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38 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent biography of America's most famous Red-hunter, November 5, 1997
By A Customer
This review is from: A Conspiracy So Immense (Paperback)
Historian David Oshinsky, Professor of History at Rutgers University, does a masterful job in chronicling the life and times of one the most controversial political figures in our history. Oshinsky, an excellent story teller, allows the narrative to unfold in an unforced way, combining breazy prose with an excellent command of facts, thus allowing the drama of the McCarthy era to unwind naturally. Unlike most chroniclers of the early cold war -- and in particular, McCarthy biographers -- Oshinsky takes the time to examine McCarthy's childhood and rise to prominense with an unbiased eye. He notes that McCarthy was an excellent student, finishing four years in high school in one year; an industrious and indefatigable worker, helping his parents tend to the family farm while also starting his own poultry business; and a caring and warm person, liked by the town folk and respected by community leaders. McCarthy, however, also had competitive streak -- a win at anything cost mentality -- according to the author. In a given environment, such as campus politics, he was often daring, brutal and unforgiving -- completely focused on the task at hand. Oshinsky recites the story where McCarthy, in his final year of college, ran for class president. Prior to election day, McCarthy and his opponent agreed to vote for the other fellow, thus keeping the election friendly. McCarthy, however, after learning the election was a dead heat, changed his vote, telling his opponent that "the best man should win." Oshinsky notes that McCarthy could be both ruthless and caring; one moment, stealing an election, and the next, caring for a needy friend. This trait, writes Oshinsky, would run like an ubroken line throughout McCarthy's career.
Oshinsky does an excellent job in chronicling McCarthy's rise to power -- his defeat of Judge Ed Warner for Circuit Court Judge, and then the defeat of "Fighting" Bob Lafolliate, United States Senator, in 1946. At the Age of 39, McCarthy was the youngest member of the United States Sen
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36 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Liberal TRIES to be fair, May 13, 2006
Oshinsky gives the most complete review of McCarthy's life of any historian. He tries to appraise McCarthy's controveries and does not take part in the vicious name calling of a Ricahrd Rovere. However he comes from a liberal perspective and to get a fair appraisal from a conservative historian - read Hermann's McCarthy.
Since Venona has been released Oshinshy should have rewritten this book and not reissued the book he wrote in 1982.The events of 9/11 can give us an analogy.
Imagine if a professor advised the state department that the Taliban was the best hope for Afghanistan and that bin Ladin was just an agrarian reformer. Imagine if military secrets as the H bomb was given to Iran and that key government officials belonged to Islamist groups. Imagine if a senator would look at the aspects of that ? Would he be called intolerate of other religions ?
Owen lattimore urged that Mao was an Agrarian reformer. Mao killed millions. Larrimore made millions of bucks on his 'brilliant" observations. Oshinsky shouldn't defend this man. Klaus Fuchs, Rosenbergs, Hall etc gave the bomb to Russia. Hiss helped shape our foreign policy and even gave Russia three votes in the General Assembly.
So balance is really needed. McCarthy was a patriotic man who used bad means to an end. But his enemies sometimes used worse methods as Oshinsky demonstrates in the Joseph Rauh case and Eisenhower's minions forging letters.
McCarthy was brought down by Roy Cohn wanting favorable treatment for a possible lover- David Schine but curiously Oshinsky does not update the book with Cohn's sexuality and this would be an important insight.
In short this was a brilliant book for 1982 but the newer revelations as Venona , Cohn etc demands an update for this book
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An ego so immense, May 27, 2010
I found this book hard to put down. It was well-written and brought across a real sense of McCarthy and his times. The author was as neutral as could be expected when dealing with the facts of McCarthy's actions. McCarthy's actions spoke for themselves, he was an arrogant man who thought he couldn't be stopped. He kept claiming that his responsibility was not to prove innocent or guilt, but to accuse. He had an end justifies the means attitude. The End was publicity for Joe McCarthy, and the means was accusing anyone and everyone of being a communist, even if he had to make up lies. What amazes me about this era was the idea that the Russians were so stupid they couldn't build the A-bomb without stealing our secrets, yet they were smart enough to infiltrate our government and take it over if we weren't diligent in rooting them out even at the expense of crushing innocent reputations.
There were a couple of problems with the book, mostly the author's intrusion. A few times, maybe three or four, he bragged how the information he had just cited had not been cited in any other biography of McCarthy. I felt this was unnecessary and bogged down the narrative. All biographers have to pick and choose. There never is room for everything. Also, several of the footnotes didn't make sense to me. I couldn't quite understand what he was getting at. Also, a couple of times he had minor facts that didn't seem right.
But, overall, I would definitely recommend the book.
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