Weird Little Guys Death of a Demagogue, Pt. 2
51 snips
Sep 25, 2025 Dive into the tumultuous world of the American Nazi Party as Molly unravels the events leading up to George Lincoln Rockwell's assassination. Discover the internal schisms over the definition of whiteness, and how Rockwell's strategic pivot to 'white power' aimed to unify his followers. Learn about historical figures like John Patler and Christopher Vidnevich, whose narratives highlight the chaotic ideology of the movement. The episode explores the complex motives behind Rockwell's murder and the conspiracy theories that arose within the ranks.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Maine Shootout After Rockwell Murder Investigation
- Claudia and Frank Smith followed a suspicious Volkswagen that had been tailing them for days and ended up in a gunfight with American Nazi members.
- Both cars were riddled with bullet holes, and one Nazi later told Frank, "I thought we were friends."
Whiteness Is Politically Defined
- Molly Conger argues that whiteness is a shifting, politicized category shaped by those who define it.
- She cites historical examples showing legal and social definitions of whiteness change to include or exclude groups.
Rockwell's Original Aryan Definition
- George Lincoln Rockwell modeled his party explicitly on Nazi ideology and Hitler's Aryan ideals.
- He excluded Slavs, Italians, Greeks and others from his definition of whiteness in his writings.
