Men in Crisis, The 1954 McCarthy Army Hearings

"McCarthy vs. Welch" is a 1964 documentary produced by David L. Wolper, as part of the series entitled “Men in Crisis.” It examines the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954, which were televised and played a pivotal role in establishing Senator Joseph McCarthy's reputation. The hearings focused on McCarthy's accusations that the U.S. Army harbored communists, and the Army's counter-claim that McCarthy pressured them for special favors. The hearings turned into a television spectacle that solidified McCarthy's image as an aggressive politician. Notably, Joseph Welch, the Army's special counsel, famously asked McCarthy, "Have you no decency, sir?" The documentary includes valuable footage of Welch, McCarthy, and other key figures from the hearings.(00:47) Joseph Welch, Special Counsel for the U.S. Army, rebuts McCarthy's accusation of communist infiltration.(01:40) Footage of the Senate hearing room with television news cameras.(01:54) News photographers preparing their equipment for the highly publicized trial.(02:17) Welch and McCarthy walking through the Capitol.(03:02) Photos of a young Joseph Welch.(03:32) Welch's employment at the Boston law firm Hale and Dorr.(03:58) Young photos of McCarthy.(04:25) McCarthy waving as he enters the Capitol.(05:08) Footage of McCarthy delivering a speech.(06:21) Secretary of the Army Robert T. Stevens as the main witness, accusing McCarthy of pressuring the Army to favor his friend, G. David Schine.(07:43) McCarthy's chief counsel Roy Cohn serving as the connection between McCarthy and Schine.(07:52) Footage of Schine and Cohn.(08:22) Footage of Schine after being drafted.(08:47) McCarthy entering the federal courthouse in New York and aggressively questioning decorated WWII hero Ralph Zwicker.(09:16) President Eisenhower responding by praising General Zwicker.(09:31) McCarthy calling a press conference and challenging the president.(11:24) A woman preparing the highly demanded daily transcripts of the hearing.(11:44) Media cameras covering the hearing.(12:11) Welch urging McCarthy to cease his attacks.(12:36) McCarthy countering the Army special counsel.(13:21) McCarthy entering the crowded hearing room.(13:52) McCarthy becoming irate.(14:40) Senators Stuart Symington and McCarthy engaged in an argument.(15:40) Insults traded between the two senators.(16:14) Senator Ralph Flanders threatening to denounce McCarthy.(17:23) Welch examining Cohn.(18:25) Cohn speaking into microphones.(19:24) The crowd observing the proceedings.(19:57) McCarthy accusing Welch of being a communist, captured by numerous news cameras.(20:38) Welch calling the senator cruel and reckless for accusing his firm's attorney, Fred Fisher, due to Fisher's membership in the National Lawyers Guild.(21:05) Welch delivering his famous remark: "If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty, I would do so. I like to think I am a gentle man, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me."(21:51) Welch famously asking McCarthy: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?"(22:57) Welch refusing to participate further.(23:19) Footage of Welch with tearful eyes.(23:37) The chair adjourning the hearings, and the crowd leaving.(24:20) On August 31, 1954, a Senate committee convening to consider a censure motion against McCarthy.(24:42) On December 2nd, the Senate voting to condemn McCarthy.(24:52) McCarthy leaving with his arm in a sling.(24:59) The Capitol at night in 1954.Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy (1908 –1957) served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, McCarthy became the most visible public face of a period in the United States in which Cold War tensions fueled fears of widespread communist subversion. He alleged that numerous communists and Soviet spies and sympathizers had infiltrated the United States federal government, universities, film industry, military and elsewhere. Ultimately, he was censured for refusing to cooperate with, and abusing members of, the committee established to investigate whether or not he should be censured. The term "McCarthyism", coined in 1950 in reference to McCarthy's practices, was soon applied to similar anti-communist activities. Today, the term is used more broadly to mean demagogic, reckless, and unsubstantiated accusations, as well as public attacks on the character or patriotism of political opponents.