TV’s Finest Hour……Well, besides CSI: Miami

Joseph McCarthy A republican senator from 1947-

57 Dedicated career to hunting

down communist subversives Claimed there were countless

spies and sympathizers hiding within American government and other areas of influence

Investigative techniques became know as McCarthyism. These techniques included:

Public attacks Slander without evidence Threats Firing Forcing people to name

names

Milo Radulovich American citizen of Serbian

descent Air Force lieutenant Accused of being a security risk

because of his close relationship to his father and sister

His father and sister were accused of being communist sympathizers

Evidence: Father read a Serbian newspaper

from back home Sister supported liberal causes

Air Force claimed they had more evidence in an envelope that was never opened.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/20/eveningnews/main3528798.shtml

Edward R. Murrow and See it Now Reporter and Host of CBS’s

See it Now, a news investigation show

Brought the story of Milo Radulovich to national prominence

Went on to openly criticize McCarthyism, devoting an entire episode to McCarthy

McCarthy went on See it Now to defend himself

Murrow also forced by the CBS to host Person to Person, a celebrity interview show

Annie Lee Moss Started work as a dessert cook

in government cafeterias Through a series of promotions,

she moved her way up to the role of communications clerk in the Pentagon

1951 – She’s accused of being a member of the communist party, using her position to steal sensitive coded information

No concrete evidence was produced to support these claims

See it Now broadcast her story, furthering it’s criticism of Joseph McCarthy

Other Important Players Don Hollenbeck Host of CBS evening news Active supporter of Murrow Criticized as being a ‘pinko’

(i.e. communist sympathizer) by Jack O’Brian

Jack O’Brian TV Critic and McCarthy

sympathizer Critical of See it Now and Don

Hollenbeck, often attacking them in the news

Also… Bill Paley

President of CBS

Fred Friendly Producer of See it Now