Politics in McCarthyism

1. Consider the bold decisions made by Truman—he used the atomic bomb against Japan, he took a hard line against the Soviets, and he pledged to combat communist expansion throughout the world. Are you surprised that he acted so boldly?
   • Does the boldness of his actions square with his path to the presidency?
   • Do you think Roosevelt would have approved?
   • What if Wallace rather than Truman had been vice-president?
2. What do you think of Wallace’s campaign positions? Would his conciliatory approach have been wise?
3. What message did Wallace's defeat send to politicians of both parties?
4. What does all this say about the vice-presidential selection process? In other words, what lesson should presidential candidates learn about their vice-presidential decisions?