Subject
Fw: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his own
voice ...
voice ...
From
Date
Body
EDNOTE. As most of you know, I am not keen about political discourse on
NABOKV-L. Having run one such item, I feel constrained to allow ONE
counterpunch. I would also remark that a few of my own friends (in the
fifties) who had no more love for Stalinism than VN fell victim to
McCarthyism and its aftermath.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Shimanovich" <gshiman@optonline.net>
To: "Vladimir Nabokov Forum" <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
.
>
> ---------------- Message requiring your approval (382
lines) ------------------
> Isn't it a sign of times that liberal lightheads of today abuse the name
of
> that one man?
> Observing on multiple occasions how intolerable they are to opposing views
I
> begin to think that Mr. McCarthy, who was clearly controversial but not
> fascist, was just right doing what he did.
> Whenever anyone says 'fascist' I think of liberal intolerance and
> brainwashing of today.
>
> Mr. Welch should fill his appreciation of Nabokov with more content. Not
> with condescended demagoguery to which Nabokov's name does not lend
itself.
>
> George Shimanovich
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
> To: <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 7:12 PM
> Subject: Fw: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his own
> voice ...
>
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rodney Welch" <rodney41@mindspring.com>
> > .
> > >
> > > ---------------- Message requiring your approval (273
> > lines) ------------------
> > > The problem isn't the review; the problem is the quote -- one of the
> > crankiest Nabokov ever wrote. For one thing, it puts Nabokov's own
> > anti-anti-American views in Kinbote's mouth, the very thing he hated
when
> > other writers did it. Also, much as I appreciate Nabokov's personal and
> > painful experience with the Soviet Union, I've always found it
unsettling
> > the way he just shrugs off Joe McCarthy. I'm not naive about the reality
> of
> > spying and Communist infiltration during the 1950s, but there seems to
me
> > little question that there really was a McCarthy Era, and that the
> fascistic
> > fathead at its center did reckless damage.
> > >
> > > Rodney Welch
> > > Columbia, SC
> > -----------------------------
> > EDNOTE. All true but my point was merely the bizarre use that the
> > Nabokov/Kinbote quote had been put to.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
> > > Sent: Jan 9, 2004 1:02 PM
> > > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > > Subject: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his own
> > voice ...
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Kenny, Glenn" <gkenny@hfmus.com>
> > > To: "'Vladimir Nabokov Forum'" <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> > > >
> > > > ---------------- Message requiring your approval (208
> > > lines) ------------------
> > > > That's a real "huh?" moment for sure. The fact that such nonsense
saw
> > > print
> > > > is further evidence that the arts editors over at the Times are all
on
> > > > crack.
> > > >
> > > > > ----------
> > > > > From: D. Barton Johnson
> > > > > Reply To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2004 10:19 PM
> > > > > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > > > > Subject: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his
> > > > > own voice ...
> > > > >
> > > > > EDNOTE: AMong the stranger uses VN's work has been put to is the
> > > following
> > > > > review intro.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: Sandy P. Klein
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times On The Web
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/books/review/04WHEATCT.html
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > January 4, 2004
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 'Reds': Point of Order
> > > > >
> > > > > By GEOFFREY WHEATCROFT
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Ted Morgan, the author of "Reds."
> > > > >
> > > > > REDS
> > > > > McCarthyism in Twentieth-Century America.
> > > > > By Ted Morgan.
> > > > > 685 pp. New York: Random House. $35.
> > > > >
> > > > > He was ''a so-called Pink,'' Kinbote says of a campus colleague,
> 'who
> > > > > believed in what so-called Pinks believe in (Progressive
Education,
> > the
> > > > > Integrity of anyone spying for Russia, Fallouts occasioned solely
by
> > > > > U.S.-made bombs, the existence in the near past of a McCarthy Era,
> > > Soviet
> > > > > achievements including 'Dr. Zhivago' and so forth).'' Although
> ''Pale
> > > > > Fire'' is part satire, that bravura passage has Nabokov speaking
> very
> > > much
> > > > > in his own voice; little did he guess that, 40 years later, the
> > McCarthy
> > > > > era would still haunt America.
> > > > >
> > > > > From Richard Rovere's admirable 1959 ''Senator Joe McCarthy''
> onward,
> > > very
> > > > > many books about the era and its protagonist have appeared. In the
> > > latest,
> > > > > the long, detailed, interesting but puzzling ''Reds,'' Ted Morgan,
a
> > > > > biographer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and
Somerset
> > > > > Maugham, covers the ground with some fresh material and, as he
> hopes,
> > > with
> > > > > a new angle. The result is really more than one book, and they
don't
> > > quite
> > > > > hang together: McCarthy enters (stage right) only after more than
> 320
> > > > > pages, or well over halfway through, and no more than 4 out of 15
> > > chapters
> > > > > are devoted to him.
> > > > >
> > > > > His story remains fascinating, and hair-raising. Born in
Wisconsin,
> > Joe
> > > > > McCarthy displayed application and ability at school and college.
He
> > > also
> > > > > displayed from a young age a tendency to embroider the record. As
> > Morgan
> > > > > says, McCarthy learned early that ''he could lie and get away with
> > it.''
> > > > > In 1939, partly by means of mendacious attacks on his opponent, he
> > > became
> > > > > the youngest circuit judge ever elected in Wisconsin. Soon he was
> > > > > propelled into national politics, by way of war service in the
> Pacific
> > > and
> > > > > by way of more fabulizing. McCarthy allowed the people of
Wisconsin
> to
> > > > > believe that he had been wounded in action (or, still more
> > inventively,
> > > > > ''while helping to remove a pregnant woman from off a
submarine''),
> > when
> > > > > actually he had injured himself in a prank during the traditional
> > > > > festivities crossing the Equator.
> > > > >
> > > > > He was an obscure figure when he reached Washington in December
> 1946,
> > > and
> > > > > not much better known in 1950 when he jumped on the anti-Communist
> > > > > bandwagon with his explosive ''I have in my hand'' speech at
> Wheeling,
> > > > > W.Va., claiming that the State Department was a nest of
Communists.
> > Thus
> > > > > began the McCarthy era, although Morgan rightly stresses that
> > > > > anti-Communist purges and Communist espionage both predated
> McCarthy's
> > > own
> > > > > demagogic career.
> > > > >
> > > > > However often told, the story never palls: the increasingly wild
> > > charges,
> > > > > the atmosphere of suspicion and dread, the attack on Gen. George
C.
> > > > > Marshall and then the whole United States Army, the televised
> > hearings,
> > > > > the breaking of a malign spell over American political life with
> > Joseph
> > > > > Welch's superbly theatrical riposte -- ''Little did I dream you
> could
> > be
> > > > > so reckless and so cruel. . . . Have you no sense of decency, sir,
> at
> > > long
> > > > > last?'' -- and McCarthy's censure by the Senate in 1954. Less than
> > three
> > > > > years later he was dead.
> > > > >
> > > > > Along with his bullying and braggadocio, there was a huge
> > > self-destructive
> > > > > streak in McCarthy's makeup. It showed in the easily demonstrable
> lies
> > > he
> > > > > told, it showed in the drinking that polished him off at only 48,
it
> > > > > showed in his patronage of the odious if preposterous Roy Cohn and
> his
> > > > > boyfriend David Schine, whose cavorting around Europe made a
> > > laughingstock
> > > > > of America and much aided the Communist cause. But then so did the
> > whole
> > > > > McCarthy era.
> > > > >
> > > > > Those who come out of this story worst aren't so much McCarthy and
> his
> > > > > acolytes as the politicians who recognized him for what he was but
> > > lacked
> > > > > the courage to stand up to him. ''Joe's just a loudmouthed
drunk,''
> > > Lyndon
> > > > > Johnson told Bobby Baker. Other senators knew that, and in his
last
> > > years
> > > > > they got up and left the dining room when he entered. But that was
> > only
> > > > > after his star had fallen. Until then, Democrats as well as
> > Republicans
> > > > > had lined up behind him, or at least refused to call his bluff.
> > > > >
> > > > > But telling the immediate story of the McCarthy era is only one
part
> > of
> > > > > this book. Its subtitle is ''McCarthyism in Twentieth-Century
> > America,''
> > > > > and it can't quite make up its mind what its theme is supposed to
> be.
> > > > > Morgan begins with what he thinks is the provocative claim that
> ''the
> > > cold
> > > > > war began in 1917,'' but this is a truism. A. J. P. Taylor's
history
> > of
> > > > > European international relations from 1848 to 1918, written 50
years
> > > ago,
> > > > > ended with the words that ''Europe was superseded'' after World
War
> I
> > by
> > > > > the ''competition between Communism and liberal democracy.''
> > > > >
> > > > > In Morgan's account, the conflict had taken shape with American
> > > > > involvement in the Russian Revolution, and the abortive military
> > > > > intervention against the Bolsheviks. Following that episode, he
> > plunges
> > > > > headfirst into the murky world of espionage. From the arrival of
the
> > > first
> > > > > Soviet trade mission in 1924, the Russians established a large spy
> > > network
> > > > > in America, in some ways connected with the official and open
> > Communist
> > > > > Party, but also with the larger sway that Communism held over
> cultural
> > > and
> > > > > intellectual life in the 1930's and 40's.
> > > > >
> > > > > The evidence of Venona, the transcripts of the Soviet secret
signal
> > > > > traffic intercepted and decrypted by American intelligence, is
> > > conclusive
> > > > > about the extent of that operation: with a strange irony, one
could
> > say
> > > > > that McCarthy didn't know the half of it. All the same, to write,
as
> > > > > Morgan does, that if only Venona had been released at the time,
> ''the
> > > > > swing of the pendulum to hysterical anti-Communism could perhaps
> have
> > > been
> > > > > avoided,'' is idle; of course the transcripts could not have been
> made
> > > > > public then.
> > > > >
> > > > > Morgan devotes the last part of his book to a feverish gallop
> through
> > > > > events since McCarthy: the F.B.I.'s ever more frantic pursuit of
an
> > ever
> > > > > tinier Communist Party, the sex lives of John F. Kennedy and
Martin
> > > Luther
> > > > > King Jr., the birth of the New Left, Vietnam, Watergate,
> Iran-contra,
> > > > > whatever. All this is designed somehow or other to illustrate the
> > thesis
> > > > > that ''just as McCarthyism began long before McCarthy, it endured
> long
> > > > > after him.''
> > > > >
> > > > > Does this mean anything? ''McCarthyism'' could have a truly useful
> > > > > definition: the calculated and unprincipled use of mendacious
> > > allegations
> > > > > for political purposes. But if it comes to be used (as it too
often
> > is)
> > > to
> > > > > mean any charge uncomfortably near the bone, or if alternatively
it
> > > covers
> > > > > any kind of demagoguery, falsehood and trickery, then the very
> concept
> > > is
> > > > > rendered empty and meaningless.
> > > > >
> > > > > As to Morgan's peroration -- or concluding rant -- about George W.
> > Bush,
> > > > > 9/11, African uranium and the ''pattern of deceit'' behind the
White
> > > > > House's case for war with Iraq, one can (as it happens) share the
> > > author's
> > > > > inclination on these subjects while wondering whether
''McCarthyite
> > > > > methods'' is in any sense a helpful way of describing the debate
> over
> > > the
> > > > > current war. It did not require McCarthy, after all, to teach
> > > politicians
> > > > > the uses of misrepresentation.
> > > > >
> > > > > All of which leaves ''Reds'' looking curiouser and curiouser.
> Despite
> > > > > being quite unillusioned about Communism, Morgan misses the point.
> > > > > McCarthy did huge damage to American life, but a large part of the
> > > damage
> > > > > was done to the honorable anti-Communist cause -- and to honesty
on
> > the
> > > > > left. Nearly 50 years ago, when the senator was still at large,
the
> > > > > journalist Dwight Macdonald pointed out that ''the liberals have
> never
> > > > > honestly confronted their illusions in the 30's and 40's about
> > Communism
> > > > > but have instead merely counterposed a disingenuous defense, a
> blanket
> > > > > denial to McCarthy's equally sweeping attack.''
> > > > >
> > > > > Before the McCarthy era began, and then after it ended, two
> > politically
> > > > > very different Englishmen said what needed to be said. George
Orwell
> > > > > almost certainly never heard of Joe McCarthy: the Wheeling speech
> came
> > a
> > > > > matter of weeks after his death. But not long before he died,
Orwell
> > had
> > > > > specifically warned the Americans about the danger of fighting
> > Communism
> > > > > with the kinds of methods Communists themselves used.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then in 1960, William F. Buckley Jr. tried to persuade Evelyn
Waugh
> to
> > > > > contribute to National Review, and sent him ''McCarthy and His
> > > Enemies,''
> > > > > the apologia he had written with L. Brent Bozell. But Buckley got
an
> > > > > elegant flea in his ear. Most Englishmen regarded McCarthy as a
> > > > > regrettable figure, Waugh replied, and the book ''will not go far
to
> > > clear
> > > > > his reputation.'' Plainly there had been need for an investigation
> > into
> > > > > Soviet espionage, but it was just as clear that McCarthy was not a
> > > > > suitable man to undertake it, Waugh said, and those who
sympathized
> > with
> > > > > the anti-Communist cause ''must deplore his championship of it.''
> > > Despite
> > > > > all the bitterness of the McCarthy era and its residue, that
remains
> > > > > something like the last word.
> > > > >
> > > > > Geoffrey Wheatcroft's books include ''The Controversy of Zion''
and,
> > > most
> > > > > recently, ''Le Tour: A History of the Tour de France.''
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > > New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _____
> > > > >
> > > > > Take advantage of our limited-time introductory offer for dial-up
> > > Internet
> > > > > access.
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
NABOKV-L. Having run one such item, I feel constrained to allow ONE
counterpunch. I would also remark that a few of my own friends (in the
fifties) who had no more love for Stalinism than VN fell victim to
McCarthyism and its aftermath.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Shimanovich" <gshiman@optonline.net>
To: "Vladimir Nabokov Forum" <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
.
>
> ---------------- Message requiring your approval (382
lines) ------------------
> Isn't it a sign of times that liberal lightheads of today abuse the name
of
> that one man?
> Observing on multiple occasions how intolerable they are to opposing views
I
> begin to think that Mr. McCarthy, who was clearly controversial but not
> fascist, was just right doing what he did.
> Whenever anyone says 'fascist' I think of liberal intolerance and
> brainwashing of today.
>
> Mr. Welch should fill his appreciation of Nabokov with more content. Not
> with condescended demagoguery to which Nabokov's name does not lend
itself.
>
> George Shimanovich
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
> To: <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 7:12 PM
> Subject: Fw: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his own
> voice ...
>
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rodney Welch" <rodney41@mindspring.com>
> > .
> > >
> > > ---------------- Message requiring your approval (273
> > lines) ------------------
> > > The problem isn't the review; the problem is the quote -- one of the
> > crankiest Nabokov ever wrote. For one thing, it puts Nabokov's own
> > anti-anti-American views in Kinbote's mouth, the very thing he hated
when
> > other writers did it. Also, much as I appreciate Nabokov's personal and
> > painful experience with the Soviet Union, I've always found it
unsettling
> > the way he just shrugs off Joe McCarthy. I'm not naive about the reality
> of
> > spying and Communist infiltration during the 1950s, but there seems to
me
> > little question that there really was a McCarthy Era, and that the
> fascistic
> > fathead at its center did reckless damage.
> > >
> > > Rodney Welch
> > > Columbia, SC
> > -----------------------------
> > EDNOTE. All true but my point was merely the bizarre use that the
> > Nabokov/Kinbote quote had been put to.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "D. Barton Johnson" <chtodel@cox.net>
> > > Sent: Jan 9, 2004 1:02 PM
> > > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > > Subject: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his own
> > voice ...
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Kenny, Glenn" <gkenny@hfmus.com>
> > > To: "'Vladimir Nabokov Forum'" <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> > > >
> > > > ---------------- Message requiring your approval (208
> > > lines) ------------------
> > > > That's a real "huh?" moment for sure. The fact that such nonsense
saw
> > > > is further evidence that the arts editors over at the Times are all
on
> > > > crack.
> > > >
> > > > > ----------
> > > > > From: D. Barton Johnson
> > > > > Reply To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, January 8, 2004 10:19 PM
> > > > > To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> > > > > Subject: Fw: bravura passage has Nabokov speaking very much in his
> > > > > own voice ...
> > > > >
> > > > > EDNOTE: AMong the stranger uses VN's work has been put to is the
> > > following
> > > > > review intro.
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: Sandy P. Klein
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times On The Web
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/04/books/review/04WHEATCT.html
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > January 4, 2004
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > 'Reds': Point of Order
> > > > >
> > > > > By GEOFFREY WHEATCROFT
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Ted Morgan, the author of "Reds."
> > > > >
> > > > > REDS
> > > > > McCarthyism in Twentieth-Century America.
> > > > > By Ted Morgan.
> > > > > 685 pp. New York: Random House. $35.
> > > > >
> > > > > He was ''a so-called Pink,'' Kinbote says of a campus colleague,
> 'who
> > > > > believed in what so-called Pinks believe in (Progressive
Education,
> > the
> > > > > Integrity of anyone spying for Russia, Fallouts occasioned solely
by
> > > > > U.S.-made bombs, the existence in the near past of a McCarthy Era,
> > > Soviet
> > > > > achievements including 'Dr. Zhivago' and so forth).'' Although
> ''Pale
> > > > > Fire'' is part satire, that bravura passage has Nabokov speaking
> very
> > > much
> > > > > in his own voice; little did he guess that, 40 years later, the
> > McCarthy
> > > > > era would still haunt America.
> > > > >
> > > > > From Richard Rovere's admirable 1959 ''Senator Joe McCarthy''
> onward,
> > > very
> > > > > many books about the era and its protagonist have appeared. In the
> > > latest,
> > > > > the long, detailed, interesting but puzzling ''Reds,'' Ted Morgan,
a
> > > > > biographer of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and
Somerset
> > > > > Maugham, covers the ground with some fresh material and, as he
> hopes,
> > > with
> > > > > a new angle. The result is really more than one book, and they
don't
> > > quite
> > > > > hang together: McCarthy enters (stage right) only after more than
> 320
> > > > > pages, or well over halfway through, and no more than 4 out of 15
> > > chapters
> > > > > are devoted to him.
> > > > >
> > > > > His story remains fascinating, and hair-raising. Born in
Wisconsin,
> > Joe
> > > > > McCarthy displayed application and ability at school and college.
He
> > > also
> > > > > displayed from a young age a tendency to embroider the record. As
> > Morgan
> > > > > says, McCarthy learned early that ''he could lie and get away with
> > it.''
> > > > > In 1939, partly by means of mendacious attacks on his opponent, he
> > > became
> > > > > the youngest circuit judge ever elected in Wisconsin. Soon he was
> > > > > propelled into national politics, by way of war service in the
> Pacific
> > > and
> > > > > by way of more fabulizing. McCarthy allowed the people of
Wisconsin
> to
> > > > > believe that he had been wounded in action (or, still more
> > inventively,
> > > > > ''while helping to remove a pregnant woman from off a
submarine''),
> > when
> > > > > actually he had injured himself in a prank during the traditional
> > > > > festivities crossing the Equator.
> > > > >
> > > > > He was an obscure figure when he reached Washington in December
> 1946,
> > > and
> > > > > not much better known in 1950 when he jumped on the anti-Communist
> > > > > bandwagon with his explosive ''I have in my hand'' speech at
> Wheeling,
> > > > > W.Va., claiming that the State Department was a nest of
Communists.
> > Thus
> > > > > began the McCarthy era, although Morgan rightly stresses that
> > > > > anti-Communist purges and Communist espionage both predated
> McCarthy's
> > > own
> > > > > demagogic career.
> > > > >
> > > > > However often told, the story never palls: the increasingly wild
> > > charges,
> > > > > the atmosphere of suspicion and dread, the attack on Gen. George
C.
> > > > > Marshall and then the whole United States Army, the televised
> > hearings,
> > > > > the breaking of a malign spell over American political life with
> > Joseph
> > > > > Welch's superbly theatrical riposte -- ''Little did I dream you
> could
> > be
> > > > > so reckless and so cruel. . . . Have you no sense of decency, sir,
> at
> > > long
> > > > > last?'' -- and McCarthy's censure by the Senate in 1954. Less than
> > three
> > > > > years later he was dead.
> > > > >
> > > > > Along with his bullying and braggadocio, there was a huge
> > > self-destructive
> > > > > streak in McCarthy's makeup. It showed in the easily demonstrable
> lies
> > > he
> > > > > told, it showed in the drinking that polished him off at only 48,
it
> > > > > showed in his patronage of the odious if preposterous Roy Cohn and
> his
> > > > > boyfriend David Schine, whose cavorting around Europe made a
> > > laughingstock
> > > > > of America and much aided the Communist cause. But then so did the
> > whole
> > > > > McCarthy era.
> > > > >
> > > > > Those who come out of this story worst aren't so much McCarthy and
> his
> > > > > acolytes as the politicians who recognized him for what he was but
> > > lacked
> > > > > the courage to stand up to him. ''Joe's just a loudmouthed
drunk,''
> > > Lyndon
> > > > > Johnson told Bobby Baker. Other senators knew that, and in his
last
> > > years
> > > > > they got up and left the dining room when he entered. But that was
> > only
> > > > > after his star had fallen. Until then, Democrats as well as
> > Republicans
> > > > > had lined up behind him, or at least refused to call his bluff.
> > > > >
> > > > > But telling the immediate story of the McCarthy era is only one
part
> > of
> > > > > this book. Its subtitle is ''McCarthyism in Twentieth-Century
> > America,''
> > > > > and it can't quite make up its mind what its theme is supposed to
> be.
> > > > > Morgan begins with what he thinks is the provocative claim that
> ''the
> > > cold
> > > > > war began in 1917,'' but this is a truism. A. J. P. Taylor's
history
> > of
> > > > > European international relations from 1848 to 1918, written 50
years
> > > ago,
> > > > > ended with the words that ''Europe was superseded'' after World
War
> I
> > by
> > > > > the ''competition between Communism and liberal democracy.''
> > > > >
> > > > > In Morgan's account, the conflict had taken shape with American
> > > > > involvement in the Russian Revolution, and the abortive military
> > > > > intervention against the Bolsheviks. Following that episode, he
> > plunges
> > > > > headfirst into the murky world of espionage. From the arrival of
the
> > > first
> > > > > Soviet trade mission in 1924, the Russians established a large spy
> > > network
> > > > > in America, in some ways connected with the official and open
> > Communist
> > > > > Party, but also with the larger sway that Communism held over
> cultural
> > > and
> > > > > intellectual life in the 1930's and 40's.
> > > > >
> > > > > The evidence of Venona, the transcripts of the Soviet secret
signal
> > > > > traffic intercepted and decrypted by American intelligence, is
> > > conclusive
> > > > > about the extent of that operation: with a strange irony, one
could
> > say
> > > > > that McCarthy didn't know the half of it. All the same, to write,
as
> > > > > Morgan does, that if only Venona had been released at the time,
> ''the
> > > > > swing of the pendulum to hysterical anti-Communism could perhaps
> have
> > > been
> > > > > avoided,'' is idle; of course the transcripts could not have been
> made
> > > > > public then.
> > > > >
> > > > > Morgan devotes the last part of his book to a feverish gallop
> through
> > > > > events since McCarthy: the F.B.I.'s ever more frantic pursuit of
an
> > ever
> > > > > tinier Communist Party, the sex lives of John F. Kennedy and
Martin
> > > Luther
> > > > > King Jr., the birth of the New Left, Vietnam, Watergate,
> Iran-contra,
> > > > > whatever. All this is designed somehow or other to illustrate the
> > thesis
> > > > > that ''just as McCarthyism began long before McCarthy, it endured
> long
> > > > > after him.''
> > > > >
> > > > > Does this mean anything? ''McCarthyism'' could have a truly useful
> > > > > definition: the calculated and unprincipled use of mendacious
> > > allegations
> > > > > for political purposes. But if it comes to be used (as it too
often
> > is)
> > > to
> > > > > mean any charge uncomfortably near the bone, or if alternatively
it
> > > covers
> > > > > any kind of demagoguery, falsehood and trickery, then the very
> concept
> > > is
> > > > > rendered empty and meaningless.
> > > > >
> > > > > As to Morgan's peroration -- or concluding rant -- about George W.
> > Bush,
> > > > > 9/11, African uranium and the ''pattern of deceit'' behind the
White
> > > > > House's case for war with Iraq, one can (as it happens) share the
> > > author's
> > > > > inclination on these subjects while wondering whether
''McCarthyite
> > > > > methods'' is in any sense a helpful way of describing the debate
> over
> > > the
> > > > > current war. It did not require McCarthy, after all, to teach
> > > politicians
> > > > > the uses of misrepresentation.
> > > > >
> > > > > All of which leaves ''Reds'' looking curiouser and curiouser.
> Despite
> > > > > being quite unillusioned about Communism, Morgan misses the point.
> > > > > McCarthy did huge damage to American life, but a large part of the
> > > damage
> > > > > was done to the honorable anti-Communist cause -- and to honesty
on
> > the
> > > > > left. Nearly 50 years ago, when the senator was still at large,
the
> > > > > journalist Dwight Macdonald pointed out that ''the liberals have
> never
> > > > > honestly confronted their illusions in the 30's and 40's about
> > Communism
> > > > > but have instead merely counterposed a disingenuous defense, a
> blanket
> > > > > denial to McCarthy's equally sweeping attack.''
> > > > >
> > > > > Before the McCarthy era began, and then after it ended, two
> > politically
> > > > > very different Englishmen said what needed to be said. George
Orwell
> > > > > almost certainly never heard of Joe McCarthy: the Wheeling speech
> came
> > a
> > > > > matter of weeks after his death. But not long before he died,
Orwell
> > had
> > > > > specifically warned the Americans about the danger of fighting
> > Communism
> > > > > with the kinds of methods Communists themselves used.
> > > > >
> > > > > Then in 1960, William F. Buckley Jr. tried to persuade Evelyn
Waugh
> to
> > > > > contribute to National Review, and sent him ''McCarthy and His
> > > Enemies,''
> > > > > the apologia he had written with L. Brent Bozell. But Buckley got
an
> > > > > elegant flea in his ear. Most Englishmen regarded McCarthy as a
> > > > > regrettable figure, Waugh replied, and the book ''will not go far
to
> > > clear
> > > > > his reputation.'' Plainly there had been need for an investigation
> > into
> > > > > Soviet espionage, but it was just as clear that McCarthy was not a
> > > > > suitable man to undertake it, Waugh said, and those who
sympathized
> > with
> > > > > the anti-Communist cause ''must deplore his championship of it.''
> > > Despite
> > > > > all the bitterness of the McCarthy era and its residue, that
remains
> > > > > something like the last word.
> > > > >
> > > > > Geoffrey Wheatcroft's books include ''The Controversy of Zion''
and,
> > > most
> > > > > recently, ''Le Tour: A History of the Tour de France.''
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > The New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > > New York Times
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _____
> > > > >
> > > > > Take advantage of our limited-time introductory offer for dial-up
> > > Internet
> > > > > access.
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>