October
22, 1950
MaCarran
Internal Security Act
On the day that the Internal
Security Act of 1950 (popularly known as the McCarran Act) went into effect,
the United States Department of Justice began a series of "midnight
raids" across the nation, arresting resident aliens who were suspected of
subversive activities.
The Act required Communist
organizations to register with the United States Attorney General and
established the Subversive Activities Control Board to investigate persons
suspected of engaging in subversive activities or otherwise promoting the
establishment of a "totalitarian dictatorship," either fascist or
communist. Members of these groups could not become citizens and in some cases
were prevented from entering or leaving the country. Citizens found in
violation could lose their citizenship in five years. The Act also contained an
emergency detention statute, giving the President the authority to apprehend
and detain "each person as to whom there is a reasonable ground to believe
that such person probably will engage in, or probably will conspire with others
to engage in, acts of espionage or sabotage."
Born in 1950?
Then
congratulations for turning 65 and entering the world of Medicare. If you
would like to know more about the maze we call Medicare …
