The Red Scare

Author: Mike O’Connor
Copyright 2008

Mike O’Connor's new book, Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe explores The Red Scare, also known as McCarthyism as well as dysfunctional families, and other fascinating subjects.

These days, if one thinks of the “red scare” it is about the time in the early 1950’s when panic about a powerful Soviet Union turned Americans against each other as lives were ruined in the search for those who were “un-American”.

This idea misleads us. Though anti-Communist hysteria brought wholesale abuses of American’s individual rights from the late 1940’s, the witch hunt continued until the 1970’s.

In fact, it began in the early part of the century, which shows that the later repression was part of wide-spread theory that the country was under continual attack by Reds. In this, foreign leftist immigrants were seen as the most dangerous. Although, American born Jews were also sometimes seen as sinister.

In the first Red Scare, in 1919, the government began rounding up alleged radicals, especially foreign born. A new immigration act gave the government the power to deport immigrants who simply belonged to a suspect organization.

At first there were roundups of hundreds of alleged extremists, though critics said this was often done with unnecessary violence and without arrest warrants.  A converted troops ship was loaded with 248 prisoners. As it set sail to the Soviet Union, the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper said it hoped, “that other vessels, larger and more commodious, carrying similar cargoes will follow in her wake.”

The Red Scare and violations of basic rights continued in 1920 with the roundup of between six and ten thousand people, again often without warrants or reason to believe they had broken the law.

About the Author
Veteran journalist Mike O'Connor has spent most of a lifetime reporting for television, NPR and The New York Times. He's covered - and uncovered - the malfeasance of domestic politicians and public servants. Read his riveting new book here