The Resume

(October 22, 1890-October 6, 1960)
Born in Primghar, Iowa
Special counsel for the US Army during the Army-McCarthy hearings (March 16-June 17, 1954)

Why he might be annoying:

He lost his biggest civil suit, a $7 million tax case for the Chicago stockyards.
He owned over 150 bow ties.
He hinted at rumors that Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn were gay when he asked of a picture, 'Did you think this came from a pixie?' and added, 'I should say, Mr. Senator, that a pixie is a close relative of a fairy. Have I enlightened you?'

Why he might not be annoying:

Life magazine noted, 'His elaborate politeness and gentility mask a highly active, well-disciplined bear-trap mind.'
During the hearings, McCarthy accused Fred Fisher, a young lawyer at Welch's firm, of being a Communist sympathizer because he had belonged to the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) while in law school.
McCarthy's action violated a pre-hearing agreement not to raise the issue because the NLG's alleged Communist ties were still under investigation by the Attorney General.
Welch responded, 'Until this moment, Senator, I think I never gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.... Let us not assassinate this lad further Senator.... You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 100 Greatest American Speeches of the 20th Century (Ranked: 99)
• Attorney
• Bow Tie Wearers
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 13]
• I am an Iowan
• I Attended Harvard
• I Died in 1960 (Ranked: 69)
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Life
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Profiles 23251-23500 (Ranked: 23364)
• Served in World War I
• TV Land's 100 Greatest TV Quotes and Catch Phrases [2006] (Ranked: 54)
• TV Land's 100 Most Memorable TV Moments 1-50 [December 2004] (Ranked: 39)

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 91.67% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 30 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 93 Votes: 47.31% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 25 Votes: 28.00% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 52 Votes: 34.62% Annoying