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Harry Smith...Darrell Hammond Joseph McCarthy...Will Forte Gail Hopkins...Amy Poehler Senator Richard B. Russell...Jason Lee Announcer (voice): And now we return to A&E Biography.... (clip of real-life Joseph McCarthy with no audio reprimanding someone on the bench for being a communist) (cut to host standing in front of collage of famous happenings) Harry Smith: Welcome back to our biography of Joseph McCarthy. As U.S. senator for the state of Wisconsin, McCarthy became known as one of the most hated and infamous men of the 20th century. Grossly uncorrobated accusations towards everybody being Communist was his motivation as senator, and became one of the darkest periods in American history. But, what many people don’t know was Joseph McCarthy’s other “witch hunt.” In 1953, there were many sources that were bringing his Red Scare to a close: The new film Good Night And Good Luck is centered around a TV show that Edward R. Murrow created that helped bring the witch hunts to a national audience, and lack of evidence was starting to build. But, the most damning circumstance to his being censured as senator was his Billy Goat Hearings in the year of 1954. Here are some clips; they very likely put the nail in the coffin of McCarthyism. (black and white footage; woman sitting on stand and frazzled McCarthy sitting behind table addressing) Joseph McCarthy: State your name, ma’am, for the record. Gail Hopkins: Gail Hopkins. Joseph McCarthy: And what is your occupation? Gail Hopkins: I was your maid. Back when you could afford it. Joseph McCarthy: Just saying maid will suffice. Gail Hopkins: Okay. Joseph McCarthy: Ms. Hopkins, do you know why you are here this afternoon? Gail Hopkins: Actually, no. I don’t really know why I’m here, Joe. Joseph McCarthy: That’s Senator McCarthy. Gail Hopkins: Sorry. Joseph McCarthy: Ms. Hopkins, is it not true that you deal with....um...let’s say, garbage, on a daily basis. Gail Hopkins: Yes, I’m a maid. I tidy up rooms for my employers for money. Joseph McCarthy: That’s right. That’s absolutely right. Ms. Hopkins, can you tell me what a billy goat does? Gail Hopkins: A what? Joseph McCarthy: A billy goat. A goat. You know... Gail Hopkins: Ah....nothing. I can’t think of anything that a goat does. Joseph McCarthy: A goat, Ms. Hopkins, walks around all day, picking up trash with it’s mouth. Goats are around trash everyday, it’s their way of life. Ms. Hopkins, it is the opinion of this committee...(cut to senators shaking their heads “no”)...that you are in fact nothing but a goat. Gail Hopkins: What? Joseph McCarthy: Ms. Hopkins, is this your picture? (pulls back curtain and picture shows Hopkins bending over to pick up a soda can) Gail Hopkins: Hey, where did you get that? Joseph McCarthy: That’s not important. Gail Hopkins: I’m in my pajamas. Joseph McCarthy: Nevertheless. Now, is that you? Gail Hopkins: Yes. Joseph McCarthy: And what are you doing? Gail Hopkins: I’m picking up some trash. (McCarthy pulls back another picture of a goat eating a soda can) Joseph McCarthy: I rest my case. (back to A&E studio) Harry Smith: Senator Joseph McCarthy’s drilling of possible “suspects” did not impress everyone that saw. With the advent of television, people all over the country could see what was truly an attack of the innocent. (back to black and white footage) Joseph McCarthy: Senator Richard B. Russell. Richard B. Russell: Yes, that’s my name. Joseph McCarthy: And where are you from, Senator? Richard B. Russell: State of Georgia. Joseph McCarthy: Georgia! Beautiful state. Richard B. Russell: That it is, pardner. Joseph McCarthy: I’ve been to Georgia. I notice that in many of the major cities, there is garbage scattered throughout the streets. Richard B. Russell: Well, the world isn’t what it used to be. Joseph McCarthy: You’re right about that. Richard B. Russell: Pollution and littering are problems that will be tough to solve in the future, but I feel it can be done. And our streets were like that probably due to celebration of Korean War privates coming back home. Joseph McCarthy: (agitated) I see. Tell me, senator, what does your son do for work? Richard B. Russell: He is in waste management. Joseph McCarthy: (with a bright smile on his face) Aaaahhhh! Waste management. So he works with garbagemen who pick up trash everyday. Richard B. Russell: Actually, he works in an office, but yeah, he does.... Joseph McCarthy: And you say that your son picks up trash for a living? Richard B. Russell: Well, no. Joseph McCarthy: A-ha! Richard B. Russell: Look, fella, what is your deal? Joseph McCarthy: My deal, senator, is that I have great faith in the fact that your son may be a trash picker-upper by day, and by night he transforms into a mutant hybrid of human being-slash-mountain goat. Do you hear me, senator? Richard B. Russell: You, my friend, are a loony. Joseph McCarthy: I’m the one pointing the finger, Russell. I am in no way a bird of any kind. No loony here. Richard B. Russell: I will see to it that you never work a day in U.S. government ever again. Joseph McCarthy: That’ll be the day. (back to studio) Harry Smith: But, that’s exactly what he did. Richard B. Russell was one of several that eventually censured Joseph McCarthy and sent him to an early grave with his alcoholism. Coming up tomorrow on A&E Biography, we will look into the enigmatic romance of one of America’s favorite couples: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. Thank you for watching and good night. (fin) Rate or review this sketch | Prior comments |
