The Rise and Fall of Senator Joe McCarthy

December 7, 2009
Using extensive detail and context, this ambitious biography explores one of the country's most controversial senators. In 27 chapters, punctuated by b&w photos and political cartoons, Giblin (The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler
) presents Sen. Joe McCarthy as a risk-taking, limelight-loving, revenge-seeking demagogue. The author takes readers from McCarthy's childhood in rural Wisconsin to his work as a judge, Marine, and, finally, U.S. senator. Little-known facts (McCarthy was a chicken farmer before starting high school at age 20, and he graduated in one year) pique interest early. However, the narrative bogs down somewhat. The introduction of numerous political figures and their backgrounds, international crises (alleged torture of German WWII prisoners by the U.S., battles in the Korean War, etc.), polling data, and excerpts from Senate hearings may have younger readers losing the man amid the contextual asides. (Older audiences, though, should appreciate the comprehensiveness.) While the extensive background slows the story, Giblin's unmistakable research and passion for the subject add up to a comprehensive portrayal of a complex figure. Abundant source notes and further reading suggestions conclude this expansive undertaking. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2009
Gr 7-10-Giblin includes considerable information about McCarthy's background and earlier career, but devotes most of the book to his election to the Senate and use of intimidation and smear tactics to gain enormous political power before his eventual public disgrace and early, alcohol-related death. The author provides limited background and context about the public fear of communism, but his main focus is on McCarthy's actions and the damage they did to innocent people and organizations. He includes extensive detail about McCarthy's campaigns and Senate hearings, which occasionally makes for dry reading. However, that problem is eclipsed by the weaknesses of the author's sources and his dated perspective on the McCarthy and early Cold War era. His most cited sources are biographies by Thomas Reeves (Stein & Day, 1982) and journalist Tom Wicker (Houghton, 2006), but he also repeatedly cites Wikipedia and the "Columbia Encyclopedia". Although his source discussion mentions recent scholarship based upon declassified materials in the U.S. and the Soviet Union that documents Soviet espionage and penetration into the American government from the 1930s through the Cold War, he does not adequately take those discoveries into account. McCarthy's behavior and methods were inexcusable, but his crusade makes more sense when placed into the larger context of Cold War fears and the peril that those on the left, many admirers of the ideals of communism, faced when Americans began to view the Soviets as enemies and those who had associated with them as traitors. Excellent quality archival photos and political cartoons appear throughout. An additional title."Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2009
Grades 8-12 McCarthyism has become a synonym for scare tactics and unfounded accusations against those labeled unpatriotic, and YAs will see the contemporary parallels in this biography of the anti-Communist crusader who rose to power over 50 years ago with strong public support. More than the detailed biographies of individual politicians, it is the early 1950s political scene that will grab todays readers: the atmosphere of caution and fear; people blacklisted for suspected subversive behavior; the enthusiastic crowds who supported Joes fiery rhetoric about getting rid of all the Commie spies and traitors; the firings of those labeled disloyal; and the lies and bluffing. Giblins title, formatted with an open, photo-filled design and written in an easy, direct style, makes no superficial connections, and the afterword, Another McCarthy? will prompt discussion about the accusations of terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11. Just as memorable is the scathing commentary from famous journalist Edward Murrow about the differences between dissent and disloyalty. The extensive back matter includes substantive source notes and a bibliography.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)