Posted on Apr 29, 2018
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In response to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s charge that former State Department consultant and university professor Owen Lattimore was a top Soviet spy in the United States, Secretary of State Dean Acheson and three former secretaries of state deny that Lattimore had any influence on U.S. foreign policy. The Lattimore case was one of the most famous episodes of the “red scare” in the United States.
In February 1950, Senator McCarthy gave a speech in which he charged that there were over 200 “known communists” in the Department of State. McCarthy was asked to appear before a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to provide details about his accusation. During the course of the hearing, the senator charged that Owen Lattimore was a top spy for the Soviet Union and had been “the principal architect of our Far Eastern policy.” The implication of McCarthy’s testimony was clear: Lattimore, acting as a virtual Soviet agent, had helped design a policy that resulted in the loss of China to the communists in 1949. In fact, Lattimore, a well-known specialist in the field of Chinese history, had merely served as a consultant to the Department of State during and after World War II. Like many others, he had come to the conclusion that the Nationalist Chinese government of Chiang Kai-Shek was hopelessly inefficient and corrupt, and that continued U.S. support of such a government was useless. In the harsh Cold War atmosphere of America, though, the “loss” of China to the communists encouraged suspicion that spies and sympathizers were to blame.
In response to McCarthy’s charge, the chair of the subcommittee, Senator Millard Tydings, wrote to Secretary of State Dean Acheson and three former secretaries of state, Cordell Hull, James Byrnes, and George C. Marshall, asking whether the accusations were true. The men answered that Lattimore had absolutely no impact on U.S. foreign policy toward Asia. Indeed, each of them went to great lengths to make clear that they had never even met Lattimore. Byrnes and Marshall went further, declaring McCarthy’s charges were particularly harmful to America’s foreign relations. Lattimore was cleared by a congressional investigation in 1950, but in 1951-1952 the attacks against the professor were renewed and he was charged with perjury in connection with his 1950 testimony. These charges were eventually dismissed, but not before Lattimore’s academic career in the United States had been destroyed.
In February 1950, Senator McCarthy gave a speech in which he charged that there were over 200 “known communists” in the Department of State. McCarthy was asked to appear before a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to provide details about his accusation. During the course of the hearing, the senator charged that Owen Lattimore was a top spy for the Soviet Union and had been “the principal architect of our Far Eastern policy.” The implication of McCarthy’s testimony was clear: Lattimore, acting as a virtual Soviet agent, had helped design a policy that resulted in the loss of China to the communists in 1949. In fact, Lattimore, a well-known specialist in the field of Chinese history, had merely served as a consultant to the Department of State during and after World War II. Like many others, he had come to the conclusion that the Nationalist Chinese government of Chiang Kai-Shek was hopelessly inefficient and corrupt, and that continued U.S. support of such a government was useless. In the harsh Cold War atmosphere of America, though, the “loss” of China to the communists encouraged suspicion that spies and sympathizers were to blame.
In response to McCarthy’s charge, the chair of the subcommittee, Senator Millard Tydings, wrote to Secretary of State Dean Acheson and three former secretaries of state, Cordell Hull, James Byrnes, and George C. Marshall, asking whether the accusations were true. The men answered that Lattimore had absolutely no impact on U.S. foreign policy toward Asia. Indeed, each of them went to great lengths to make clear that they had never even met Lattimore. Byrnes and Marshall went further, declaring McCarthy’s charges were particularly harmful to America’s foreign relations. Lattimore was cleared by a congressional investigation in 1950, but in 1951-1952 the attacks against the professor were renewed and he was charged with perjury in connection with his 1950 testimony. These charges were eventually dismissed, but not before Lattimore’s academic career in the United States had been destroyed.
American statesmen deny Lattimore’s influence - Apr 29, 1950 - HISTORY.com
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Joseph McCarthy Was Right - Communist Party Infiltrators and Sympathizers - Communism - Red Scare...
Most-hated senator was right Scholars: Joseph McCarthy's charges 'now accepted as fact' Published: 02/08/2000 at 1:00 AM WASHINGTON — Although Joseph McCarth...
Thank you my friend TSgt Joe C. for reminding us that on April 29, 1950 Secretary of State Dean Acheson and three former secretaries of state denied that Owen Lattimore had any influence on U.S. foreign policy.
This was the response to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s charge that former State Department consultant and university professor Owen Lattimore was a top Soviet spy in the United States.
Background from politico.com/story/2013/04/this-day-in-politics-april-8-1950-089711
"On this day in 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy accused Owen Lattimore, an adviser to the Nationalist Chinese regime of Chiang Kai-shek during World War II, of being “extremely dangerous so far as the American people are concerned.” McCarthy, who had earlier cited Lattimore as a “top Soviet spy,” offered no evidence for his accusation at a time when the “Red Scare” played a large role in U.S. politics.
The Wisconsin Republican began his speech by saying: “The reason we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation.”
A congressional committee cleared Lattimore of McCarthy’s charges. But in 1951 the Senate reopened the investigation, with McCarthy claiming that Lattimore had perjured himself. A drawn-out legal battle ensued even as McCarthy’s attacks on Lattimore continued. Along the way, McCarthy accused Lattimore of being “the top Russian espionage agent in the United States.”
Lattimore eventually succeeded in having all the charges dropped. The struggle, however, ended his role as a State Department consultant while his U.S. academic career crumbled. He left the country in 1963 to teach Chinese history in England. He subsequently returned to the U.S. and died in 1989.
On Dec. 2, 1954, the Senate voted 65-22 to condemn McCarthy for conduct “contrary to senatorial traditions.” The decision to censure him stemmed from the reckless way he pursued suspected communists in the government, the military and society.
McCarthy’s shoddy tactics cost him vital political support among Republican leaders, including President Dwight Eisenhower. A series of nationally televised hearings exposed him as an irresponsible demagogue. By the time McCarthy died three years later, his influence had severely waned."
Joseph McCarthy Was Right - Communist Party Infiltrators and Sympathizers - Communism - Red Scare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUQn3TNIIMA
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
This was the response to Senator Joseph McCarthy’s charge that former State Department consultant and university professor Owen Lattimore was a top Soviet spy in the United States.
Background from politico.com/story/2013/04/this-day-in-politics-april-8-1950-089711
"On this day in 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy accused Owen Lattimore, an adviser to the Nationalist Chinese regime of Chiang Kai-shek during World War II, of being “extremely dangerous so far as the American people are concerned.” McCarthy, who had earlier cited Lattimore as a “top Soviet spy,” offered no evidence for his accusation at a time when the “Red Scare” played a large role in U.S. politics.
The Wisconsin Republican began his speech by saying: “The reason we find ourselves in a position of impotency is not because our powerful potential enemy has sent men to invade our shores but rather because of the traitorous actions of those who have been treated so well by this nation.”
A congressional committee cleared Lattimore of McCarthy’s charges. But in 1951 the Senate reopened the investigation, with McCarthy claiming that Lattimore had perjured himself. A drawn-out legal battle ensued even as McCarthy’s attacks on Lattimore continued. Along the way, McCarthy accused Lattimore of being “the top Russian espionage agent in the United States.”
Lattimore eventually succeeded in having all the charges dropped. The struggle, however, ended his role as a State Department consultant while his U.S. academic career crumbled. He left the country in 1963 to teach Chinese history in England. He subsequently returned to the U.S. and died in 1989.
On Dec. 2, 1954, the Senate voted 65-22 to condemn McCarthy for conduct “contrary to senatorial traditions.” The decision to censure him stemmed from the reckless way he pursued suspected communists in the government, the military and society.
McCarthy’s shoddy tactics cost him vital political support among Republican leaders, including President Dwight Eisenhower. A series of nationally televised hearings exposed him as an irresponsible demagogue. By the time McCarthy died three years later, his influence had severely waned."
Joseph McCarthy Was Right - Communist Party Infiltrators and Sympathizers - Communism - Red Scare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUQn3TNIIMA
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC Orlando Illi LTC (Join to see) LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" Price Capt Seid Waddell Capt Jeff S. CPT Jack Durish MSgt Robert C Aldi SFC Stephen King MSgt Danny Hope SGT Gregory Lawritson Cpl Craig Marton SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT (Join to see) Maj Marty Hogan
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SGT Brian Nile SGT Robert George SFC Shirley Whitfield MSG Mark Million Christine C Cullinan COL Lee Flemming SFC George Smith SrA Christopher Wright LTC (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSgt Harvey "Skip" Porter SCPO Morris Ramsey SFC William Farrell PO1 Tony Holland SGT (Join to see) Alan K. SPC Mike Lake SFC Anthony Beck Sgt Trevor Barrett LTC Greg Henning
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