In the early 1950s, Welker became closely associated with Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin and "McCarthyism", so much so that he was often referred to by Senate colleagues as "Little Joe from Idaho."[REF]
Welker, along with Senator Styles Bridges of New Hampshire, was a key collaborator with McCarthy in the harassment of Senator Lester C. Hunt of Wyoming and his son, that led to Hunt's suicide in his Senate office on June 19, 1954 [REF].