The House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) became a permanent committee in 1945 with a mandate to protect “the form of government guaranteed by our Constitution.” The nine-member committee interrogated numerous suspected communists and communist sympathizers, including the “Hollywood Ten,” in aggressive, widely publicized hearings. Senator Joseph McCarthy, notorious for his anticommunist activities, learned many of his tactics from HUAC.

HUAC also targeted radio commentators because of their influential positions. After the Committee reported that it had found subversive content in a number of radio scripts, two radio commentators lost their jobs. HUAC was so adept at intimidation that few came forward to oppose it.