Meaning: The quote "I have here in my hand a list of two hundred and five people that were known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department" is a famous declaration made by Joseph McCarthy, a U.S. politician. This statement is emblematic of McCarthy's aggressive and controversial tactics during the Second Red Scare in the United States.

Joseph McCarthy was a Republican senator from Wisconsin who rose to national prominence in the early 1950s through his relentless crusade to root out alleged communists and Soviet sympathizers from the U.S. government and other institutions. He claimed that there was widespread communist infiltration within the government and employed various tactics, including public accusations, investigations, and hearings, to expose and remove individuals whom he deemed as threats to national security.

The quote captures the essence of McCarthy's approach, as he often made dramatic and unsubstantiated claims about the presence of communists in influential positions of power. The phrase "I have here in my hand" suggests a sense of urgency and certainty, as if McCarthy possessed irrefutable evidence of the alleged communist infiltration. The number "two hundred and five people" further emphasizes the scale of the purported threat, creating a sense of fear and suspicion among the American public.

McCarthy's tactics, commonly referred to as McCarthyism, had significant ramifications for American society and politics. His relentless pursuit of suspected communists led to widespread fear and paranoia, as individuals across various sectors of society were subjected to intense scrutiny and often baseless accusations. The fear of being labeled a communist or communist sympathizer had a chilling effect on freedom of speech and expression, as many individuals refrained from voicing dissenting opinions out of fear of being targeted by McCarthy and his supporters.

Furthermore, McCarthy's tactics had a profound impact on the State Department, as he specifically targeted the agency in his quest to expose and remove alleged communists. The quote highlights McCarthy's assertion that individuals with communist affiliations were actively shaping the policy of the State Department, implying that the nation's foreign policy and security interests were being compromised by internal subversion.

The quote is often cited as a symbol of McCarthy's aggressive and divisive tactics, which ultimately culminated in his censure by the U.S. Senate in 1954. The Senate condemned McCarthy for his conduct, citing his abuse of power and disregard for due process. The downfall of McCarthy marked a turning point in the public perception of his anti-communist crusade, as his tactics came to be viewed as excessive and damaging to the fabric of American democracy.

In conclusion, the quote by Joseph McCarthy encapsulates the fervent and controversial nature of his anti-communist campaign during the Second Red Scare. It serves as a reminder of the impact of fear-mongering and unsubstantiated accusations on American society and politics, and the enduring legacy of McCarthyism in the nation's history.