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People & Things continuedJoan CrawfordMarch 23, 1905–May 10, 1977A revered, Academy Awardwinningtitle, sparking a decades-longactress, Crawford beganher film career in the 1920splaying flappers. She soon movedon to specialize in portrayingrivalry. After a career spanningmore than 40 years and 80 films,Crawford died of a heart attack inher New York apartment in 1977.determined young women Her eldest daughter, Christina,who found romance through published the memoir Mommieadversity, in tales that enamored Dearest shortly after Crawford’sDepression-era audiences. By death, in which she accused herthe mid-1930s, she was one ofthe most famous and wealthywomen in America; a series ofwell-received movies she madewith Clark Gable made them themother of physical and emotionalabuse. The book later becamea legendary cult film starringFaye Dunaway as Crawford, andinforming children everywheremost successful romantic duo of about the dangers of wirethe day. After a brief decline atMGM, Crawford moved to Warnerhangers.Notable films: Grand HotelBros. in 1943 and revitalizedher career, starring in MildredPierce, which brought her onlyOscar for Best Actress. Her new(1932), Mildred Pierce (1945),Possessed (1947), Sudden Fear(1952), Whatever Happened toBaby Jane? (1962)role as leading lady of WarnerBros. deprived Bette Davis of thatJoan CrawfordJoseph McCarthyJoseph McCarthyNovember 14, 1908–May 2, 1957Born and raised in Wisconsin,Joseph McCarthy became thestate’s junior senator in 1947,serving until his death in 1957. Ina country already anxious aboutanti-Communist hysteria spreadas citizens turned on, and turnedin, their fellows. In March, 1954,journalist Edward R. Murrow’spopular show See It Now usedperceived threats from the Soviet McCarthy’s own speeches toUnion, McCarthy’s speech onFebruary 9, 1950—stating thathe had the names of Communistcriticize his attacks, one of thefirst times that McCarthy waspublicly challenged. The show,sympathizers within the State and McCarthy’s predictableDepartment—fanned the risinghysteria. Throughout the earlypart of the decade, McCarthy wasboth the public face and drivingforce for a movement to identifyand expose alleged Communists,first within the government andattacks in response, spawned apublic backlash and marked thebeginning of the senator’s decline.On December 2, 1954, the Senatevoted to censure McCarthy forconduct “unbecoming a memberof the United States Senate.” Hethen throughout public life. died of acute hepatitis in 1957Accusing anyone who opposed himof having Communist sympathiesand using his power with ruthlessat the age of 48. The phrase“McCarthyism” has lived on asa term to describe the practiceforce, McCarthy won wide of publicizing unsubstantiatedpopularity for the perception that allegations of subversionhe was protecting the countryfrom imminent danger. FromWashington to Hollywood, theor disloyalty, or the use ofquestionable methods to quellopposition.NEXTSTAGE | Crumbs from the Table of Joy 13