Theodore Bilbo - Revision history

RobSmith: /* Legacy */

2025-09-20T21:09:28Z

Legacy

LT: /* U.S. Senate */

2023-06-19T16:53:43Z

U.S. Senate

LT at 16:50, June 19, 2023

2023-06-19T16:50:08Z

LT at 16:49, June 19, 2023

2023-06-19T16:49:56Z

LT at 16:49, June 19, 2023

2023-06-19T16:49:04Z

LT at 16:45, June 19, 2023

2023-06-19T16:45:12Z

LT: /* Failed bids for Congress and state legislature */

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Failed bids for Congress and state legislature

LT: /* Statewide office, 1912–20 */

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Statewide office, 1912–20

LT: /* Statewide office, 1912–20 */

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Statewide office, 1912–20

LT: /* 1940s: reelection, furthered bigotry */ emphasis

2023-06-19T16:11:57Z

1940s: reelection, furthered bigotry: emphasis

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 ==Legacy==
-In February 2022, a statue of Bilbo was removed from public display and stashed into a storage closet per a unilateral decision by Republican Andrew Ketchings, the clerk for the Mississippi House of Representatives.<ref>Pettus, Emily Wagster (February 10, 2022). [https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/mystery-solved-statue-of-racist-mississippi-ex-gov-bilbo-stashed-in-closet/2807332/ Mystery Solved: Statue of Racist Mississippi Ex-Gov. Bilbo Stashed in Closet]. ''Associated Press'' via ''NBC Bay Area''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> Members of the Black Caucus had previously used the outstreched arm of the statue as a coat rack.<ref>Glass, Andrew (August 20, 2016). [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/mississippi-sen-theodore-bilbo-dies-at-age-69-aug-21-1947-227126 Mississippi Sen. Theodore Bilbo dies at age 69, Aug. 21, 1947]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref>
+In February 2022, a statue of Bilbo was removed from public display and stashed into a storage closet per a [[unilateral]] decision by Republican Andrew Ketchings, the clerk for the Mississippi House of Representatives.<ref>Pettus, Emily Wagster (February 10, 2022). [https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/mystery-solved-statue-of-racist-mississippi-ex-gov-bilbo-stashed-in-closet/2807332/ Mystery Solved: Statue of Racist Mississippi Ex-Gov. Bilbo Stashed in Closet]. ''Associated Press'' via ''NBC Bay Area''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> Members of the Black Caucus had previously used the outstreched arm of the statue as a coat rack.<ref>Glass, Andrew (August 20, 2016). [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/mississippi-sen-theodore-bilbo-dies-at-age-69-aug-21-1947-227126 Mississippi Sen. Theodore Bilbo dies at age 69, Aug. 21, 1947]. ''Politico''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref>
 ===Great Replacement propaganda===

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 ==U.S. Senate==
-Bilbo unsuccessfully ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1932,<ref name=msencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=483060 MS – District 07 Race – Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> though two years later sought a U.S. Senate seat and denied the renomination of the more conservative incumbent Democratic senator Hubert D. Stephens, proceeding to victory in the general election.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," pp. 7–8.</ref> In the primary, Bilbo garnered his usual support from the economically poor "hills" as opposed to the pro-[[Bourbon Democrat|Bourbon]] Delta region. His virulent campaign rife with attacks against Wall Street were noticed and reported on by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and was compared to Louisiana demagogic [[Huey Long]].
+Bilbo unsuccessfully ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1932,<ref name=msencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=483060 MS – District 07 Race – Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> though two years later sought a U.S. Senate seat and denied the renomination of the "colorless,"<ref>Nelson, Lawrence J. (1999). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/King_Cotton_s_Advocate/-NfyYgEb1_YC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hubert+stephens+conservative&pg=PA16&printsec=frontcover King Cotton's Advocate: Oscar G. Johnston and the New Deal], p. 16. ''Google Books''. Retrieved June 19, 2023.</ref> more conservative<ref>Caughey, Devin (2018). [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Unsolid_South/MzlhDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=hubert+stephens+conservative&pg=PA123&printsec=frontcover The Unsolid South: Mass Politics and National Representation in a One-Party Enclave], p. 123. ''Google Books''. Retrieved June 19, 2023.</ref> incumbent Democratic senator Hubert D. Stephens, proceeding to victory in the general election.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," pp. 7–8.</ref> In the primary, Bilbo garnered his usual support from the economically poor "hills" as opposed to the pro-[[Bourbon Democrat|Bourbon]] Delta region. His virulent campaign rife with attacks against Wall Street were noticed and reported on by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and was compared to Louisiana demagogic [[Huey Long]].
 ===1930s: hardline New Deal politics===

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 '''Theodore Gilmore Bilbo, Sr.''' (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947), known as "The Man,"<ref name=msencyclopediabio>Sansing, David G. (July 10, 2017). [https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/theodore-gilmore-bilbo/ Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]. ''Mississippi Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> was a [[Klansman]] and longtime [[Democratic Party]] politician from [[Mississippi]] who served as a governor of the state from 1916–20 and 1928–32, and as a U.S. senator from 1935–47. A towering ''de facto'' leader among [[white supremacist]] circles, he was infamous for praising [[Nazi]] racial philosophy and known for extreme, inflammatory rhetoric.
-Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by left-wing attacks against capitalist interests and racial bigotry against ethnic minorities. His solid support for [[liberal]] icon [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and the president's [[New Deal]] programs garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was widely denounced as the aftermath of the [[World War II]] years resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery; national Democrats soon expediently sought to avoid the discrediting of their own reputations for their long-held, entrenched ties with Bilbo.
+Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by left-wing attacks against capitalist interests and racial bigotry against ethnic minorities. His solid support for modern [[liberal]] icon [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and the president's [[New Deal]] programs garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was widely denounced as the aftermath of the [[World War II]] years resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery; national Democrats soon expediently sought to avoid the discrediting of their own reputations for their long-held, entrenched ties with Bilbo.
 ==Early life and career==

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 '''Theodore Gilmore Bilbo, Sr.''' (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947), known as "The Man,"<ref name=msencyclopediabio>Sansing, David G. (July 10, 2017). [https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/theodore-gilmore-bilbo/ Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]. ''Mississippi Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> was a [[Klansman]] and longtime [[Democratic Party]] politician from [[Mississippi]] who served as a governor of the state from 1916–20 and 1928–32, and as a U.S. senator from 1935–47. A towering ''de facto'' leader among [[white supremacist]] circles, he was infamous for praising [[Nazi]] racial philosophy and known for extreme, inflammatory rhetoric.
-Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by left-wing attacks against capitalist interests and racial bigotry against ethnic minorities. His solid support for the [[New Deal]] garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was widely denounced as the aftermath of the [[World War II]] years resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery; national Democrats soon expediently sought to avoid the discrediting of their own reputations for their long-held, entrenched ties with Bilbo.
+Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by left-wing attacks against capitalist interests and racial bigotry against ethnic minorities. His solid support for [[liberal]] icon [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and the president's [[New Deal]] programs garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was widely denounced as the aftermath of the [[World War II]] years resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery; national Democrats soon expediently sought to avoid the discrediting of their own reputations for their long-held, entrenched ties with Bilbo.
 ==Early life and career==

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 }}
-'''Theodore Gilmore Bilbo, Sr.''' (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947), known as "The Man,"<ref name=msencyclopediabio>Sansing, David G. (July 10, 2017). [https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/theodore-gilmore-bilbo/ Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]. ''Mississippi Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> was a [[Klansman]] and longtime [[Democratic Party]] politician from [[Mississippi]] who served as a governor of the state from 1916 to 1920 and 1928 to 1932, and as a U.S. senator from 1935 to 1947. A towering ''de facto'' leader among [[white supremacist]] circles, he was infamous for praising [[Nazi]] racial philosophy and known for extreme inflammatory rhetoric.
+'''Theodore Gilmore Bilbo, Sr.''' (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947), known as "The Man,"<ref name=msencyclopediabio>Sansing, David G. (July 10, 2017). [https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/theodore-gilmore-bilbo/ Theodore Gilmore Bilbo]. ''Mississippi Encyclopedia''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> was a [[Klansman]] and longtime [[Democratic Party]] politician from [[Mississippi]] who served as a governor of the state from 1916–20 and 1928–32, and as a U.S. senator from 1935–47. A towering ''de facto'' leader among [[white supremacist]] circles, he was infamous for praising [[Nazi]] racial philosophy and known for extreme, inflammatory rhetoric.
-Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by racial bigotry against various ethnic minorities and left-wing populistic economic attacks against capitalists perceived as elitist. His solid support for the [[New Deal]] garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was denounced as the [[World War II]] years and the aftermath resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery, as national Democrats expediently sought to avoid their reputations being discredited for their long-held, entrenched ties to Bilbo.
+Inspired by the [[Progressive Movement]], Bilbo's political career was marked with demagoguery characterized by left-wing attacks against capitalist interests and racial bigotry against ethnic minorities. His solid support for the [[New Deal]] garnered the endearment and admiration of the Democratic establishment (which disregarded his naked racism) during the 1930s at the national level, though eventually was widely denounced as the aftermath of the [[World War II]] years resulted in an awakening of the consequences of unchecked racial demagoguery; national Democrats soon expediently sought to avoid the discrediting of their own reputations for their long-held, entrenched ties with Bilbo.
 ==Early life and career==

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 Due to state law at the time prohibiting Mississippi governors from immediately succeeding themselves, Bilbo ran for U.S. House of Representatives in 1918 from the state's 6th congressional district.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.10-11>"The Final Years: 1941–47," pp. 10b–11.</ref> However, his association with Vardaman proved a hindrance by the late 1910s due to his progressive predecessor's vain isolationist opposition to American involvement in [[World War I]]. He also campaigned in favor of a "dipping vat law" for cattle unpopular among the district's farming constituency, overestimating his influence and losing in the primary to Paul B. Johnson, Sr., a lawyer from Hattiesburg.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.10-11/>
-He then sought an open seat in the lower body of the state legislature in the 1920 elections, though "lost badly" and resumed law practice.
+Bilbo sought an open seat in the state House of Representatives in the 1920 elections, though "lost badly" and resumed law practice.<ref name=msencyclopediabio/>
 ==Return to the governorship==

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 In 1912, Bilbo was elected [[lieutenant governor]] and later governor four years afterwards.<ref name=fleegler,p.6/> His tenure as lieutenant governor under Earl L. Brewer was marked with corruption and factionalism, acting as ''de facto'' governor when Brewer traveled outside Mississippi.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10>"The Final Years: 1941–47," pp. 8–10a.</ref> Bilbo, accused by Brewer of granting pardons to felons and accepting bribes, was indicted along with George Hobbs, a state senator, for bribery by a grand jury in Vicksburg. Brewer testified as a witness in support of prosecution that implicated Bilbo of attempting to establish a new Delta county, though the pair were acquitted by a jury following the defense attorney's accusations that the trial was a political maneuver to damage Bilbo's career.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10/>
 The publicity created by the trial was capitalized by Bilbo when running for governor in 1915, during which he began referring to himself as "The Man."<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10/> Appealing to the radical, populistic "hill" rednecks, he spoke in favor of additional education appropriations, stronger enforcement of state [[Prohibition]], increased taxes on the rich, and the construction of new roads, trouncing four Democratic rivals in the primary. (due to disenfranchisement of blacks that hollowed the Republican Party into oblivion at the time, emerging victorious in the Democratic primary was tantamount to election)
 In a biographical dissertation on Bilbo, Charles P. Smith writes that Bilbo's swearing-in as governor during January 1916 culminated in the peak of "progressivism in the Magnolia State."<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10/> A supporter of Bilbo, Martin Sennett Connor, was elected Speaker of the state House of Representatives, allowing for Vardaman–Bilbo forces to enact numerous progressive initiatives—appropriations for schools and roads were increased, the tax structure was revised, a [[tuberculosis]] sanitarium and State Highway Commission were established, along with the State Board of Pardons.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10/>
-Due to a one-term limit on Mississippi governors, he then sought an open seat in the lower body of the state legislature in the 1920 elections, though "lost badly" and resumed law practice.
+===Failed bids for Congress and state legislature===
 ==Return to the governorship==

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 ==Statewide office, 1912–20==
-In 1912, Bilbo was elected [[lieutenant governor]] and later governor four years afterwards.<ref name=fleegler,p.6/> Due to a one-term limit on Mississippi governors, he then sought an open seat in the lower body of the state legislature in the 1920 elections, though "lost badly" and resumed law practice.
+In 1912, Bilbo was elected [[lieutenant governor]] and later governor four years afterwards.<ref name=fleegler,p.6/> His tenure as lieutenant governor under Earl L. Brewer was marked with corruption and factionalism, acting as ''de facto'' governor when Brewer traveled outside Mississippi.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10>"The Final Years: 1941–47," pp. 8–10a.</ref> Bilbo, accused by Brewer of granting pardons to felons and accepting bribes, was indicted along with George Hobbs, a state senator, for bribery by a grand jury in Vicksburg. Brewer testified as a witness in support of prosecution that implicated Bilbo of attempting to establish a new Delta county, though the pair were acquitted by a jury following the defense attorney's accusations that the trial was a political maneuver to damage Bilbo's career.<ref name=finalsenateyears,pp.8-10/>
 ==Return to the governorship==

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 According to Fleegler:<ref name=fleegler,pp.11-12/>
-{{cquote|Bilbo’s racism did not seem to bother his fellow Democrats.|||"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938–1947," p. 11.}}
+{{cquote|'''Bilbo’s racism did not seem to bother his fellow Democrats.'''|||"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, 1938–1947," p. 11.}}
 When Bilbo had just won Democratic renomination in 1940 during the primary, he bolstered the party establishment nationwide, campaigning in fifteen states. Bilbo gave a keynote address to the Young Democrats of New York, and speeches in [[Pennsylvania]] received the praise from the state's pro–New Deal senator Joe Guffey as being "tops among Southern statesman as a campaigner."<ref name=fleegler,pp.11-12/> In [[Missouri]], Bilbo campaigned for—and was thanked by—the state's U.S. senator and future president [[Harry S. Truman]], who wrote after being reelected: "Can’t thank you enough for what you did in Missouri."