Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

See the
Conversations with History Blog

See a webcast of this interview:
Johnson

See also the 2002 interview
with Haynes Johnson

The Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy: Conversation with Haynes Johnson, journalist and writer; October 28, 2005, by Harry Kreisler

This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a "Conversation With History." I'm Harry Kreisler of the Institute of International Studies. Our guest today is Haynes Johnson who is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, best selling author, and television commentator. book coverHe's author of numerous bestsellers and has just published The Age of Anxiety: McCarthyism to Terrorism.

  1. Inspired by Contemporary Events ... manipulation of post-9/11 fear ... memories of the Cold War ... research and memory ... oral history archives
  2. Remembering the McCarthy Era ... contemporary histories ... McCarthyite attacks on his father ... precocious teenager ...
  3. Joseph McCarthy: Biographical ... poor but ambitious ... the beginnings of deceit ... falsifying military records ... losing favor fast in the Senate ... first claim of "list" ... escalating the charges and targets ... fueled by Democratic fears and Republican opportunism ... climate of fear
  4. McCarthyism and the Destruction of Institutions ... attacking the civil service ... the press ... educational institutions ... gaining special Senate powers ... behind closed doors ... Democratic and Republicans play contributing roles
  5. The Response of Individuals ... the Kennedys ... Margaret Chase Smith ... Drew Pearson ... a vicious assault
  6. The Decline of McCarthy ... Army - McCarthy hearings televised ... "no sense of decency?" ... Edward R. Murrow ... failure again today of the press
  7. Historical and Contemporary Echoes ... French Revolutin and Alien Sedition Act ... Russian Revolution ... the atomic bomb ... political opportunism ... Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib ... Libby indictment ... misuse of the press ... cronyism
  8. Conclusion ... the degradation of the public debate ... demanding accountability ... compromising of the press ... on protecting sources ... advice for students

© Copyright 2005, Regents of the University of California

Site questions: Email iis_webmgr at berkeley.edu.