Slow Burn: "David Duke | 3. The Nazi and the Republicans"

Air date: June 24, 2020
Host: Josh Levin (Slate Podcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode of Slow Burn delves into the rise of David Duke, former Ku Klux Klan leader and neo-Nazi, within the Louisiana Republican Party. The narrative centers on the efforts of Republican activist Beth Rickey to expose Duke’s extremist views and the struggles within the party to confront—or ignore—his influence. Through first-person interviews and archival audio, the episode explores questions of morality, political expediency, and the costs of silence in the face of bigotry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Beth Rickey: Reluctant Crusader

• Background: Raised with Republican ideals, Rickey idolized her father, a WWII veteran who helped liberate Nazi death camps. She believed firmly in the GOP’s morality (01:46).
• Initial Shock: As a political science grad student and campaign worker, Rickey uncovered Duke's Nazi sympathies and Klan legacy.
  • "My God, he's a Nazi. He's not only the head of the Klan, he's a Nazi." — Beth Rickey (02:44)
• Failed Warnings: Despite publicizing Duke’s extremism, he won his Louisiana House seat—shaking Rickey’s faith and commitment but not ending her fight (03:17–03:28).

2. Inside the Extremist Fold

• Undercover at the Populist Party: Rickey attended a far-right convention in Chicago, hearing Duke embrace his base and manipulate his image:
  • "So he said, I may be a Republican, but I'll always be a populist, or something like that. And then they all cheered. I felt like I was in on a dirty little secret." — Beth Rickey (04:52)
• Media Fallout: A photo of Duke with Nazi Party vice-chairman Art Jones went public, forcing Duke to downplay and spin his associations (05:10–05:41).

3. Republican Party’s Dilemma

• State Party Chairman Billy Nungesser: Painted as an energetic but cautious leader, caught between denouncing Duke and alienating voters receptive to Duke’s message (07:16–14:50).
• National Condemnation: National GOP leaders, including Lee Atwater, denounced and censured Duke, but local Republicans resisted taking strong action, fearing backlash.
  • "I don't care whether he's been elected or not. This is something I feel very strongly about and I'm letting my moral compass take over..." — Lee Atwater (09:40)
• Race and Code Words: Atwater’s own history with race-baiting politics is scrutinized, highlighting GOP “dog whistles” and the fear of overt racism claiming their home (10:13–11:28).

4. Resistance in the Legislature

• Legal Challenge: Don Baque, an independent legislator, challenged Duke’s right to his seat on residency grounds, but received little support; only three Republicans voted against seating Duke (12:29–13:30).
• Backlash Effect: Nungesser noted the risk of overplaying Duke’s extremism, which might actually boost Duke's stature among voters (14:08–14:50).

5. Tracking Duke’s True Activities

• Surveillance and Investigations: Rickey and Tulane student Lance Hill bought white supremacist and Nazi literature directly from Duke’s office, gathering proof he hadn’t changed (16:31–17:55).
• Party’s Reluctance: Despite mounting evidence, Nungesser warned Rickey to avoid publicity, fearing it would fuel Duke’s movement (17:55).

6. Ann Levy: Survivor’s Confrontation

• Holocaust Exhibit: Ann Levy, a Holocaust survivor, attended an event at the State Capitol and confronted Duke, challenging his denialism in a moment that changed her life and inspired broader resistance (18:50–27:51).
  • "I tapped him on his shoulder...I just got to ask him, what are you doing here? Why are you looking at these posters? I thought you said it didn't happen." — Ann Levy (24:13)

7. The Personal Toll on Beth Rickey

• Going Public: Inspired by Levy, Rickey brought Nazi materials to the State Capitol, embarrassing Duke into (temporarily) stopping sales of Nazi books (28:39).
• Duke’s Manipulation: Duke attempted to charm Rickey, calling her regularly and trying to win her over, even as she battled ‘Stockholm syndrome’-like effects from their conversations (29:14–33:09).
• Final Straw: A disturbing lunch conversation with Duke about Holocaust denial ended their association (33:47–35:04).
• Isolation and Cost: Rickey faced death threats, alienation, and physical decline as a result of her activism (43:02–43:45).
  • "I'm having to find a whole new circle of friends. It's been very difficult because I don't want to lose people I've worked with for 20 years." — Beth Rickey (43:02)
  • "She was a lone voice, you know, in the woods." — Lance Hill (43:14)

8. GOP's Failure to Act Decisively

• Censure Resolution Sabotaged: Rickey and Neil Curran's attempt to publicly censure Duke was tabled through party process—leadership feared alienating Duke’s base (40:01–41:37).
  • "Dear Billy, you double crossed me. I will never ever let you forget this." — Beth Rickey (42:04)
• Legacy of Silence: Party leaders eventually admitted they stayed quiet to keep Duke’s voters in the Republican fold.

9. Duke’s Next Ambition & Continued Denial

• Duke used the legislature as a platform, immediately turned his sights to the U.S. Senate (46:11–46:18).
• Many Republican leaders still failed to see the danger:
  • "What damage could he possibly do in the U.S. Senate? And I just looked at him like, are you nuts?" — Beth Rickey (46:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you get the message out about David Duke, people would be shocked and they wouldn't vote for him. I don't think the strategy worked."
  — Beth Rickey (03:17)

• "Because the press in every case, comes on and says, this Nazi, this Ku Klux Klanner...And when they don't hear that, they're almost receptive."
  — Billy Nungesser (14:08)

• "I didn't say it didn't happen. I said it was exaggerated."
  — David Duke to Ann Levy (24:13)

• "You know, it's like being held captive by somebody. You get kind of goofy and start identifying with your captor, so to speak. And I would call people at night and say, look, deprogram me."
  — Beth Rickey (32:56)

• "There's a self destructive streak in him that I see. He has this sense of religious mission about his calling. He almost has a Jesus complex..."
  — Beth Rickey on Duke (35:54)

Important Timestamps

• Beth Rickey’s discovery of Duke’s Nazi beliefs: 02:44
• Populist Party undercover experience: 04:27–05:10
• Lee Atwater condemns Duke nationally: 09:11–09:40
• Ann Levy confronts David Duke: 24:13–26:06
• Rickey publicly outs Duke’s Nazi book sales: 28:39–29:14
• Beth Rickey describes the psychological toll: 32:56–33:09
• Failed censure resolution: 40:01–41:37
• Rickey’s emotional and physical decline: 43:02–44:53

Episode Tone and Takeaways

The episode combines investigative reporting with deeply personal testimony, especially from Beth Rickey and Ann Levy. The tone is somber but urgent, highlighting both the insidious normalization of hate and the courage required to confront it. Through Rickey’s journey, listeners witness the devastating impact on individuals who stand for principle in the face of mass indifference and political cowardice. The resistance to Duke’s influence is depicted as both risky and commendable, with the Republican Party’s moral compromises laid bare.

For listeners new to this history, the episode is a riveting and sobering exploration of how far-right extremism can almost seamlessly enter the political mainstream, and the high personal cost paid by those who dare to resist.