Declaration of Conscience

Declaration of Conscience was a landmark United States Senate speech delivered by Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine on June 1, 1950. It was a courageous rebuke of the tactics of McCarthyism and the climate of fear fostered by Senator Joseph McCarthy and his supporters. The speech called for a return to fundamental Americanism based on principles of decency, reasoned debate, and the right to hold unpopular beliefs without being labeled disloyal. While not naming McCarthy directly, it was widely understood as a direct challenge to his conduct and the operations of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Historical context

The speech was delivered during the early peak of the Second Red Scare, a period of intense anti-communist suspicion in the United States following World War II and at the start of the Cold War. Senator Joseph McCarthy had risen to national prominence in February 1950 with his speech in Wheeling, West Virginia, claiming to possess a list of communists within the United States Department of State. His subsequent hearings before the Senate Committee on Government Operations created an atmosphere of accusation and intimidation. Many politicians, including members of McCarthy's own Republican Party, were fearful of publicly criticizing him. This period also saw the highly publicized trials of Alger Hiss and the Hollywood blacklist enforced by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Content of the speech

Smith articulated a "Declaration of Conscience" criticizing a national climate she described as being poisoned by "hate and character assassination." She condemned those who exploited fear for political gain, stating the American people were sick of such tactics. The speech championed the right to criticize, the right to hold unpopular beliefs, and the right to protest, framing them as core constitutional principles. It emphasized that the basic principles of Americanism included the right to independent thought. Smith concluded by calling upon the United States Senate to conduct a thorough soul-searching and re-dedicate itself to its historical role as a deliberative body, moving away from selfish political exploitation.

Immediate reactions and impact

The immediate reaction in the Senate chamber was largely silent, with most senators avoiding comment. However, six other Republican senators—Wayne Morse, George Aiken, Irving Ives, Charles W. Tobey, Edward John Thye, and Robert C. Hendrickson—signed onto the declaration, becoming known as the "Declaration of Conscience Seven." Senator Joseph McCarthy responded dismissively, referring to Smith and her supporters as "Snow White and the Six Dwarfs." While the speech did not halt McCarthy's activities, which continued through events like the Army–McCarthy hearings, it provided a pivotal and respected Republican voice of opposition. It significantly elevated Smith's national profile, establishing her as a figure of considerable moral authority and political courage.

Legacy and historical significance

The Declaration of Conscience is remembered as a seminal moment of political courage during the McCarthy era. It is frequently cited as an early and principled stand against the excesses of McCarthyism from within McCarthy's own party. The speech cemented Margaret Chase Smith's legacy as a trailblazer; she would later become the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party's convention in 1964. The principles she advocated—civility, reasoned debate, and protection of dissent—continue to be referenced in modern political discourse concerning the health of American democracy. The event is studied alongside other key moments of the period, such as the Edward R. Murrow broadcasts on See It Now and the legal arguments of attorney Joseph Welch.

Text and authorship

The speech was written primarily by Senator Smith's administrative assistant, William C. Lewis Jr., though Smith provided extensive direction and editing, ensuring it reflected her personal convictions and political stance. The full text was entered into the Congressional Record on June 1, 1950. It has been widely reprinted in historical anthologies, textbooks on American political history, and collections of great American speeches. Key excerpts are often displayed in exhibits at institutions like the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine, and the speech is analyzed in biographies of Smith and major histories of the Cold War period in the United States.

Category:1950 in American politics Category:United States Senate Category:Cold War history of the United States Category:American political speeches