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The Rise of Populism: Analyzing Father Coughlin's Anti-Semitism and Anti-Communism

This exploration delves into the ideological journey of Father Coughlin, a prominent radio priest whose influence spanned the 1930s. From his early ideas rooted in agrarian populism to the radical anti-Semitic and anti-communist narratives he propagated, the timeline traces his significant actions, including the formation of political parties and alliances. We analyze the historical context of anti-Semitism and anti-communism in America, using Coughlin as a case study to understand how ideologies shape political narratives, particularly during times of societal fear and unrest.

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The Rise of Populism: Analyzing Father Coughlin's Anti-Semitism and Anti-Communism

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  1. General outline I. Timeline II. Concepts III. Histories of ideological frames A. Anti-Semitism: A contemporary history B. Anti-Communism: A time-line w/examples IV. Trajectory chart

  2. I. Timeline—Father Coughlin 1926 — joins WJR radio in Detroit 1930 — joins CBS 1933 — turns to anti-Semitism 1934 – Forms Nat. Union for Social Justice; attacked by The Nation & The NY Times.

  3. I. Timeline—Father Coughlin 1935 – embraces anti-Communism 1936 – Forms the Union Party, Social Justice. 1937 — endorses Nazism and the persecution of the Jews.

  4. I. Timeline—Father Coughlin 1938 — reprints “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” in Social Justice. 1939 — Founds the Christian Front. Friends of Democracy founded in response. 1940 — Forced off of the air. 1941 – FBI accuses C. of being Nazi propagandist. 1942 – Social Justice banned from the mails/ Espionage Act

  5. Father Coughlin

  6. II. Concepts Populismrefers to an agrarian political movement of the 1890s based in the Midwest, the Farmers’ Alliance (The Grange). A traditional American political platform that has taken two forms: Right and Left.

  7. II. Concepts (cont.) Father Coughlin vs. earlier populism—some comparisons • Both appealed to working class. • Both used “organizing narratives” or “myths” • Both founded political parties: The Populist Party and the Union Party • Father Coughlin = Right; Agrarian populism (Progressives)=Left • Right turned outward; Left looked inward.

  8. II. Concepts (cont.) Demagogue — Father Coughlin; Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D.—Miss.); Rep. John Rankin, (D.—Miss.)

  9. II. Concepts (cont.) • Ideology (def.) — “meaning in the service of power”

  10. II. Concepts (cont.) Frames (def.): • (1) “principles of selection, emphasis, and presentation composed of little tacit theories about what exists, what happens, and what matters;” • (2) how “organizing narratives” take shape as ideology-driven action in the news.

  11. III. Histories of ideological frames A. Anti-Semitism: A contemporary history • The Protocols of the Elders of Zion The source of Father Coughlin’s myth of origin.

  12. III. Histories of ideological frames B. Anti-Communism & Three cycles of the Great Fear 1. 1798—Alien & Sedition Acts 2. 1918—The first Red scare (Wall Street Journal) 3. 1950-57—McCarthyism

  13. III. Histories of ideological frames Origins of mainstream anti-Communist frames: • NY Times—1918 • WSJ — 1918

  14. Histories of ideological frames • The frame of anti-Communism became the organizing myth of American political life through the 20th c.

  15. Trajectory • Outsiders? Jews (as proxy villains for powerful elites) • Goal for change? Populism at the expense of a minority group (Right-wing Fascism) • Mainstream press’s ideological base? Anti-Communist but not overtly anti-Semitic • Outcome? Anti-Communism flourished as the “national narrative;” anti-Semitism failed.

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