What we'll known senator conducted these communist witch hunts What word do we use today to refer to this era in history?

The well-known senator who conducted the communist witch hunts was Joseph McCarthy. This period in history is commonly referred to as "McCarthyism," characterized by aggressive investigations and accusations aimed at rooting out alleged communists in the U.S. government and other sectors. The era is marked by widespread fear, paranoia, and the violation of civil liberties.