This reference chronicles the rise and fall of Senator Joe McCarthy and details his pursuit of suspected domestic spies. McCarthy created an atmosphere in which individual rights were at risk, and the book emphasizes the danger the Red Scare posed for traditional American and political civil liberties. The book begins by giving background on leftist activism of the 1920s in America and on McCarthy's life before he became a senator. Chronological narrative chapters then follow McCarthy's career as a senator, the McCarthy hearings, his relationships with other politicians, and the eventual decline of McCarthyism. A 40-page section of 14 primary documents provides speeches, legislation, letters, and transcripts of news conferences and hearings; each document is preceded by brief background. Other resources include b&w historical photos, profiles of 14 key figures, a timeline from 1908 (McCarthy's birth) to 2001 (the passage of the Patriot Act), and an annotated bibliography of online sources and primary and secondary print sources. Walker is professor of history at Chestnut Hill College. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)