Much evidence for Soviet espionage existed, according to Democratic Senator and historian Daniel Moynihan, with the Venona project consisting of "overwhelming proof of the activities of Soviet spy networks in America, complete with names, dates, places, and deeds." However, Moynihan argued that because sources like the Venona project were kept secret for so long, "ignorant armies clashed by night". With McCarthy advocating an extremist view, the discussion of communist subversion was made into a civil rights issue instead of a counterintelligence one. This historiographical perspective is shared by historians John Earl Haynes and Robert Louis Benson. While President Truman formulated the Truman Doctrine against Soviet expansion, it is possible he was not fully informed of the Venona intercepts, leaving him unaware of the domestic extent of espionage, according to Moynihan and Benson.
Much evidence for Soviet espionage existed according to Democratic Senator and historian Daniel Moynihan with the Venona project consisting of "overwhelming proof of the activities of Soviet spy networks in America complete with names dates places and deeds" However Moynihan argued that because sources like the Venona project were kept secret for so long "ignorant armies clashed by night" With McCarthy advocating an extremist view the discussion of communist subversion was made into a civil rights issue instead of a counterintelligence one This historiographical perspective is shared by historians John Earl Haynes and Robert Louis Benson While President Truman formulated the Truman Doctrine against Soviet expansion it is possible he was not fully informed of the Venona intercepts leaving him unaware of the domestic extent of espionage according to Moynihan and Benson