The Dollop Episode 719 - General Edwin Walker (Live)

Podcast: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Date: February 3, 2026
Theme: A comedic deep-dive into the bizarre and reactionary life of General Edwin Walker, focusing on his paranoia, crusade against Communists, role in segregationist actions, unraveling mental state, and his transformation into a right-wing folk hero and eventual outcast.

Overview

In this live episode, Dave and Gareth navigate the tumultuous history of General Edwin Walker—a figure whose military career, right-wing extremism, and wild conspiracy-mongering embodied mid-century American reactionary paranoia. The episode unfolds with irreverent banter, sharp historical analysis, and signature dollop absurdity as the hosts lampoon Walker’s crusades, nervous breakdowns, and spectacular failure as both general and political agitator.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Life and Military Career

• Born 1909, Centerpoint, Texas, raised on a farm; expected to join military.
• Academics & Early Accomplishments:
  • Attended New Mexico Military Institute and West Point, finishing in the bottom third of his class.
  • Played on US Army polo team, which Dave and Gareth mock at [02:35–03:40].
• World War II:
  • Served as colonel, volunteered for elite combat unit, fought in the Pacific/Europe.
  • Member of “The Devil’s Brigade,” infamous for night raids and face-blackening.
    • Dave’s note on “blackened face”: “They would paint their faces black so you couldn't see them. Not because they’re doing blackface in World War II.” (04:13)
    • Gareth's quip: “A couple guys were like, trust me, I know how to do this real well… I do this when I drive sometimes.” (04:20)

Cold War Paranoia and John Birch Ideology

• Postwar anti-communist shift:
  • Worked at Pentagon on Greek Civil War—became deeply anti-communist, convinced of internal traitors ([04:51–05:16]).
  • Obsessive belief in a “fifth column” of communist sympathizers in US government ([05:46, 06:30]).
    • Vaudeville bit about columns [05:51–06:49], parodying his supposed logic.
• Involvement in Korea/Taiwan:
  • Convinced US was “stabbed in the back” in Korea; blamed Truman and “fifth columnists.”
• In Germany:
  • Sent Christmas card to troops: “We are standing on the brink of a pit of hell.” (12:34)

The Little Rock Crisis

[07:20–10:12]

• Walker's role: Sent to Arkansas during Little Rock integration crisis.
  • Oversaw National Guard ensuring the Little Rock Nine’s entry into school, but was despised by both sides.
  • Right accused him of being like “Hitler’s Stormtroopers”; local newspapers warned Texas not to try desegregation.

Memorable Comment

• Dave: “The governor blamed Communists for creating race issues.” (10:38)
• Gareth: “Funny how we celebrated all those things for a while. Silly.” (07:36)

Descent Into Extremism

• Radicalization:
  • After Little Rock, Walker embraces John Birch Society paranoia, starts indoctrinating troops with far-right propaganda.
  • Organizes Pro Blue lecture series, distributes anti-Kennedy voting guides (violating military regs).
    • Quote: “He had become a Bircher in Arkansas, and everything they do is anti-Commie. They see Commie conspiracies everywhere.” (14:53)
• Fluoride and Mind Control:
  • Hosts riff on Bircher conspiracy that “they put fluoride in the water to hurt people’s ability to think so they’d be softened up for Communism.” (16:14; joke extends to holy water and vitamin riffs)

Scandal, Humiliation, and Relocation

Propaganda Fallout ([19:08–22:18])

• Overseas Weekly exposes Walker’s illegal political activities; he’s relieved of command and demoted.
• Military delivers only a “verbal admonishment”—joked as the lightest slap on the wrist.
  • Gareth: “That’s like workplace... Your boss was like, ‘Hey, don’t do that.’ That’s work.” (22:38)

Right-wing Martyrdom ([23:01–25:16])

• Walker becomes right-wing folk hero, starts nationwide speaking tour, publishing with Nazi-associated printers.
• Rumors swirl that he’s being “purged by Communists in the Pentagon.”

Political Bid for Texas Governor ([29:09–35:31])

• Announces Democratic (pre-party switch) run for Texas governor; campaign is platform for conspiracism, segregation, anti-liberal paranoia.
  • Claims Communist China is amassing at the Texas border; rails against “race mixing,” UN, and school integration.
  • Embarrassing moments: starts rallies by singing “Onward Christian Soldiers;” can’t answer simple questions about women’s financial rights.
    • Notable quote: “He often started his rallies by singing Onward Christian Soldier.” (32:35)

Little Miss and Insurrection

[54:10–70:36]

• James Meredith at Ole Miss:
  • Supreme Court mandates desegregation; Walker calls for “battlefield” action in Mississippi.
  • Fires up crowds, coordinates with Klan and militia, directs students and mob to attack Federal marshals.
    • Dave: “He made a statement to NBC comparing the use of federal troops in Jackson to the crucifixion of Christ.” (57:51)
    • Takes “command” at Confederate monument; tells followers, “You must be prepared for possible death…” (64:21)
• Riot:
  • Violence escalates, National Guard arrives, deaths and injuries. Walker flees, is arrested, and held in psych ward for seditious acts.
    • Gareth: “Just for one person to be like, guys, this is his pretend control tower in his hallway. What?” (64:31)

Fallout, Conspiracies, and Decline

• Acquittal and Social Decline ([73:59–74:29]):

  • Found competent, never convicted—white jury refuses indictment.
  • House becomes a run-down "command center"; fades into bitterness and obscurity.
  • Continues rightist crusade: attempts UN, sex-ed, and integration scare tour with evangelist Hargis (“Operation Midnight Ride”).

• Kennedy Assassination & Conspiracy Nexus ([85:22–86:51]):

  • Oswald attempts to assassinate Walker before shooting Kennedy, seeing him as “America’s leading fascist.”
  • Walker angrily blames “Castro plot,” but FBI links him to right-wing extremist groups.

• Scandals and Hypocrisy ([88:22–90:21]):

  • Declining years marked by public disgrace after arrests for soliciting sex from undercover male vice cops; “Always, always.”
    • Gareth: “Yeah, always. They are raised in this strict religious family and they’re gay, and so they hate themselves. So they destroy the world.” (89:15)

Final Days

• Broke, ostracized, house sporting billboards; Army quietly restores pension in 1983.
  • Dave: “He died at 83 on Halloween in 1993... In obscurity.” (93:27)

Notable Quotes and Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |-------------|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:13 | Dave | “They would paint their faces black so you couldn't see them. Not blackface.” | | 12:34 | Dave | “We are standing on the brink of a pit of hell.” (Walker's holiday card) | | 14:53 | Dave | “He had become a Bircher in Arkansas, and everything they do is anti-Commie.” | | 16:14 | Dave | “They put fluoride in the water to hurt people's ability to think…” | | 23:01 | Dave | “A very well-read DC columnist… savaged him, calling his ideas crackpot…” | | 32:35 | Dave | “He often started his rallies by singing Onward Christian Soldier.” | | 41:13 | Washington Post | “He seems to be living in a nightmare world of demons and hobgoblins.” | | 53:22 | Dave | “Some said his house now looked run down and seedy. There was a hole in the dining room ceiling...” | | 64:21 | Dave | “You must be prepared for possible death. And if you’re not willing to pay the price, go home.” (Walker to rioters) | | 73:59 | Dave | “Ed was found competent, but he never had a trial because the all-white jury in Oxford did not indict him...” | | 85:22 | Dave | “Oswald... said killing Ed was like killing Hitler before he took power.” | | 89:15 | Gareth | “Yeah, always. They are raised in this strict religious family and they’re gay, and so they hate themselves. So they destroy the world.” | | 93:27 | Dallas Observer | “He had been silent so long, most thought he was already dead.” |

Structure and Flow

• Comedic tangents abound, including riffs on vaudeville, military polo, fifth columns, “command centers,” and Walker’s paranoia.
• Historical context seamlessly interwoven with satire, keeping the tone irreverent even as events grow violent or tragic.
• Gareth’s asides on masculinity, repression, and American political patterns offer meta-commentary on rightwing extremism.

Key Timestamps

• Little Rock Crisis: 07:20–10:12
• Walker’s Propaganda Campaign & Pro Blue: 14:07–19:08
• Relief of Command and Scandal: 22:00–23:58
• Political Run & Conservatism Wanes: 29:09–35:31
• Ole Miss Riot and Arrest: 54:10–70:36
• Kennedy Assassination Conspiracy Connections: 85:00–87:00
• Decline, Hypocrisy, and Final Years: 88:22–93:27

Summary

General Edwin Walker emerges as a cautionary caricature of American reactionary zeal: from war hero, to self-deluded conspiracy theorist, to segregationist riot leader, to public disgrace. Dave and Gareth’s live riffing exposes both the dangers and absurdities of Walker’s anti-Communist crusades—and reveals patterns that echo throughout US history.

Final note:
This episode offers not just Walker’s strange trajectory, but a broader lens on how American paranoia, bigotry, ego, and denial have always been with us—sometimes wearing a general’s uniform, sometimes fleeing a failed revolution, and finally shouting from a homemade billboard beside a broken home.