Abstract

Within the Gates

The Montana primaries of July 16, 1940 yielded an important item of news without making a ripple in the American press, namely, Jeannette Rankin's victory over Jacob Thorkelson for the Republican Congressional nomination. Thorkelson has made a real contribution to American fascism. For it was Thorkelson who demonstrated the value of an office on Capitol Hill as a platform for addressing the nation. Even though his colleagues frequently refused to listen to his obscene anti-Semitic diatribes, he made full use of the Congressional Record as a propaganda vehicle. Thorkelson's success in distributing his propaganda has led other fascists and pro-Nazis to aspire to a seat in the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House. Joseph E. McWilliams, leader of the Christian Mobilizers, has come forward as the candidate of the so-called American Destiny Party.