Joseph Raymond McCarthy ( November 14 , 1908 â `` May 2 , 1957 ) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957 . Joseph Raymond `` Joe '' McCarthy ( November 14 , 1908 - May 2 , 1957 ) was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957 .