U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith recalled in her book, “Declaration of Conscience,” meeting U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy on the subway as she prepared to make her historical speech.

“‘Margaret,’ he said, ‘you look very serious. Are you going to make a speech?'” she wrote. “I said ‘Yes, and you will not like it.'”

As she stood to deliver the speech, she was aware that McCarthy was sitting two rows behind her.

During her famous speech, she addressed a “serious national condition” that she never named outright, but was McCarthyism.

“It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we Americans hold dear,” she stated. “It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership in either the legislative branch or the executive branch of our government.”

She continued: “I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some soul searching – for us to weight our consciences – on the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America – on the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges.”

Without once mentioning McCarthy by name, Smith said: “Freedom of speech is not what it used to be in America. It has been so abused by some that it is not exercised by others.”