McCarthy thought he could harness forces of disruption. Instead they devoured him.

McCarthy’s blunt and confrontational approach to politics quickly galvanized both factions of the divided Republican party, creating a powerful political movement that quickly threatened to upend the American political order. However, he underestimated the disruptive potential of his own rhetoric, and the reaction it elicited from opponents. Rather than managing the forces of disruption, McCarthy ultimately faced a crushing electoral defeat in his bid for re-election. His political career came to symbolize the hubris of overreaching ambition as well as the volatility of an electorate increasingly wavering between traditional conservativism and radical populism.