Early Life
Joseph R. McCarthy was bron the fifth out of seven children in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. At age 14 McCarthy dropped out of junior high to help support the family on their farm. Later he enrolled in a school named Little Wolf High School graduating in one year at age 20. While working at a law firm, McCarthy launched an unsuccessful campaign to become district attorney as a Democrat in 1936. In 1939 though, McCarthy had better luck being elected post of 10th District circuit judge becoming the youngest such in Wisconsin's state history.
Career Choices
In 1942, despite being exempted from compulsory services, McCarthy joined the United States Marine Corps. He served as an intelligence briefing officer for a dive bomber squadron in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville. Joseph R. McCarthy served a total of 30 months, or 2½ years, in the Marines, from August 1942 to February 1945, holding the rank of captain until the time he was discharged. McCarthy campaigned for the Republican Senate position in Wisconsin while still on active duty in 1944, but was defeated Alexander Wiley. McCarthy was then reelected unopposed to his circuit court position, and begun a more systematic campaign for the 1946 Republican Senate primary nomination. In the race, he was challenging three-term senator Robert M. La Follette, Jr. McCarthy won the primary nomination 207,935 votes to 202,557.