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Neil Sims's avatar

It might also be useful to point out that the common denominator between these two men is Roy Cohn.

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Neil Sims's avatar

I might be that McCarthy only foreshadowed what we face today. One clear difference that he was only a Senator. Today the Leader of the Free World is the primary character of a dooms day play.

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donald morrison's avatar

I'm surprised more commentators aren't making the comparison between Donnie and Joe these days. I hope this piece inspires a few more of our better scribblers to follow Fuff's lead.

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Sally Frances's avatar

This is a great bird's eye view that few of us could ever have. I remember watching the McCarthy hearings on our tiny tv in the fifties with my mother, her holding a tissue to her nose and mouth, and me mystified.. Thanks for sharing this.

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Diana Adams's avatar

Wonderful piece to read this morning. Thank you for this. It might be nice to see it in the NY Times as a short article?

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Chrissy Heyworth's avatar

Such interesting if deeply troubling comparisons, Fuff. We survived Joe; we have to survive Trump. Even if painful to recall, your family history lessons are always fascinating!

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Buzz Bruggeman's avatar

I used to read all their columns as a kid and then in college! Great writing!

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Ramona Grigg's avatar

Thank you for this reminder, Elizabeth. I was a teenager during the McCarthy hearings and my mom and I watched them on our black and white television. We were horrified that McCarthy could go on with his lies and attempts at power grabs as long as he did. It wasn't as if good people--like your father and your uncle and Edward R. Murrow--weren't trying to stop him with the truth, it was that, as it is today, too many saw a way to profit from those accusations by building distrust in government and in the American people.

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Molly Culver's avatar

Thanks for sharing these tidbits of history from your dad's and great Uncle Joe's vantage points, Cugina:) For me what comes up is how history has repeated itself and in many cases worsened as humanity never seems to learn the lessons history is teaching it.... but also how good things happened in between. I believe the best days of this country are ahead of us. This very ugly last gasp of the patriarchy is equally pathetic; the pendulum will swing again... the future is arguably female, healed, whole. The unhealed, angry, and weak men who fear that are just having their little hissy fit. I see senators, regular folks, local gov't people fighting back. I am not convinced this moment spells doom.

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Sarah Lewis's avatar

Thank you for this. So resonant.

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ellen Luborsky's avatar

What a brave & poignant piece! Thank you

I hope his courage & integrity inspires others - now.

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Meg Thomas's avatar

Thanks, I love this....

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Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop's avatar

Buzz, thanks for writing. It's so good to hear that.

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Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop's avatar

Ramona, very well put. The greed and the hubris in the people in this administration is terrifying. I feel as if they are selling our future down the river to enrich themselves.

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Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop's avatar

I agree with you, Molly.

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Elizabeth Winthrop Alsop's avatar

Exactly.

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