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Published in the mid-1950s by the Socialist Labor Party (SLP), this pamphlet critiques “McCarthyism” as more than a single senator’s tactic—it frames the nationwide red scare as rooted in capitalist fears and contradictions. It counsels readers that removing Senator Joseph McCarthy would not end the climate of anxiety and hostility toward alleged “subversives,” and that genuine relief instead requires a restructuring of society itself. In making its argument, the pamphlet offers an alternative lens for understanding McCarthy-era tensions, calling on workers to build socialism as an antidote to the fear and insecurity fueling political repression.
Historical Context
By 1954, Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s investigations and accusations had dominated national headlines for several years, sparking both widespread alarm about “Reds” in government and backlash from those decrying his methods as reckless and oppressive. The SLP, a long-established socialist group (founded in 1890), recognized how McCarthy’s influence connected with broader Cold War unease, high military budgets, and a growing fear of atomic conflict. Rather than interpret McCarthyism simply as a personal or partisan phenomenon, the pamphlet points to deep systemic roots within capitalism—rising unemployment, class disparity, and militarism as key ingredients for demagogic movements.
Strategy and Themes
- Beyond One Man
The text insists Senator McCarthy is not the “primary cause” of McCarthyism. He’s merely a symptom of deeper structural crises—including war paranoia and economic contradictions. If McCarthy “overplays his hand” or collapses politically, the pamphlet warns that others will fill the void so long as fear and instability persist. - Critique of Capitalism
The pamphlet identifies capitalism’s “contradiction-ridden and obsolete” nature as McCarthyism’s ultimate enabler. It underscores insecurities such as job loss, the threat of another war, and a sense of diminishing prospects for average Americans—fueling the scapegoating of alleged radicals. - Link to Fascism
Drawing parallels to Mussolini and Hitler, the authors caution that powerful capitalist interests can align with populist demagogues, harnessing fear to uphold privilege. In this worldview, McCarthy is a stepping-stone toward potential authoritarianism, unless economic inequalities are addressed. - Call for Socialist Industrial Unionism
The pamphlet’s solution is to “fight McCarthyism by uprooting the cause of social reaction”—that is, the capitalist system. By organizing workers “without regard for sex, color, or craft,” the Socialist Labor Party proposes a broad-based movement capable of challenging both political repression and economic exploitation.
Language, Imagery, and Audience
- Alarm and Defiance
The text frames McCarthyism as a “malignant growth” threatening “traditional American liberties,” a description meant to rally readers who feel fearful or targeted by red-baiting campaigns. - Stark Contrast
Juxtaposing the fear “oppressing” society with the “sound, well-thought-out program” of socialism, the authors underscore how their remedy transcends incremental reforms—they argue for a fundamental new social order. - Invitations to Join
In true pamphlet style, the final panel offers a mail-in coupon to request SLP literature. This underscores its goal to transform curiosity into concrete membership, fusing protest with recruitment.
Efficacy and Reception
Within the era’s raging anti-communist fervor, such an openly socialist critique was assuredly controversial. Many Americans saw any leftist argument as suspect, while the SLP itself was small compared to larger, more moderate labor and socialist groups. Nonetheless, to those disillusioned by McCarthy’s tactics and alarmed at the climate of fear, this pamphlet offered a coherent ideological alternative. By highlighting the historic parallels between economic turmoil and reactionary politics, the SLP found resonance among readers seeking systemic explanations rather than fixating solely on McCarthy’s personality.
“What to Do About McCarthyism” stands as a reminder that McCarthy’s downfall did not automatically dissolve the environment of suspicion or quell efforts to blacklist “subversives.” The pamphlet’s critique—that scapegoating thrives when underlying social anxieties remain unaddressed—still informs modern debates about political demagoguery and the vulnerability of civil liberties under stress. As a snapshot of 1950s socialist thought, it also underscores the diversity of opposition to McCarthyism, stretching beyond liberal, centrist, or civil libertarian circles to include radical voices challenging the entire capitalist system.
Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.
