From Wikipedia:

    See It Now focused on a number of controversial issues in the 1950s, but it is best remembered as the show that criticized the Red Scare and contributed to the political downfall of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

    Murrow produced a number of episodes of the show that dealt with the Communist witch-hunt hysteria before embarking on a broadcast on March 9, 1954 that has been referred to as television's finest hour.

    By using mostly recordings of McCarthy himself in action interrogating witnesses and making speeches, Murrow and Friendly displayed what they felt was the key danger to the democracy: not suspected Communists, but McCarthy's actions themselves. As Murrow said in his tailpiece:

    No one familiar with the history of his country can deny that Congressional committees are useful. It is necessary to investigate before legislating. But the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one, and the junior senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly.

    The broadcast provoked tens of thousands of letters, telegrams and phone calls to CBS headquarters, running 15 to 1 in favor of Murrow. Friendly later recalled how truck drivers pulled up alongside Murrow and shouted, "Good show, Ed. Good show, Ed."

    The show's probe of the McCarthy-led anti-Communist era is the focus of the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck.

    Thumbnail of Julian Goodman

    Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"

    00:57
    Thumbnail of John Frankenheimer

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    Walter Bernstein

    Walter Bernstein on Edward R. Murrow's See It Now episode denouncing Senator McCarthy

    00:31

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the See It Now episode on Senator McCarthy - aired March 9, 1954 -  and McCarthy's response

    03:59

    Mili Lerner Bonsignori on the aftermath of Edward R. Murrow's "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy" on See It Now

    05:47

    John Frankenheimer

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    Julian Goodman

    Julian Goodman on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now episode, "Senator McCarthy"

    00:57

    Sidney M. Katz

    Sidney M. Katz on editing Edward R. Murrow's See It Now series and the episode on Joseph McCarthy

    03:52

    Jeff Kisseloff

    Jeff Kisseloff on Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly's See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    02:49

    Daniel Schorr

    Daniel Schorr on Edward R. Murrow's See it Now commentary on Senator Joseph McCarthy

    01:22

    Ted Turner

    Ted Turner on the effect of Edward R. Murrow's See It Now: A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy

    01:16

    Joseph Wershba

    Joseph Wershba on collecting information for the classic See It Now broadcast "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    05:22

    Joseph Wershba on how Senator Joseph R. McCarthy used television

    05:34

    Joseph Wershba on his relationship with Senator Joseph McCarthy

    03:05

    Joseph Wershba on Fred Friendly and Edward R. Murrow putting together See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    08:58

    Joseph Wershba on Dr. Frank Stanton and William S. Paley's reaction to See It Now "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    04:30

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