HUAC, the investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, began interrogating alleged communists and “subversives” in 1938. HUAC’s intimidating tactics destroyed the livelihoods and reputations of numerous Americans and contributed to the fearful, repressive atmosphere of the Cold War era. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, HUAC’s influence and reputation were on the decline. A variety of activists increasingly denounced HUAC’s methods and questioned its validity.