Question

Senator Joseph McCarthy became a powerful and prominent public figure during the 1950s because of which of these?

Answer 1

widespread fears about communism

unpopularity of the Korean War

opposition to the Civil Rights movement

rejuvenation of the women's rights movement

Answer 2

Definitely the first answer -- widespread fears about communism. The guy was well known for his "witch hunts" involving hearings that attempted to expose communist sympathizers and his brash methods in creating an image for himself as a crusader against the "reds".