Contending that Senator Patrick McCarran of Nevada was the real force behind the communist witch hunts of the lage 1940s and early 1950s, this essay explores McCarran's legislative legacy. The first section examines McCarran's background and the legislative bodies over which he held sway. The second section delineates his legislative "Grand Strategy" (for the most part, still law today) for eradicating all vestiges of communist influence within the United States. The conclusion points out that McCarran's impact upon day-to-day operation of the United States government is just as strong now as it was 35 years ago; that McCarran was much more effective in his agenda than was Senator Joseph McCarthy because of the legislative agenda he pursued; and that the label "McCarthyism" should be replaced with that of "McCarranism." (SR)