William Rusher, the former publisher of National Review and one of the conservative movement's most significant champions once served as associate counsel to the Internal Security Subcommittee of the Senate's Judiciary Committee in 1956-1957, investigating "the scope of Soviet activity in the United States." Therefore, on a number of levels, including personal experience, Rusher's opinions about Joe McCarthy and the Communist influence in American government in those years are ones that carry weight.And that's why I'm ordering a copy of the book Rusher recommends in his column today.
...I have long since given up hoping that the above reasonably accurate description of the so-called "McCarthy controversy" will overtake, at least in my time, the version of events I described at the outset: the "lie agreed upon." But I rejoice to report that Crown Forum (a trademark of Random House) has just published "Blacklisted by History -- the Untold Story of Senator Joe McCarthy and His Fight Against America's Enemies," by M. Stanton Evans. For anyone who wants, and has never been able to find, a true account of that epic battle, or who lived through it and simply wants to refresh those now distant recollections, this is the book for you.
Evans, a veteran journalist, doesn't shout. He displays, instead, a deadly meticulousness that is, at last, overwhelmingly convincing. After a generous look at the history preceding the controversy, he takes us through its various episodes step by step, refuting each canard that has passed, these many decades, for the truth.
He has performed a precious and indispensable service for the public record.