Scope and Content Note

The collection consists almost entirely of correspondence relating to Senator McCarthy. Benton's original arrangement of the material has been retained. The first part of the collection is composed of correspondence with the general public in 1951-1952, relating to Benton's initial attack upon McCarthy and the beginning of the lawsuit. This section also contains a portion of the “I believe” letters received from the public in 1954 following McCarthy's withdrawal of his suit against Benton. The second section contains primarily photocopies of Benton's correspondence with colleagues and associates relating to McCarthy and Benton's “project.”

Senator Benton corresponded with many politicians, columnists, and other well-known persons in his fight against McCarthy. Among these were:

• Acheson, Dean
• Bean, Louis
• Childs, Marquis
• Derleth, August
• Doyle, James E.
• Flanders, Ralph
• Gore, Leroy
• Hayden, Carl
• Hennings, Thomas C.
• Hoffman, Paul
• Lerner, Max
• McCarthy, Joseph R.
• Monroney, Mike
• Morse, Wayne
• Murrow, Edward R.
• Pearson, Drew
• Reston, James
• Roosevelt, Eleanor
• Schlesinger, Arthur V.
• Truman, Harry S.
• Watkins, Arthur V.
• Wechsler, James