A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

by Timothy Egan

That was the idea: the souls of those who’d died for a republic of slaveholders had returned from their graves.

Why the cloaks

the new Klan would build its foundation with the blessing of Protestant clergy.

In 1880, 50 percent of Black men in the former Confederacy voted. By 1920, less than 1 percent exercised this fundamental right.

stories of honorable men who rose up to restore their rightful place in society.

Parallel to today

At election time, ballots were stuffed and whites denied the vote.

Parallel to today, belief of denied votes - belief of rigged elecion

The way to win over the Heartland was with a wholesome Klan, a Klan of family and faith and Midwestern values. It would not be the Klan of the whip and the sword, but the Klan of the hearth and the Lord.

Parallel to today, claiming moral high ground

He changed political parties, from Democrat to Republican,

Shocker, had to be repiblican to run the kkk

“The Klan is not against the Negro, but against social equality,” he said from the pulpit. “Not against Jews, but against only the Jews who are trying to gain control of the world; not against the Catholics, but opposed to their systems.

"for fairness in sports not against transpeople" "to stop drugs from coming into the country" "not against mexicans just against illegal entry to a country"

In the America of 1922, fear of others generated a lot of anxious energy. This collective unease had only to be corralled, sanctified, and monetized.

Monetizing hate? Very familiar, wonder if they sold any red hats...

As for using Christianity to inoculate this secret society from the charge of bigotry—it was brilliant!

Using christianity to claim a moral highground and villanize your opposition? familiar…

He said he could get any woman he wanted with the snap of his fingers.

Leader of an group that claims family values also boasting about being a womanizer? "grab em by the p*ssy" 5 kids from 3 women "i would date ivanka if se wasnt my daughter "…

he played to their fears, their pride, and their boredom. Was there a man among them who wasn’t disgusted by the immigrants brewing beer or fermenting wine in their basements? Was there a father or husband who wasn’t appalled at women in their short bobs and tapered dresses

Sowing hate and fear around identity politics? Today it is gender expression

the new Invisible Empire

"invisible empire" may as well have called themselves the "silent majority"

There was nothing wrong with promoting white supremacy—it was only “race pride,” he said. “I cannot see anything anti-American in that.”

quote from 1921 or 2025? Impossible to know

He dismissed the numerous stories of violence as the work of “a paper owned and controlled by a Jew,” and imposters trying to take down the Invisible Empire.

"That wasn't us it was ANTIFA"

“Do you believe in the principles of pure Americanism?

Question on KKK initation form. Pure americanism seems to be a repetitive "issue"

As he entered a church, a town hall, or a school gym to make his Klan sales pitch, he saw every Hoosier head as a dollar sign.

I dont have proof current politicians do this, but when merchandise is a huge part of their campaign and they strive to have "the biggest crowd ever" it feels like the thought is profit

Stephenson got his cut of everything. In a given week, he was taking in five times more than most Americans made in a year.

Leader with obscene wealth profiting off the people keepin him in charge, how wild

In attitude and politics, Indiana was the most Southern of Northern

Still is I fear

the Klan birthed in Indiana—a state that had lost 25,000 men fighting the Confederacy just a half century earlier—would soon have more Klansmen than any other state.

He understood people’s fears and their need to blame others for their failures. He discovered that if he said something often enough, no matter how untrue, people would believe it.

If you have even half a brain you can make the connection

His barbershop quartets sang, “If you don’t like your Uncle Sammy / Then go back to your home across the sea / To the land from where you came / Whatever be its name.”

"you dont like it here then leave" still a rallying cry of hatred to this day

All were thrown from office after Steve spread the word of their otherness.

Othering people in politics to keep them out of office? Remember when they claimed Obama was Kenyan not american? Or that he was in Al Quida

One of the Klan’s core principles was built around “the sacred duty of protecting womanhood.” And so a man whose life was a mockery of that principle moved ahead with his most audacious plan yet, a way to control the future.

similar to if someone who revoked roe v wade had 3 different wives, slept with a porn star, has 40+ allegations of sexual assault, and is believed to have paid for 8 abortions

Prohibition, marking the first time the Constitution had been changed to take away a right,

Universal suffrage had long been blocked by Southern legislators who feared arming Black women with electoral power,

Any list of Prohibition violators, as Billy Sunday said, “read like a page from the directories of Italy and Greece.”

Laws that are used to specifically and harshly target minorities? War on drugs/public intoxication/speeding

“The Negro, fairly docile and industrious, becomes, when filled with liquor, turbulent and dangerous and a menace to life, property and the repose of the community,” another paper wrote.

"white people are A-OK when drunk, its only minkrities that cause problems"

“They are idiots, insane, diseased criminals!” As Barr framed the big picture, she said, “This is a struggle for the rebirth of the White Race and the preservation of civilization.”

"All immigrants are criminals and ruining america" once again familiar...

The political right views rainbow and "all are welcome here" stickers this way

They also knew where not to shop, for Barr would also read a list of businesses to avoid, particularly those owned by Jews.

Both sides do this today, see Bud Lite and Tesla

More than 95 percent of the population was native born, and 97 percent white. No state in the nation had a higher proportion of that mix.

The state with the whitest, most natiral born and protest people was the one most commited to attacking others. Evidence that people need exposure to diversity

What many Americans heard about Jews they got from Henry Ford,

Did not know h ford was a major antisemetic

Ku Klux Kiddies were issued small-sized robes and masks, recited pledges and songs at regular den meetings, and marched in parades.

Rule no. 1 of taking power: indoctrinate indoctrinate indoctrinate

The fake news originated at the top and was planted at the bottom.

Rule no. 2 control the press

The poison served a purpose—to intimidate and frighten certain businesses, as well as local politicians.

"theyre eating the dogs, theyre eating the cats"

A few of the rioters took to the sky, according to witnesses, dropping sticks of dynamite from airplanes—thought to be the first time a city in the United States was bombed by aerial assault.

During tulsa race riots

As in Dallas, there were no convictions of any of the killers, thieves, and firebombers, no prison terms, no retribution.

Klansmen were kept out of prison. Today capital insurgents are pardoned of all crimes

He fulminated against “Mad Pat” in the Fiery Cross, calling him “an Enemy of America.”

Using names "mad pat, sleepy joe?…" andalways the rhetoric "enemy of america" or usually "unamerican" today

If you wanted a drink, he had the finest stuff smuggled in from Canada or gifted to him from his police allies,

This is the leader of an org preaching the evils of alcohol and leading prohibition. Hypocrisy is still rampant in todays political leaders

In one town he spoke of the evils of socialism. In another, he praised socialism.

Like saying at one point how stupid republicans are and later running for republican president

He lied by way of respiration.

Trump?

At one end of life, the hooded order supported “Better Baby” contests at state fairs. There, not far from pens holding prizewinning hogs and oversized gourds, were exhibits explaining how proper breeding could lead ever upward, refining the race while keeping it pure.

Digusting and disturbing and everything always comes back to eugenics

By the dawn of the 1920s, about 2,500 people in the state had been sterilized against their will.

What the absolute fuck

Ultimately, about 70,000 people across the United States would be forcibly sterilized.

Screaming crying throwing up

The crowd roared as he approached them, waving and smiling like the pope greeting the pious inside St. Peter’s Square. Many fell to their knees.

Idolizing and worrshipping of a plitical leader

The crowd could not know that their illustrious leader was a drunk and a fraud, a wife-beater and a sex predator, a serial liar and an unfettered braggart, a bootlegger and a blackmailer,

Based on today, the crowd would still love him and defend him if they knew

But even if the Fourth of July celebrants in Kokomo knew about the Big Lie of Stephenson’s life, would it have mattered? They believed because they wanted to believe.

“Just stop right there,” said Stephenson. “You’re part of a national conspiracy to upset the Klan.”

Every opposition is conspiracy

“I can see that you are not for us,” said the Klansman, now visibly angry. “You are against us. Get outta here!”