National Affairs: Sickness

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All public men on all sides of any question get shocking letters—and no cause can be judged by the virulence of its letter writers. Nevertheless, Arkansas Democratic Senator William Fulbright had a point to make last week about the "character of what has come to be known as McCarthyism." To illustrate his point, Fulbright inserted in the Congressional Record some letters he has received from followers of Senator Joseph McCarthy. Excerpts:

From G. G. Gurley, president of the Chemical Attraction Oil Corp., San Antonio: "When you joined the only Jew to vote against 76 Senators, that proved you were the henchman for the Jew Deal. H. H. Lehman should be deported out of this Nation to Russia, or let Germany take that 'bird' in and give him the gas like Hitler did . . ."

From Peter Murphy, Buffalo: "A fine dirty red rat are you . . . Who were the birds that voted not to allow Senator McCarthy time off to recover from his illness? I'll tell you: it was Red loving Fulbright and the rotten Jew, Herbert Lehman, the pal of Hiss."

From George J. Nick, Middle Village, N.Y.: "You, sir, are not worthy of being a human being. I would spit on you if I could, but you would not be worthy of my saliva."

From Pullman, Mich.: "Dear Senator: Would you please do our country a big favor and drop dead? McCarthy is an American. What are you?"

From "An American," San Francisco: "To a blind, greedy, materialistic pig: Where have you been for the past eight years, you durnd stupid fool? . . . May you suffer the tortures of hell before you croak, and be damned for all eternity."

From New York: "Red skunk . . . Hope you are struck by God."

From "A Korean Veteran," Trenton, N.J.: "Oh, how I hate you, you — ."

"I think," said Fulbright of the letters, "they evidence a great sickness among our people." As he read, the Senate sat in an embarrassed silence broken only by a few tense titters.