight D. Eisenhower campaigned for the presidency in 1952, Senator Joseph McCarthy was a rising star in the Republican Party. McCarthy's popularity was fueled by his aggressive pursuit of alleged communists in the government, military, and media. Given the political landscape at the time, Eisenhower chose not to address McCarthy directly, as it would have been politically inadvisable. Instead, once in office in 1953, he went about running the country without immediately targeting McCarthy.
Changing Tides as McCarthyism Escalated
As McCarthy's rhetoric and actions became more belligerent, Eisenhower began to express growing disgust and concern. In March 1954, Eisenhower, then 63 years old, labeled McCarthy a "pimple on the path to progress" in a letter to the Republican National Chairman. This marked a turning point in Eisenhower's stance. He started pressuring other leading Republicans to take action against McCarthy, and by December 1954, just short of his 65th birthday, McCarthy was censured by the Senate. This marked the official end of the McCarthy era, but it is important to note that McCarthyism had significant impacts on American society throughout the 1950s.
Did Eisenhower Act to Stop McCarthy?
It is worth noting that Eisenhower did not personally confront or stop McCarthy, at least not in a direct manner. Given his age and the presidency's busy schedule, a significant portion of his time was spent on golfing and other leisure activities. He delegated much of the foreign and domestic policy management to his secretary of state, John Foster Dulles, and other key advisors like Sherman Adams. The White House, for Eisenhower, had transformed into a retirement home with benefits rather than a center of constant political action.
However, his disdain for McCarthy's actions, particularly his criticism of the military's security, became evident. McCarthy's tactics and rhetoric reminded Eisenhower of Robert Welch, a figure who accused Eisenhower of being a communist or Soviet dupe. Interestingly, McCarthy's close ally, Roy Cohn, who worked alongside him, turned out to be a significant legal advisor for President Donald Trump. This shows how political narratives and allies can shift over time, as evidenced by the irony that liberals today might attack Trump very differently than they did Eisenhower.
Eisenhower’s Own Involvement with McCarthyism
It is also crucial to examine Eisenhower's own relationship with McCarthyism. Eisenhower, who was known for his strong anti-communist stance, made tough decisions during the era. For instance, he oversaw the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for passing atomic bomb secrets to Russia. Even before the McCarthy era, in 1948, Eisenhower had the political deportee Alger Hiss convicted of perjury following his grand jury testimony on espionage charges. These actions indicate Eisenhower's commitment to fighting communism, even when criticizing McCarthy.
Despite his own actions, the public and press were against McCarthy. McCarthy was ultimately censured by the Senate, and as historian William F. Buckley pointed out, McCarthy's accusations against William Remington were proven to be true later. This highlights the complexity of political decisions and the importance of historical context in understanding these events.
Conclusion
While President Dwight D. Eisenhower did not actively stop the McCarthy hearings, his evolving stance and his support for actions that curbed McCarthy's influence indicate a more complex relationship than a simple "support" or "opposition." The era of McCarthyism, though short-lived in terms of dominating Eisenhower's terms, left a lasting impact on American politics and society.