Because of the nature of its investigations, the subcommittee is considered by some to be the Senate equivalent to the older House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC).
William Jenner of Indiana took over during the 83rd United States Congress after the Republicans gained control of the Senate in the 1952 election.
When the Democrats regained control in the 84th Congress (1955–1957), James O. Eastland of Mississippi became chairman, a position he had until the subcommittee was abolished during 1977.
This was all intended to avert the perception that HUAC's purpose was to discredit the loyalty of officials of the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.
It is also believed that the pressure of the investigation triggered the suicide of the UN Assistant Secretary General Abraham Feller on November 13, 1952.