How Often Did Joe McCarthy Get It Right?

[AskNott]

One source I found says the Communist Control Act of 1954 did not really outlaw the Communist Party USA. It stated that attempting violent overthrow of the government was illegal, but that wasn’t new law. The act did a lot of ranting, but it didn’t change anything.

A careful reading of the act, however, indicates that the reality was a bit fuzzier. In 1950, Congress passed the Internal Security Act. In many respects, it was merely a version of the Communist Control Act passed four years later. It used the same language to condemn communism and the Communist Party of the United States, and established penalties for anyone belonging to a group calling for the violent overthrow of the American government. However, it very specifically noted that mere membership in the Communist Party, or affiliated organizations, was not in and of itself sufficient cause for arrest or penalty. The 1954 act went one step further by removing the “rights, privileges, and immunities attendant upon legal bodies created under the jurisdiction of the laws of the United States” from the Communist Party. The Communist Control Act made it clear that “nothing in this section shall be construed as amending the Internal Security Act of 1950.” Thus, while the Communist Control Act may have declared that the Communist Party should be outlawed, the act itself did not take this decisive step.

About - HeinOnline

As for spies, all nations have 'em, and it was true before Karl Marx was born.

[Fotheringay-Phipps]

I once read somewhere that McCarthy himself initially saw his role as raising alarm about the high level of communists and sympathizers in influential positions of the US government, and not about accusing specific people, which he felt was the role of the executive branch. His idea was to say “hey, there’s a lot of danger from all these communists and fellow travelers and someone should do something about it”, and this particular campaign was vindicated by history. His problem was that he was challenged to back it up by naming names, and in accepting that challenge he went astray.

[DinoR]

@Whack-a-Mole

In America, in theory, you are free to start a communist party and run for government all while espousing communist notions. Nothing illegal or wrong about that.

For those wishing to emmigrate to the US, membership in the Communist Party or other totalitarian organization is a real issue that can prevent them getting a visa. That’s not quite a direct issue with your statement but it opens a window that is a potential issue for naturalized citizens.

Joining an American based Communist Party within five years of being naturalized is legal grounds for revocation of citizenship and deportation. cite

A person is subject to revocation of naturalization if the person becomes a member of, or affiliated with, the Communist party, other totalitarian party, or terrorist organization within five years of his or her naturalization. [6] In general, a person who is involved with such organizations cannot establish the naturalization requirements of having an attachment to the Constitution and of being well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States. [7]

The fact that a person becomes involved with such an organization within five years after the date of naturalization is prima facie evidence that he or she concealed or willfully misrepresented material evidence that would have prevented the person’s naturalization.

Most Americans can legally join the Communist party. Some may stop being Americans if they do.

[Voyager]

@Fotheringay-Phipps

I once read somewhere that McCarthy himself initially saw his role as raising alarm about the high level of communists and sympathizers in influential positions of the US government, and not about accusing specific people, which he felt was the role of the executive branch. His idea was to say “hey, there’s a lot of danger from all these communists and fellow travelers and someone should do something about it”, and this particular campaign was vindicated by history. His problem was that he was challenged to back it up by naming names, and in accepting that challenge he went astray.

Maybe, but McCarthy waved his list in 1950, and Hiss Chambers hearings in HUAC were in 1948, so it is not like McCarthy was saying anything new. So I’d guess it was about grabbing the spotlight, not about real concerns that the government wasn’t paying attention to the problem.

[kaylasdad99]

HUAC has always been an enigma to me. If the HoR is going to have a committee for engaging in activities, ideally, those activities should be PRO-American.

[Saint_Cad]

When I started teaching 20 years or so ago, it was illegal for a teacher to be a member of the Communist Party in California