Introduction : political repression and court-curbing -- Defining the McCarthy era -- The justices of the Vinson court, Douds, and the start of the court's McCarthy era (October 1949 term) -- Dennis, the Attorney General's list, loyalty programs, contempts, and more (October term 1950) -- Deportations, fallout from Dennis, and the Rosenberg case (October terms 1951 and 1952, special term 1953) -- The coming of the Warren court, the Emspak trilogy, and Brown's consequences (October terms 1953 and 1954) -- Nelson, Cole v. Young, and the beginning of the campaign against the court (October 1955 term) -- "Red Monday," Jencks, and a crescendo of anti-court attacks (October term 1956) -- Beilan, Lerner, and the court's shift, passport cases, and Congress's court-curbing climax (October term 1957) -- Barenblatt, Uphaus, the court in retreat (October terms 1958 and 1959) -- Scales and CPUSA, Wilkinson and Braden, Konigsberg II and Anastaplo, a full-scale retreat (October term 1960) -- Frankfurter's departure, a near-decision in Gibson, and the era's end ()ctober term 1961) -- Epilogue : Vietnam-war decisions and some observations.