Early life and Introduction to Politics
Joseph Raymond McCarthy came from humble beginnings on his family’s farm. McCarthy graduated from high school in only one year and pursued law from there. Due to the great depression, McCarthy’s career in law started out slowly. Eventually, he became a circuit judge, starting as a democrat.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, McCarthy joined the Marines, where he served as a marine combat intelligence officer. In 1946, McCarthy ran for Wisconsin Senator against Robert M. La Follette Jr., who was previously well-liked. However, McCarthy appeared more personable and concerned for the people. He defeated La Follette on the basis of his opponent spending “far too much time in Washington”, and La Follette’s lack of military experience.
"Marine Capt. Joseph McCarthy visited Milwaukee in mid-1944 as a Republican candidate for the U.S. senate", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Files
"He claims to have been wounded in the war. What happened to him was he fell off a ladder during a celebration that commemorates the crossing of the equator. Once he gets into political life, he talks about his leg being full of shrapnel, he walks with a limp sometime—this is all completely made up."
- Ellen Schrecker (McCarthy, PBS)
McCarthy went on to have an unremarkable first term in office, where he didn’t take any strong stances.
