Quotation question
 

I'm trying to quote a passage from a book which alread has a quotation in it. How do I do this? To explain better, here is an example.

Exact Passage:

To conservatives, the liberal influence in the nation’s schools, pulpits, and politics endangered what they perceived as the “traditional American way of life.”


I want to write in my essay:

Conservatives feared "liberal influence in the nation's schools, pulpits, and politics endangered what they perceived as the 'traditional American way of life.'" (McGirr, 69)


I'm replacing the original quotation in the book with a single quotation. Is that allowed, or should I be doing something different. I checked up a set of MLA guidelines, but they didnt seem to directly answer this question.

OK, the "quotation within a quotation" isn't quite right, unless McGirr is directly quoting someone else. If that's the case, skip McGirr altogether and quote the original source.

As it stands, it appears to me that McGirr is setting up a concept to be used later in the article, so you have the correct way to cite the work.

edit:
never mind - miss read the orignal post

The way you've done it is entirely correct: you alternate between single and double quotes, starting with doubles around the entire quotation.

Yeah, unless you simplify and quote the original source.

Why quote unless you are writing a rebuttal, even then it is better to use your own mind rather then someone elses

Agreed with Tama. Simply paraphrase the quote and plop a reference marker after it.