Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra

Episode 5: Coming Home
Release Date: July 15, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 5: Coming Home of Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra, host Rachel Maddow delves deep into the unsettling convergence of extremist ideologies and mainstream American politics during the early 1950s. The episode meticulously unpacks the intertwining narratives of American fascists, Holocaust deniers, and the relentless rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy—a demagogue whose tactics would leave an indelible mark on American political discourse.

Francis Parker Yockey and Imperium

The episode opens with the troubling history of Francis Parker Yockey, an American fascist whose work would become a cornerstone for post-war extremist movements.

• Discovery of Imperium:

  • Anthony Mostrom recounts Yockey’s serendipitous purchase of a used book titled Imperium in a Van Nuys bookstore:

    "The book was published under a pseudonym, Ulic Varange, because the real author, Yockey, was on the run." (02:31)

• Content and Ideology of Imperium:

  • Yockey described Imperium as an anti-Semitic manifesto advocating for a global fascist empire:

    "Imperium is very much an anti-Semitic book. It's a hate book." (02:55)

  • He positioned democracy as inherently flawed and blamed Jews for societal decay:

    "Democracy is a sham and the Jews are the great enemy and need to be dealt with." (07:10)

• Holocaust Denial:

  • Yockey’s Imperium is recognized as one of the earliest American texts promoting Holocaust denial:

    "He wrote that gas chambers did not exist and that thousands of victims weren't killed at all." (12:18)

Yockey’s Infiltration of the Nuremberg Trials

Despite his extremist views and fugitive status, Yockey secured a position as a U.S. government lawyer during the Nazi war crimes trials in Germany.

• Role as a Mole:

  • Mostrom explains how Yockey covertly aided Nazi defendants:

    "He used his position to help Nazi defendants and attempted to recruit German officers into an underground movement." (04:00)

• Escape and Return to the U.S.:

  • Yockey evaded U.S. intelligence and returned to America, where he integrated himself into the growing far-right milieu:

    "He slipped out of Germany and returned to the U.S., linking up with the America First movement." (05:08)

The Rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy

Parallel to Yockey’s activities, the episode traces the meteoric rise of Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose crusade against alleged communists would dominate American politics.

• McCarthy’s Early Crusades:

  • Mostrom details McCarthy’s infamous "I Hold a List" speech and his subsequent targeting of the Malmedy massacre trial:

    "McCarthy pushed a Nazi propaganda hoax about Jews in the U.S. Army torturing Nazi soldiers." (23:15)

• Tactics of Fear and Defamation:

  • McCarthy employed aggressive tactics, including physical assaults and defamatory name-calling against critics:

    "He kneed columnist Drew Pearson in the groin and attacked journalists who opposed him." (30:27)

• Impact on Political Rivals:

  • McCarthy’s smear campaigns led to the downfall of Senator Millard Tydings:

    "McCarthy produced a fake photo implying Tydings was secretly meeting with a communist, leading to Tydings' defeat." (28:05)

National Renaissance Party and Extremist Collaborations

The episode highlights the role of Gerald L.K. Smith and the National Renaissance Party in fostering extremist ideologies.

• Gerald L.K. Smith’s Leadership:

  • Stephen Ross characterizes Smith as a modern successor to Father Coughlin’s antisemitism:

    "Smith attracted far-right individuals, positioning himself against Jews and communists." (18:02)

• National Renaissance Party’s Activities:

  • The party was notorious for public demonstrations and violent confrontations, often targeting Jewish war veterans:

    "They dressed in Nazi uniforms, performed swastika salutes, and engaged in street violence against Jewish war veterans." (40:13)

• Ambitious Goals:

  • Their explicit aim was to establish a fascist government in America, inspired by Hitler’s ideology:

    "He would create a fascist government in America that would educate the entire country into white supremacy." (41:01)

Yockey’s Involvement with McCarthy

A pivotal moment unfolds when Yockey, the architect of American Holocaust denial, becomes entwined with McCarthy’s campaign.

• Speechwriting for McCarthy:

  • Mostrom reveals that McCarthy enlisted Yockey to craft a speech for an American-German Friendship rally:

    "Francis Yaqui wrote a speech for McCarthy that ended with a rallying cry: 'We shall sweep America clear of its inner enemies.'" (46:53)

• FBI Awareness and Political Maneuvering:

  • The FBI was aware of this collaboration but failed to prevent it, partly due to McCarthy’s rising influence:

    "The FBI noted Yockey's involvement but couldn’t definitively prove McCarthy’s direct collaboration." (48:00)

• Press Intervention and McCarthy’s Escape:

  • Journalistic investigations exposed McCarthy’s extremist affiliations, forcing him to cancel the Yorkville speech:

    "After reporters highlighted the presence of pro-Nazi speakers, McCarthy canceled his speech to avoid scandal." (52:59)

Consequences and Legacy

The episode concludes by examining the long-term ramifications of McCarthy’s alliance with extremist figures and the broader impact on American democracy.

• Undermining Democratic Institutions:

  • Mostrom emphasizes how McCarthy’s tactics eroded public trust and fueled division:

    "McCarthy's bullying and dishonesty reached a point of no return, setting a dangerous precedent for political discourse." (54:32)

• Yockey’s Fate and Continuing Influence:

  • Despite narrowly avoiding immediate fallout, figures like Yockey paved the way for future extremist movements:

    "Yockey's escape back to America symbolized the enduring threat posed by unchecked extremist ideologies." (50:04)

• Enduring Lessons:

  • The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of democratic systems to demagoguery and extremist infiltration:

    "The convergence of extremist agendas with mainstream politics can fray the very fabric of democracy."

Notable Quotes

• Francis Parker Yockey:

  "Democracy is a sham and the Jews are the great enemy and need to be dealt with." (07:10)

• Anthony Mostrom:

  "Yaqui's manifesto would have decades of influence on the American right. It was also nonsense." (09:11)

• Stephen Ross:

  "Gerald L.K. Smith was a religious leader who attracted far-right individuals, positioning himself against Jews and communists." (18:19)

• Child Segment (Representative of Extremist Rhetoric):

  "The two greatest symbols in this civilization are the cross and the flag." (31:30)

Conclusion

Episode 5: Coming Home provides a chilling exploration of the post-World War II landscape in America, where extremist ideologies not only survived but found footholds within political power structures. Through the lens of historical figures like Francis Parker Yockey and Senator Joseph McCarthy, Rachel Maddow underscores the persistent threats to democratic institutions posed by demagoguery and hate-driven propaganda. This episode serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in safeguarding democracy against the corrosive forces of authoritarianism and bigotry.

Timestamps

• 02:31 - Yockey’s purchase of Imperium.
• 02:55 - Nature of Imperium as an anti-Semitic book.
• 07:10 - Yockey on democracy and Jews.
• 09:11 - Influence and nonsense of Yockey’s manifesto.
• 18:02 - Gerald L.K. Smith’s leadership and antisemitism.
• 23:15 - McCarthy’s involvement in Nazi propaganda.
• 28:05 - Defeat of Senator Millard Tydings.
• 30:27 - McCarthy’s physical assault on Drew Pearson.
• 40:13 - National Renaissance Party’s street violence.
• 41:01 - Goals of the National Renaissance Party.
• 46:53 - Yockey writing speech for McCarthy.
• 48:00 - FBI’s awareness of McCarthy-Yockey collaboration.
• 52:59 - McCarthy’s cancellation of the Yorkville speech.
• 54:32 - Consequences of McCarthy’s tactics.
• 07:10, 09:11, etc. - Referenced throughout.

Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript for reference and are denoted in MM:SS format.