Eleanor Roosevelt Denounces McCarthyism and Its Methods
“No one wants real Communists let loose, but that is the work of the FBI and they did it…very satisfactorily without endangering the reputation of innocent people.”
Eleanor Roosevelt felt distaste for both communists and red-baiters, particularly Sen. Joseph R McCarthy of Wisconsin, whose wild charges of communist influence led to the term McCarthyism. She had an aversion to the authoritarianism that accompanied communist rule, but she warned that excessive anti-communism produced a parallel menace to American democracy. Despite...
Eleanor Roosevelt felt distaste for both communists and red-baiters, particularly Sen. Joseph R McCarthy of Wisconsin, whose wild charges of communist influence led to the term McCarthyism. She had an aversion to the authoritarianism that accompanied communist rule, but she warned that excessive anti-communism produced a parallel menace to American democracy. Despite her anti-communism, she was a constant target of red-baiters. They viewed her connection with reform causes, identification with the New Deal, and support of civil rights and other social movements as confirmation of her membership in what shrill critics called Red networks.
Cold War politics disturbed her, and she had misgivings about the loyalty program of President Truman. She defended some of those accused before the House Un-American Activities Committee and persisted in publicly denouncing McCarthy, feeling that the reputations of innocent people were being besmirched for political gain. In 1951, she termed McCarthy “the greatest menace to freedom”, and in 1953 she traveled the world and discovered the damage that McCarthy’s tactics had inflicted on the United States and its prestige abroad. She punctuated her journey with expressions of her worries. During this period, she expressed concerns about the impact on the nation and its colleges relating to freedom of thought and warned of the harmful effects produced by overwrought fears of communism.
All of this prompted critics to question her judgment on matters relating to communism. One such hostile letter was written to her by an M.M. Odil. Here is her forceful response, lambasting McCarthyism’s accusatory methods. Typed letter signed, on her Val-Kill Cottage stationery, Hyde Park, NY, August 10, 1953, “Your sarcastic letter was brought to my attention. I think you are mistaken in some of your ideas. No one wants real Communists let loose, but that is the work of the FBI and they did it and are still doing it very satisfactorily without endangering the reputation of innocent people.”
Despite her public stance, letters of Eleanor Roosevelt directly denouncing McCarthyism or its methods are very uncommon, this being our first ever.
Frame, Display, Preserve
Each frame is custom constructed, using only proper museum archival materials. This includes:The finest frames, tailored to match the document you have chosen. These can period style, antiqued, gilded, wood, etc. Fabric mats, including silk and satin, as well as museum mat board with hand painted bevels. Attachment of the document to the matting to ensure its protection. This "hinging" is done according to archival standards. Protective "glass," or Tru Vue Optium Acrylic glazing, which is shatter resistant, 99% UV protective, and anti-reflective. You benefit from our decades of experience in designing and creating beautiful, compelling, and protective framed historical documents.
Learn more about our Framing Services
