On june 1, 1950, maine senator margaret chase smith delivered a speech that she called a declaration of conscience. Senator margaret chase smith made her declaration of conscience speech on june 1, 1950, shortly after having been removed from the senate permanent subcommittee on investigations at the height of the mccarthy era. Public reaction to the crucible mccarthy, as well as many authors, accused miller of spearheading his own attack at was then perceived to be the very core of american values at the time made people ask the. Margaret chase smiths 1950 declaration of conscience senate speech. Margaret chase smith declaration of conscience transcript. For more than three decades, margaret chase smith served as a role model for women aspiring to national politics. Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience bartleby. Since departing the senate, ive written a book entitled fighting for common. From library journal with her declaration of conscience before the u. Declaration of conscience 1950 margaret chase smith from the new york times june 2, 1950.
To margaret chase smith, the right way is not always the popular and easy way. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we americans hold dear. The quote below is from a declaration of conscience written by senator margaret chase smith in the 1950s. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became one of the first to reject publicly the extremism of senator joseph mccarthy and thereby established herself as a symbol of common sense and independent thinking. Smith was a powerful woman and for so long the only woman in the senate. Go here for more about margaret chase smith s declaration of conscience. Senator smith bravely denounced mccarthyism at a time when others feared speaking out would ruin their careers. Romney is a city in and the county seat of hampshire county, west virginia, usa. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became one of the first to reject publicly the extremism of senator joseph mccarthy and thereby.
Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became. Margaret chase smith s address to the us senate on june 1, 1950 was a declaration of conscience in response to joseph r. List of books and articles about margaret chase smith online. The quote below is from a declaration of conscience written. Declaration of conscience smith wikisource, the free. President trumans policy of containment and the anticommunist crusade taking place in the united states created an atmosphere of fear among americans. She was the first woman to enter the senate without being appointed to the position.
Margret chase smith declaration of conscience by cece. Margaret chase smith, yet stir them to take a principled stand. Senator margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience. On june 1, 1950, maine senator margaret chase smiththen the. Senator smith to you and me, she was the first woman to run for president from a major political party. It follows the full text transcript of margaret chase smith s declaration of conscience, delivered at washington d.
Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthy s wheeling speech, on february 9, 1950. Those of us who shout the loudest about americanism. Senator margaret chase smith of maine condemned the tactics of senator joseph mccarthy in a congressional speech on june 1, 1950. During world war ii, she was the only civilian woman to go to sea in a navy ship in wartime. A declaration of conscience june 1, 1950 as senator margaret chase smith of maine boarded the senate subway, she encountered the junior senator from wisconsin, joe mccarthy. The highest glass ceiling had prompted me to want to read it. Her goal was to be a united states senator, not a woman senator, and she succeeded by overcoming gender, not by championing it. Public speaking tips from margaret chase smiths declaration. Mccarthys accusations about communist subversives in the government.
A vocabulary list featuring margaret chase smith s declaration of conscience 1950. Despite her compelling speech of 1950, declaration of conscience, the legacy of margaret chase smith is too often overlooked in history books. Senate, smith cultivated a career as an independent and courageous legislator. Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience 1950. Susan collins joins list of republicans who wont vote for. On the senate floor in 1950, us senator margaret chase smith of maine delivered a speech in which she said that as a republican, she could no longer stay silent against mccarthyism. Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthys wheeling speech, on february 9, 1950. Margaret chase smiths 1950 declaration of conscience senate. The article focuses on senator margaret chase smiths speech she gave on the senate floor on june 1, 1950. Given at the height of the cold wars red scare, smiths famous speech. Declaration of conscience delivered 1 june 1950 mr. I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. The power of rhetoric in margaret chase smiths i speak as an american background thesis margaret chase smith includes in her speech a credible persona, the manipulation of her audiences emotions and logic as well as the creative use of style and syntax to bolster her argument.
Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience essay cram. Joseph raymond mccarthy november 14, 1908 may 2, 1957 was an american politician who served as a republican u. During this time she became the first woman to serve in the senate as a republican, the. An organization created by congress to investigate what the effects of communism were on business and in politics. Her speech took place during the cold war when tensions were high between the democratic united states and the communist soviet union. Communist accusations and a national feeling of fear has brought upon this speech. Senator from maine and presidential nominee, delivered her declaration of conscience speech in response to the practices relating to mccarthyism that she felt were pervading the united states government. Senator margaret chase smith arrives at the republican national convention. She attacked mccarthy s conspiratorial charges and broken lives left in their wake. The concept has been variously explained by moralists and philosophers. Declaration of conscience margaret chase smith 1950. List of books and articles about conscience online research. In the declaration of conscience, margaret chase smith addresses the american public and the united states senate during a time of political unrest. Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience address.
Margaret chase smith was the most influential woman in the history of american politics. Declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith june 1, 1950. Margret chase smith declaration of conscience how are they related. Margaret chase smiths speech a declaration of conscience. I have only myself and my job as united states senator. Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience by emily.
Margaret chase smith, declaration of conscience audiences appreciate a presenter who can be real with them and show them a side of his or herself that hasnt been completely molded by company and industry jargon and marketing speak. Had a man delivered smiths declaration of conscience speech, he was. A few senators applauded smith s speech, but the vast majority silenced their comments and opinions, fearing mccarthys wrath. In this lesson, we will examine the main themes and quotes from margaret chase smiths remarks to the senate in support of a declaration of conscience. Her speech was endorsed by six other liberaltomoderate republicans. Dec 12, 20 on june 1, 1950 as a freshman giving her first major speech on the floor no less, margaret chase smith began one of the most famous speeches in american history, the declaration of conscience. A stance against the exploitation of fear margaret chase smith served as a representative to maine in congress from 1940 until 1973. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone. Beginning in 1950, mccarthy became the most visible public face of a period in the united states in which cold war tensions fueled fears of widespread communist subversion. Senator margaret chase smith, declaration of conscience and. It is with these thoughts that i have drafted what i call a declaration of conscience. Margaret chase smith and six republican senators speak out against joseph mccarthys attack on individual freedom the anticommunist crusader senator joseph mccarthy stepped into national prominence on february 9, 1950, when he mounted an attack on president trumans foreign policy agenda.
And no one dared to stand up to mccarthy except the lone woman senator at that time. Remarks to the senate in support of a declaration of conscience. In it, she made a strong call for every americans rights to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest, and to independent thought. Declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith goodreads. It is ironical that we senators can debate in the senate directly or indirectly, by any form of words impute to any american, who is not a senator, any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming an americanand without that non senator american having any legal redress against ityet if we say the same thing in the senate about our colleagues we can be stopped on the grounds of being out of order. A life of senator margaret chase smith rutgers series on women and politics janann sherman. Smiths urgent declaration throughout the 1950s, a red scare movement caused mass panic among americans, led by the senate accusing innocent citizens of supporting communism, which ruined the careers and lives of many. The declaration of conscience was a speech made by u. Annotation recommended annotation visible only to you. Bernard baruch is quoted as saying that if a man had delivered the senate speech called declaration of conscience, he would have become president. Most famously, during one of the probes they attacked hollywood, jailing many communist actors and directors, as well as banning films supporting the soviet union and the people who made them.
Margaret chase smith responds to mccarthyism with 1950s declaration of conscience. Senator margaret chase smith s a declaration of conscience was the first speech by a politician to criticize and challenge mccarthy. Margaret chase smith, a future fourterm republican u. Sep 09, 2016 her name was margaret chase smith, a mainer from small skowhegan. In the history of ethics, the conscience has been looked upon as the will of a divine power expressing itself in mans judgments, an innate sense of right and wrong resulting from mans unity with the universe, an inherited intuitive sense evolved in the long. She blamed political leaders of both parties for failing to corral mccarthy s wild attacks.
It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership. Oct 25, 2017 a stern senate speech wont stop trump. Sign in sign up instantly share code, notes, and snippets. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character margaret chase smith quotes. Jan 7, 20 senator margaret chase smith, declaration of conscience and. Margaret chase smith, a flinty, independent maine republican who made history. Essay the declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith. Senator from the state of wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Id actor name actor profile id message body date timestamp post path comments1 comments2 attach url attach title 2 david m lande 1717404334.
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