McCarthy accused 12,000 people of being Communists.
Of those 12,000, fewer than 1000 were actually members of the Communist Party. Many of the accused (an estimated 5000) were just gay (at a time when that was still illegal).
Of those 12,000, fewer than a dozen were actually spies for the Soviets.
McCarthy leaked more classified information in his hunt for Communists than the spies actually did.
Of those 12,000, fewer than 1000 were actually members of the Communist Party. Many of the accused (an estimated 5000) were just gay (at a time when that was still illegal).
Of those 12,000, fewer than a dozen were actually spies for the Soviets.
McCarthy leaked more classified information in his hunt for Communists than the spies actually did.