McCarthy as Marine

In Bougainville, Solomon Islands

Captain McCarthy running for Senate while in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, April 1944
Courtesy of Marquette University Archives

McCarthy ran for the U.S. Senate as a Wisconsin Republican in 1944, while in the Marines. He portrayed himself as an airplane rear gunner, calling himself "Tail Gunner Joe." When Captain McCarthy returned to Wisconsin in July, he talked to voters about postwar jobs and the creation of an international peace organization.

The Wisconsin Republican party organization gave little support to the relatively unknown McCarthy during the primary. Many overlooked the Captain because he had run as a Democrat in the 1936 Shawano County election for district attorney. McCarthy lost the Republican primary to incumbent Senator Alexander Wiley. Wisconsin voters later re-elected Wiley to the Senate in the general election.

The 33-year-old McCarthy entered the Marines even though his judicial office deferred him from the draft. McCarthy served his country with distinction. His service also generated publicity that later proved useful in his political campaigns.
McCarthy used the "Tail Gunner Joe" persona in the 1944 Senate Republican race to impress Wisconsin voters. While McCarthy worked most of the war at a desk as an intelligence officer, he did volunteer for 11 flight missions as a photographer and tail gunner.
McCarthy's 1944 campaign for US Senate came under criticism. He broke an election law when he diverted money into his campaign through family and friends.
McCarthy left the Marines in December, 1944, to begin preparations for the 1946 Senate race.

Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific fleet, Admiral Nimitz, signing Japanese Surrender, September 2, 1945
Courtesy of Marquette University Archives

Admiral Nimitz letter praising McCarthy's military record, Spring 1944.
Reproduction from original Courtesy of Marquette University Archives

McCarthy showed this letter to the press and voters while campaigning for Senate in 1944. He had requested the recognition, likely writing his own letter of recommendation and forging the signature of his commanding officer.

McCarthy letter to his sister Olive Kornely, June 28, 1944
Reproduction from original Courtesy of a McCarthy family member

McCarthy for Senate campaign, July 1944
OCHS # 1999.41.1

McCarthy (standing in background) went to Wisconsin to campaign while on a 15-day leave from the Marines in July 1944. He had volunteers mail 2.5 million pieces of literature to 80,000 Wisconsin families before the Republican primary. McCarthy believed voters responded to the personal touch of a letter, handshake, and slap on the back. Captain McCarthy placed second in the primary behind incumbent Senator Alexander Wiley, winning 27% of the vote in 1944.

Captain McCarthy running for Senate while in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, April 1944 Courtesy of Marquette University Archives

McCarthy ran for the U.S. Senate as a Wisconsin Republican in 1944, while in the Marines. He portrayed himself as an airplane rear gunner, calling himself "Tail Gunner Joe." When Captain McCarthy returned to Wisconsin in July, he talked to voters about postwar jobs and the creation of an international peace organization. The Wisconsin Republican party organization gave little support to the relatively unknown McCarthy during the primary. Many overlooked the Captain because he had run as a Democrat in the 1936 Shawano County election for district attorney. McCarthy lost the Republican primary to incumbent Senator Alexander Wiley. Wisconsin voters later re-elected Wiley to the Senate in the general election.
The 33-year-old McCarthy entered the Marines even though his judicial office deferred him from the draft. McCarthy served his country with distinction. His service also generated publicity that later proved useful in his political campaigns. McCarthy used the "Tail Gunner Joe" persona in the 1944 Senate Republican race to impress Wisconsin voters. While McCarthy worked most of the war at a desk as an intelligence officer, he did volunteer for 11 flight missions as a photographer and tail gunner. McCarthy's 1944 campaign for US Senate came under criticism. He broke an election law when he diverted money into his campaign through family and friends. McCarthy left the Marines in December, 1944, to begin preparations for the 1946 Senate race.


	Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific fleet, Admiral Nimitz, signing Japanese Surrender, September 2, 1945 Courtesy of Marquette University Archives
Admiral Nimitz letter praising McCarthy's military record, Spring 1944. Reproduction from original Courtesy of Marquette University Archives McCarthy showed this letter to the press and voters while campaigning for Senate in 1944. He had requested the recognition, likely writing his own letter of recommendation and forging the signature of his commanding officer.

McCarthy letter to his sister Olive Kornely, June 28, 1944 Reproduction from original Courtesy of a McCarthy family member
McCarthy for Senate campaign, July 1944 OCHS # 1999.41.1 McCarthy (standing in background) went to Wisconsin to campaign while on a 15-day leave from the Marines in July 1944. He had volunteers mail 2.5 million pieces of literature to 80,000 Wisconsin families before the Republican primary. McCarthy believed voters responded to the personal touch of a letter, handshake, and slap on the back. Captain McCarthy placed second in the primary behind incumbent Senator Alexander Wiley, winning 27% of the vote in 1944.