How we cite our quotes: (LastName.Line)
Quote #1
Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Fred Fisher is a young man who went to the Harvard Law School and came into my firm and is starting what looks to be a brilliant career with us. (Welch.86)
While Welch is invoking McCarthy's lack of compassion, what he's actually doing is trying to get a little sympathy from everyone else. Fred Fisher isn't a Communist, he's a bright young man with a brilliant career ahead of him. How dare you insult the poor lad?
Quote #2
If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty, I will do so. I like to think I am a gentleman, but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me. (Welch.86)
Though he never says it, Welch implies that McCarthy's badly in need of compassion from McCarthy's deity of choice. But again, Welch seems to making this comment just to elicit compassion from the listeners. He knew McCarthy didn't think he had done anything at all that required forgiveness.
Quote #3
Been baiting Mr. Cohn here for hours, requesting that Mr. Cohn, before sundown, get out of any department of Government anyone who is serving the Communist cause. (McCarthy.89)
McCarthy's trying to turn it around on Welch by accusing him of being cruel to Cohn. It didn't stick. Even Cohn was nodding at Welch, according to the record.
Quote #4
I meant to do you no personal injury, and if I did, beg your pardon. (Welch.92)
In asking forgiveness from Cohn, the guy he was, Welch retained the moral high ground in the exchange. This looks like posturing to us—he was clearly enjoying hassling Cohn, a very hateable guy.
Quote #5
Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? (Welch.92)
This is, of course, the line. With the "at long last" statement, Welch implied that the American public was sick and tired of all these years of McCarthy's reign of terror. Welch, with a show of compassion about Fisher, publicly called out McCarthy on his callousness.