Staff Notes on McCarthyism

CONI IDENTAL Duight 2 D 6/21/55 McCAR THYISM Perhaps the most fitting conclusion to be written to "the McCarthy story" hangs on a story told by the President at the end of the Legis - lative Conference of June 21, 1955. There had been a brief discussion of the resolution introduced by Sen. McCarthy in regard to the forthcoming San Francisco United Nations meeting. Hearings and Senate debate on the resolution had not yet taken place, and the President told the leaders that he had instructed the Acting Secretary of State to stress the matter of con- fidence. The President thought the Committee could be informed that the Executive Branch would of course bring up for discussion those things which cause tensions, such as the captive states. He recalled his frequent references to the situation in years past even though he had been advised not to discuss the matter. Then followed one of his infrequent boasts, to the effect that he could know more about Europe in five minutes than McCarthy could in fifteen years. After the Vice President urged him not to take the matter seriously, the President brought the discussion and the meeting to a close by telling a story that was going around Washington: "It's no longer McCarthyism, it's McCarthywasm¹. gain Minnich DETERMINED TO BE AN 'G Pt NLE, Date 7/13/79 CONFIDENTIAL By