Sublime

Democrats, led by Senate majority leader Lyndon B. Johnson, now saw an opportunity to break his hold on the country. McCarthy is “the sorriest senator up here,” LBJ had told Senate secretary Bobby Baker. “Can’t tie his goddamn shoes. But he’s riding high now, he’s got people scared to death some Communist will strangle ’em in their sleep, and anybo

Instead of attacking McCarthy directly, Eisenhower deployed what Princeton politics professor Fred Greenstein called “the hidden hand,” and his defeat of McCarthy, culminating in the Senate’s vote of condemnation, represents what may well be the most adroit use of the indirect approach by any occupant of the White House.

After the Senate’s vote of condemnation, McCarthy began drinking heavily. He died of cirrhosis of the liver on May 2, 1957.

On December 2, 1954, the Senate condemned McCarthy by a vote of 67–22 for conduct unbecoming a senator. Eisenhower’s indirect strategy had paid off. Ike always believed that if he had attacked McCarthy directly, the Senate would never have taken action.

Eisenhower’s Dartmouth College speech notwithstanding, McCarthy had a pernicious impact throughout the government.

consultant Ed Rollins. Rollins was