Introduction
Numerous historical figures have made significant contributions, both negative and positive, to the development of the world. To learn about their lives, the challenges they faced, and their strengths and weaknesses, it is essential to get acquainted with credible texts created by informed writers. This paper discusses McCullough’s article about President Truman and Goldman’s writing about Joseph R. McCarthy.
McCullough’s Description of President Truman
Truman’s Leadership Strengths, Challenges, and Doctrine
In his writing, McCullough provides an inspiring and sympathetic description of Harry Truman, outlining his strengths as president, his challenges, and how he addressed the Cold War. One may notice that the key strength of Truman as the leader of the U.S. was that he was an ordinary American who did his best when he received power. Truman understood and liked himself greatly, being able to find resources within himself to solve the issues and leverage the potential of his country. McCullough writes that Truman had emotional, mental, and physical stamina, and the sincerity and determination he placed in his presidency were his strong suits. He was decent, confident, and courageous, especially when facing some matters he had no experience with.
Truman’s Challenges and Decisions
At the same time, he faced numerous challenges, beginning with the lack of preparation for the presidency. Truman did not have enough support from the Democrats. McCullough writes that after the president decided to go into Korea, which was also the nation’s will, he lost his people’s support, which led to poor results. To limit the spread of Communism, he established the Truman Doctrine, one of his most crucial decisions.
McCullough’s Portrayal of Truman
Lastly, one may notice that the title of McCullough’s article is rather interesting, referring to Truman as “one tough son-of-a-bitch of a man.” The author chose this title, possibly because it describes the president perfectly. Although known to be friendly and sincere, with a great sense of humor, and as a bookworm, he made difficult choices, faced their consequences with courage, and never forgot that he was merely an American who received an opportunity to make some changes.
Goldman’s Description of McCarthy
Rise of McCarthy and McCarthyism
Another important figure of those times was Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, and Eric Goldman describes his actions. According to the author, in the 1950s, McCarthyism began when the Senator claimed he had a list of dozens of Communists employed in the State Department. The term “McCarthyism” now refers to the tactics used by the Senator, as well as the process of witch hunts and conspiracy theories.
Goldman indicates that McCarthy knew his target audience, so it took him a month to gather a group of “twisted-thinking” individuals who supported and promoted his ideas. The Senator and his followers got specific, bold, reckless, and harsh in their announcements, making many Americans believe them. Few Senators opposed him, while many Republicans who knew they could use McCarthy for their purposes supported him, giving more authority to his words.
McCarthy’s Strategies and Use of Public Fear
People feared communists, which allowed McCarthy to use their fears and gain more support. Goldman states that when a politician was accused of being a communist, they quickly lost Americans’ trust. This led to the dismissal of this politician, which in turn proved their guilt to society. Thus, the Senator used the fears and power of the public to convince people that he was right in his accusations and that there was a major conspiracy.
Conclusion
To conclude, there are several lessons one can learn from studying Truman and McCarthy. Concerning the former, his presidency shows that it is possible to be an ordinary human but still change the world. Sincerity, courage, and certain simplicity can make one a great president; however, a severe mistake might result in one losing most of the support they had from people. As for McCarthy, his case shows that it is easy to control scared people. If they want to believe in something, they themselves will find evidence for it.