ological governance in a developed northern nation-state. The policies adopted in the 1940s and 1950s to fight communism and protect democracy were considered alien to Americas political culture. They were similar to those used in communist dictatorships. Why did both Presidents issue Executive Orders that provided the framework for opportunistic, fanatical and "sick" politicians to legitimize a massive assault on the constitutional rights of American citizens? They did it because they were politicians who pursued their objectives regardless of the cost to citizens or institutions. The two Presidents did not swim against the tide in defense of the American Constitution even though they took a solemn oath to do just that.
Why did the Executive Branch allow the Head of the FBI to amass so much power in violation of administrative and constitutional rules and precepts? Was it because of fear of blackmail based on information collected by the FBI on politicians themselves? Perhaps, the politicians used J. Edgar Hoover to do their "dirty" work in the beginning, and later, he and the FBI got out of control and clearly did their own thing.
The Congress of the USA, instead of restraining the Presidents in issuing Executive Orders in violation of the Constitution, pressured the Presidents to escalate the violations. The Congress then went further than the Presidents and conducted open "witch-hunts" and persecution of citizens in private and public at their workplaces and in their communities. Well, the Presidents were two men, but what happened to the hundreds of men and women who made up the Congress? How can so many men and women in such a short span of time surrender to the McCarthys, Mundts, Nixons, and others? What about their oaths? It was evident that they were afraid that they would lose elections, so they collaborated.
In such a situation, when a nations political and administrative leadership and government degenerate, the hope lies in civil society. But even there, America faced grave problems. Civil society was divided. The anti-communist network that evolved during three decades blossomed from within civil society in the 1940s and 1950s as a minority. They wielded influence because they were able to effectively lobby the Congress and the Head of the FBI. But more importantly, because the majority of the citizens were silent, inactive and misinformed by the media on public policy issues. The media played a "Goebbels" role during the McCarthy era. The mainstream media "hanged" citizens in public. The Catholic Church also fell down. Many trade unions abandoned their leaders and members. Communities ostracized their neighbors and their children. For many, it was hell on earth. But perhaps, the collaboration of the private sector in dismissing workers and denying employment to victims of the purge was the policy that made citizens feel real fear. To lose ones means of livelihood is to lose all. The weapon of unemployment was effectively used by the Executive, the Congress and the FBI.
However, America did emerge from nearly two decades of that "nightmare" and entered the turbulent 1960s, when citizens were awakened as never seen before, East and West, North and South, to fight for their rights and demand that their government be accountable and transparent. The seeds were planted in the previous decades when many organizations and individuals heroically stood up to McCarthyism. One such organization was the National Alliance of Postal Employees (NAPE). But that is a story to be told.