Bob Hope Jokes about McCarthy
As a comedian relying on topical material, Bob Hope joked about HUAC—“Everybody’s afraid of being called a ‘Red.’ I cut myself shaving and was afraid to bleed”—but hesitated when Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908–1957) began his crusade accusing the Truman administration of harboring communists. When Hope later did joke about McCarthy, a Wisconsin newspaper deemed Hope a “communist.” McCarthy seemed not to have minded, as he wished Hope luck when he opened at London’s Palladium. Hope’s approach to lampooning McCarthy was mild, as these jokes about the televised Army-McCarthy hearings indicate. Hope nevertheless received angry mail from disappointed viewers. Hope’s approach to lampooning McCarthy was mild, as these jokes about the televised Army-McCarthy hearings indicate. Hope nevertheless received angry mail from disappointed viewers.
As a comedian relying on topical material, Bob Hope joked about HUAC—“Everybody’s afraid of being called a ‘Red.’ I cut myself shaving and was afraid to bleed”—but hesitated when Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908–1957) began his crusade accusing the Truman administration of harboring communists. When Hope later did joke about McCarthy, a Wisconsin newspaper deemed Hope a “communist.” McCarthy seemed not to have minded, as he wished Hope luck when he opened at London’s Palladium. Hope’s approach to lampooning McCarthy was mild, as these jokes about the televised Army-McCarthy hearings indicate. Hope nevertheless received angry mail from disappointed viewers.