Clay Risen

There was an immediately obvious need to reinforce Europe, to commit billions of dollars to shoring up their economies and societies so that the Soviet Union couldn't continue its press westward and take over more countries than it had. And there was a pivotal meeting with Russia.

There was an immediately obvious need to reinforce Europe, to commit billions of dollars to shoring up their economies and societies so that the Soviet Union couldn't continue its press westward and take over more countries than it had. And there was a pivotal meeting with Russia.

There was an immediately obvious need to reinforce Europe, to commit billions of dollars to shoring up their economies and societies so that the Soviet Union couldn't continue its press westward and take over more countries than it had. And there was a pivotal meeting with Russia.

key State Department officials, key Senate leaders, in which Senator Arthur Vandenberg famously told Truman that, hey, I'll do what I can, I'm gonna help you out, but you have to scare the hell out of them, right? And essentially make communism out to be the biggest baddie. And, you know, there was obviously a strong case for that.

key State Department officials, key Senate leaders, in which Senator Arthur Vandenberg famously told Truman that, hey, I'll do what I can, I'm gonna help you out, but you have to scare the hell out of them, right? And essentially make communism out to be the biggest baddie. And, you know, there was obviously a strong case for that.

key State Department officials, key Senate leaders, in which Senator Arthur Vandenberg famously told Truman that, hey, I'll do what I can, I'm gonna help you out, but you have to scare the hell out of them, right? And essentially make communism out to be the biggest baddie. And, you know, there was obviously a strong case for that.

And so Truman gave a speech to a joint session of Congress where he explained what was ahead and made out a very strong case for a maximalist assertion of U.S.,

And so Truman gave a speech to a joint session of Congress where he explained what was ahead and made out a very strong case for a maximalist assertion of U.S.,

And so Truman gave a speech to a joint session of Congress where he explained what was ahead and made out a very strong case for a maximalist assertion of U.S.,

effort abroad but part of that was also talking about the limitless threat of communism and so then it became incumbent on him to do something about communists domestically and here he was sort of in a trap because he didn't really believe there was much of a threat but there were uh

effort abroad but part of that was also talking about the limitless threat of communism and so then it became incumbent on him to do something about communists domestically and here he was sort of in a trap because he didn't really believe there was much of a threat but there were uh

effort abroad but part of that was also talking about the limitless threat of communism and so then it became incumbent on him to do something about communists domestically and here he was sort of in a trap because he didn't really believe there was much of a threat but there were uh

particularly Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress who did say there was a domestic threat and J. Edgar Hoover said there was a threat. And truth be told, there was very good evidence that there had been espionage in the U.S. government. It turned out to be true that the Soviets were funneling money through the Communist Party. So Roosevelt versus Truman, I think,

particularly Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress who did say there was a domestic threat and J. Edgar Hoover said there was a threat. And truth be told, there was very good evidence that there had been espionage in the U.S. government. It turned out to be true that the Soviets were funneling money through the Communist Party. So Roosevelt versus Truman, I think,

particularly Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress who did say there was a domestic threat and J. Edgar Hoover said there was a threat. And truth be told, there was very good evidence that there had been espionage in the U.S. government. It turned out to be true that the Soviets were funneling money through the Communist Party. So Roosevelt versus Truman, I think,

implemented the loyalty oath largely because he thought it would be a sop to these folks and wouldn't do anything. It wasn't a big deal. He was wrong on that.

implemented the loyalty oath largely because he thought it would be a sop to these folks and wouldn't do anything. It wasn't a big deal. He was wrong on that.

implemented the loyalty oath largely because he thought it would be a sop to these folks and wouldn't do anything. It wasn't a big deal. He was wrong on that.

Well, there were a couple. First of all is that when you hire the exterminator to come in, you really expect there to be rodents, right? And there's something here, too, where once you set up these loyalty boards in all these government agencies, it's sort of incumbent on them to find something. And, you know, look, I mean, there's always something to be found in someone's background.

Well, there were a couple. First of all is that when you hire the exterminator to come in, you really expect there to be rodents, right? And there's something here, too, where once you set up these loyalty boards in all these government agencies, it's sort of incumbent on them to find something. And, you know, look, I mean, there's always something to be found in someone's background.