The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy

On June 9, 1954, a lawyer from Boston, Joseph Welch, confronted the most feared man in the United States with the cry “Have you left no sense of decency?” These words marked the beginning of the end of Senator Joe McCarthy, a man who had ruined the careers and lives of countless Americans, and his sway over American politics. The fearful ’50s, as they are sometimes called, can be difficult to describe to young people—who have not, after all, grown up believing that Communism is the greatest threat to America.

In The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy, James Cross Giblin brilliantly re-creates this period and the complex and disturbing character of McCarthy for readers ages eleven through eighteen. He makes it possible for the young to understand the meaning of the word McCarthism—guilt by association and unfounded accusation.

From an initial cartoon of the period—showing McCarthy signing legislation in the White House while President Eisenhower looks on—to the final notes about what happened to those covered in the book, Giblin provides an in-depth analysis of the events and personalities. In his final chapter he poses the question “Another McCarthy?”—Can another dangerous leader rise up in the American landscape? Because of the thoroughness of the coverage, The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy is ideal for thoughtful young readers trying to understand the politics of another era.

I was fortunate to work with Jim Giblin for many years in publishing, and he is truly one of the nicest people I ever known as a colleague. Yet in his books, he has presented some of the darkest characters in history, including Adolf Hitler. I am thankful this thoroughly decent author is willing to analyze these complex and evil characters and write about them in a way that young people can understand. Jim’s books affirm my belief that much of the best narrative nonfiction writing today takes place in books for the young.

So today we can celebrate the courage of both Joseph Welch and of James Cross Giblin, who is willing to tackle difficult subjects and write about them with intelligence and passion.

Here’s a page from The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy: