American Folk Figure. Peress became internationally famous as a target of Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation into alleged communism in the US military. He graduated from the City College of New York and was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 1940 he graduated from New York University's Dental School, afterwards practicing in New York City. He attempted to join the military for World War II, but was medically unfit. He was drafted during the Korean War, commissioned in the Dental Corps, and stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. In filling out his application for a commission, Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment on questions concerning past membership in the Communist Party. Soon after his 1953 promotion to Major an anonymous complaint brought him to McCarthy's attention, and in 1954 Peress received an honorable discharge. McCarthy attempted to use the Peress promotion and discharge to show that Army leaders were "soft on communism." McCarthy's overly aggressive approach in hearings, coupled with Peress upbraiding committee members who compared invoking the Fifth Amendment with guilt, was later looked on as the start of McCarthy's downfall. Peress practiced dentistry until 1982, after which he lived in retirement in New York City.
American Folk Figure. Peress became internationally famous as a target of Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigation into alleged communism in the US military. He graduated from the City College of New York and was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. In 1940 he graduated from New York University's Dental School, afterwards practicing in New York City. He attempted to join the military for World War II, but was medically unfit. He was drafted during the Korean War, commissioned in the Dental Corps, and stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. In filling out his application for a commission, Peress invoked the Fifth Amendment on questions concerning past membership in the Communist Party. Soon after his 1953 promotion to Major an anonymous complaint brought him to McCarthy's attention, and in 1954 Peress received an honorable discharge. McCarthy attempted to use the Peress promotion and discharge to show that Army leaders were "soft on communism." McCarthy's overly aggressive approach in hearings, coupled with Peress upbraiding committee members who compared invoking the Fifth Amendment with guilt, was later looked on as the start of McCarthy's downfall. Peress practiced dentistry until 1982, after which he lived in retirement in New York City.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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