Joseph McCarthy, an American politician from Wisconsin, died on May 2, 1957 at the age of 48. McCarthy served in the United States Senate from 1947 until his death. McCarthy first rose to prominence in 1950, when he claimed that Communists had infiltrated the United States government. This accusation eventually became known as “McCarthyism.” During his time in the Senate, McCarthy chaired the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and was a strong advocate for anti-Communist initiatives. McCarthy is survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons, Tierney and Michael.