Gerald L. K. Smith

Gerald L. K. Smith
Smith c. 1936
Born
Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith

(1898-02-27)February 27, 1898
DiedApril 15, 1976(1976-04-15) (aged 78)
Resting placeEureka Springs, Arkansas
36°24′31″N 93°43′34″W / 36.408633°N 93.725986°W / 36.408633; -93.725986
EducationValparaiso University (BBS)
Political partyUnion (1935–1936)
Republican (1936–1943)
America First (1943–1947)
Christian Nationalist (1947–1956)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic
Spouse
Elna Sorenson
(m. 1922)
Children1

Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith (February 27, 1898 – April 15, 1976) was an American clergyman, politician and organizer known for his populist and far-right demagoguery.[1][2][3][4] He began his career as a leader of the populist Share Our Wealth movement during the Great Depression. After the death of Huey Long he shifted away from advocating wealth redistribution towards anti-communism and later anti-semitism, becoming known for far-right causes such as the Christian Nationalist Crusade, which he founded in 1942. He founded the America First Party in 1943 and was its 1944 presidential candidate, winning fewer than 1,800 votes.[5][6][4][7] He was a preeminent antisemite and a white supremacist.[4][8]

Late in life, he built the Christ of the Ozarks statue in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, with donations, and initiated the Passion Play there.[5]

  1. ^ 'The Technique of Propaganda for Reaction: Gerald L. K. Smith's Radio Speeches', The Public Opinion Quarterly Vol. 8, No. 1 (Spring, 1944), pp. 84–93
  2. ^ "There's an old word for Trump's brand of nationalism: 'hatriotism' | Samuel G Freedman". TheGuardian.com. August 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Jeansonne, Glen (June 1, 1997). Gerald L. K. Smith: Minister of Hate. LSU Press. pp. 7, 62, 110, 188 (demagoguery), 101 (presidential bid), 148–149 (International Jew), 125, 164 (white supremacy), 152 (fascination). ISBN 9780807121689. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Gerald Lyman Kenneth Smith (1898-1976)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  6. ^ Dart, John (December 23, 1977). "Founded by Gerald L. K. Smith". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2009.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "How the Christian Identity Movement Began". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved July 28, 2022.