Abstract
Joseph McCarthy became the most infamous anticommunist in the United States, however, he was neither the first nor the only one. The so-called "witch-hunts" did not start at the beginning of the Cold War but it had already appeared between 1919-1920.
Until the Wheeling speech in February 1950, there existed many organizations that shared strong anticommunism. An analysis will focus primarily on these "inquisitors".
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or the Catholic Church joined the struggle against the "Reds", nevertheless, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation John Edgar Hoover played the most important role in whole "enterprise". Anti-Soviet rhetoric was hugely apologetic.
In other words, everything even slightly related to the USSR was "demonized" and on the other hand the U.S. were depicted as the only savior of the free world. Various polls revealed that American public had ambivalent perception of communism.
Although the overwhelming majority condemned Bolshevik ideology only a few choose it as their biggest worry. The traditional concept of the Second Red Scare had simply its limits too.
Anticommunism influenced domestic as well as foreign policy, atmosphere in the society or even culture, however, its impact on everyday life cannot be overemphasized.