65 Years Ago Today: See It Now; Murrow vs McCarthy (Entire Program)

[Dennis Donovan]

Last edited Sat Mar 9, 2019, 02:22 PM - Edit history (1)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_It_Now#Report_of_Senator_McCarthy

Report of Senator McCarthy
See It Now focused on a number of controversial issues in the 1950s, but it is best remembered as the show that criticized the Red Scare and contributed to the political downfall of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Murrow produced a number of episodes of the show that dealt with the Communist witch-hunt hysteria (one of the more notable episodes resulted in a U.S. military officer, Milo Radulovich, being acquitted, after being charged with supporting Communism), before embarking on a broadcast on March 9, 1954 that has been referred to as television's finest hour.

By using mostly recordings of McCarthy himself in action interrogating witnesses and making speeches, Murrow and Friendly displayed what they felt was the key danger to the democracy: not suspected Communists, but McCarthy's actions themselves. As Murrow said in his summation:

No one familiar with the history of his country can deny that Congressional committees are useful; it is necessary to investigate before legislating. But the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly. His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind as between the internal and the external threats of communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty; we must remember always that accusation is not proof, and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of the law.

The broadcast provoked tens of thousands of letters, telegrams and phone calls to CBS headquarters, running 15 to 1 in favor of Murrow. Friendly later recalled how truck drivers pulled up alongside Murrow and shouted, "Good show, Ed." The show's probe of the McCarthy-led anti-Communist era is the focus of the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck.

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Wow,remember

watching this on a TV set in our Hardware Store window while folding my Evening Mpls Tribune papers. Seemed like half the Town had gathered in the same spot. Remember the Hardware owner leaving the door open so folks could hear .

[Dennis Donovan]

3. At times, I wonder if Trump acts the way he does because of his shared connection...

...to Roy Cohn? Cohn sure seems to have left a few demagogues in his wake.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Sure appears he learned well from

Roy Cohn.

Every published piece about the Trump Family and their contentions to Cohn sure show Cohn's influence on them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. He learned how to be aggressive from Cohn.

several books tell us that much.

"Never admit to anything, when attacked, counter attack."
Which is why trump is so aggressive on his twitter feed and makes public statements, esp. the rallies, in which he addresses every damn thing anyone has said against him since the beginning of time.
He also sues and counter sues when possible. the filing of the suits gets publicity, but when he loses or drops the suit, hardly anyone notices.

Roger Stone became Trump's Cohn after Cohn died. Same aggressive behavior.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I remember this.

Jeez, I feel ancient.

[Roland99]

6. K&R

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. gotta be some shared DNA between McCarthy and Paul Ryan

When McCarthy smiles (or is that a grimace?), he looks a lot like Paul 'granny starver' Ryan.