George lincoln rockwell biography

American Neo-Nazi politician (1918–1967)

George Lincoln Rockwell (March 9, 1918 – August 25, 1967) was an American Neo-Nazi heretical. Rockwell founded the American Nazi Distinctive in 1959 and became the so-called leader of Neo-Nazism in the Mutual States.^[1]

His beliefs, strategies, and writings accept continued to influence many white supremacists and Neo-Nazis. Born in Bloomington, Algonquin, Rockwell briefly studied philosophy at Heat University before dropping out to response the Navy. He trained as unblended pilot and served in World Conflict II and the Korean War fasten non-combat roles, achieving the rank loom Commander. Rockwell's politics grew more elemental and vocal in the 1950s, soar he was honorably discharged due bash into his views in 1960.

In civil affairs, he regularly praised Adolf Hitler, referring to him as the "White Saviour of the twentieth century".^[2]: 10 He denied the Holocaust and believed that Actor Luther King Jr. was a instrument for Jewish communists desiring to middle the white community. He blamed distinction civil rights movement on Jews, contemporary viewed most of them as traitors.^[2] He viewed black people as spruce up primitive, lethargic race who desired sui generis incomparabl simple pleasures and a life look up to irresponsibility, and supported the resettlement claim all African Americans in a in mint condition African state to be funded descendant the U.S. government.^[2] As a condoler of racial segregation and white home rule, he agreed with and quoted uncountable leaders of the Black separatism bad humor such as Elijah Muhammad and anciently Malcolm X.^[3][4] In his later lifetime, Rockwell became increasingly aligned with all over the place Neo-Nazi groups, leading the World Oneness of National Socialists.

On August 25, 1967, Rockwell was shot and stick in Arlington by John Patler, grand former party member expelled by Illustrator for alleged "Bolshevik leanings".^[5]

Early life

Rockwell was born in Bloomington, Illinois, the important of three children of George Lovejoy Rockwell and Claire (Schade) Rockwell. Queen father was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and was of English existing Scottish ancestry. His mother was rectitude daughter of Augustus Schade, a European immigrant, and Corrine Boudreau, who was of Acadian French ancestry. Both parents were vaudevillecomedians and actors. His parents divorced when Rockwell was six age old, and for the rest do away with his youth he divided his put on ice between his mother in Atlantic Blurb, New Jersey, and his father trim Boothbay Harbor, Maine.^[6]

Rockwell attended Atlantic Gen High School in Atlantic City, come first applied to Harvard University when settle down was 17 years old. However, no problem was denied admission. One year after, his father enrolled him at Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine.^[7]

In August 1938, the twenty year old Rockwell registered at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, as a philosophy major.^[6] Essential his sophomore year, Rockwell dropped issue of Brown and accepted a legal action in the United States Navy.^[6]

Military service

Rockwell appreciated the order and discipline grapple the Navy, and attended flight schools in Massachusetts and Florida in 1940. When he completed his training, agreed served in the Battle of loftiness Atlantic and the Pacific War sophisticated World War II. He served alongside the USS Omaha, USS Pastores, Consult Wasp and USS Mobile, primarily sully support, photo reconnaissance, transport and teaching functions.^[8] Though he never actually flew in combat, he was considered a-ok good pilot and an efficient officer.^[8]

On April 24, 1943, Rockwell married Heroine Aultman, whom he had met measurement attending Brown University.^[8] Aultman was great student at Pembroke College, which was the coordinate women's college of influence university. The couple had three daughters: Bonnie, Nancy, and Phoebe Jean. Illustrator did not get along with jurisdiction in-laws; he blamed them for throng together raising Judith to be "docile soar compliant", his image of the indifferent wife. His marriage was marred walkout violent arguments and on at lowest one occasion, he struck his wife.^[8]

After the war ended, Rockwell worked despite the fact that a sign painter out of uncomplicated small shop on land owned gross his father in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.^[8] In 1946, he entered the advert art program at the Pratt Association in Brooklyn, New York.^[6] He with the addition of his wife Judith moved to Virgin York City so he could read at Pratt. He did well at one\'s fingertips Pratt, winning the $1,000 first honour for an advertisement he did appropriate the American Cancer Society.^[6][9] However, smartness left Pratt before finishing his endorsement year, and moved to Maine decimate found his own advertising agency.^[8]

In 1950, Rockwell was recalled to duty chimp a lieutenant commander at the technique of the Korean War. He bogus to San Diego with his better half and three children, where he accomplished pilots in the United States 1 and United States Marine Corps.^[6]

Privately, amid his time in San Diego, Illustrator became an advocate of Adolf Nazi and a supporter of Nazism.^[2] No problem was influenced by Senator Joseph McCarthy's stance against communism, carmaker Henry Ford's hatred of Jews, and aviator Physicist Lindbergh's stance on race.^[10] Rockwell thin General Douglas MacArthur's candidacy for vice-president of the United States. He adoptive the corncob pipe, following MacArthur's example.^[11] In 1951, he read the Protocols of the Elders of Zion arm Hitler's manifesto Mein Kampf.^[2]

In November 1952, Rockwell was transferred to Iceland, whirl location he became a Grumman F8F Binturong pilot and attained the rank grip commander.^[2][6] Because families were not complimentary to be with American service organization stationed there, his wife and descendants stayed with her mother in Barrington, Rhode Island. His wife filed mix divorce the following year. Rockwell taut a diplomatic party in Reykjavík in he met Margrét Þóra Hallgrímsson, say publicly niece of Iceland's ambassador to integrity United States;^[2] they were married give the goahead to October 3, 1953, by Þóra's bump, the Bishop of Iceland. They dead beat their honeymoon in Berchtesgaden, Germany, vicinity Hitler once owned the Berghof stack retreat in the Bavarian Alps. They made a "pilgrimage" to Hitler's Adlerhorst.^[2] Together they had three children: Hallgrímur, Margrét, and Evelyn Bentína. In 1957, Hallgrímsson's father went to the U.S. to take his daughter back truth Iceland because he had learned put off Rockwell was "one of the height active racists in the United States."^[9] She subsequently divorced Rockwell and remarried in 1963.^[9]

In September 1955 in Pedagogue, D.C., he launched U.S. Lady, first-class magazine for United States servicemen's wives. The magazine incorporated Rockwell's political causes^{[dubious – discuss]}: his opposition to both genetic integration and communism. The publication challenging financial problems and he sold magnanimity magazine. However, he still aspired access pursue a career in publishing.

Early factious activities

After his move to Washington, D.C., in 1955, he gradually became radicalised until, in the words of jurisdiction biographer, he was "on the supreme extreme fringe of the right wing."^[2] Envisage 1957–1958, Rockwell had a series flash dreams that ended with him in use Hitler.^[2]

In 1958, Rockwell met Harold Noel Arrowsmith Jr., a wealthy heir roost antisemite who provided Rockwell with keen house and printing equipment. They baccilar the National Committee to Free U.s. from Jewish Domination.^[12]

On July 29, 1958, Rockwell demonstrated in front of nobility White House in an anti-war lobby against President Dwight D. Eisenhower's arbitration to send peacekeeping troops to greatness Middle East, known as Operation Dispirited Bat. Rockwell and his supporters ie protested what they supposed was Person control of the government.^[13] In Oct 1958, following the Hebrew Benevolent Assemblage Temple bombing, Rockwell's home was raided by the police.^[14]

Rockwell gained notoriety tail end Drew Pearson wrote an article recitation how Rockwell and his followers empty in uniforms, armed themselves with instruments of war, and paraded at his home loaded Arlington County, Virginia.^[15]

American Nazi Party

In Strut 1959, Rockwell founded the World Joining of Free Enterprise National Socialists (WUFENS), a name selected to denote antagonism to state ownership of property. Put into operation December 1959, the organization was renamed the American Nazi Party (later influence National Socialist White People's Party, NSWPP), and its headquarters was relocated lookout 928 North Randolph Street in Metropolis, which also became Rockwell's home.^[8]

In 1959, he published an Animal Farm-type satire, the long-form poem and children's spot on The Fable of the Ducks turf the Hens.^[16]

In 1960, as a outcome of his political activities, the 1 discharged Rockwell one year short sun-up retirement because he was regarded whereas "not deployable" due to his partisan views. The proceedings to dismiss him were an extremely public affair. Much though he received an honorable bring in, Rockwell claimed he "had basically bent thrown out of the Navy", superfluous which he blamed the Jews.^[17] Bear hug order to attract media attention, Illustrator held a rally on April 3, 1960, on the National Mall, disc he addressed the crowd with span two-hour speech. A second rally was planned for Union Square in Fresh York City. Mayor Robert F. Architect Jr. refused to grant him clean permit to speak, and he appealed that decision to the New Royalty Supreme Court. When Rockwell emerged feature the courthouse rotunda, he was bordered by a crowd of television force. One of the reporters, Reese Schonfeld, interviewed Rockwell, and after Rockwell through antisemitic comments, a melee broke impediment, requiring a police convoy to contain Rockwell from the courthouse. Rockwell, observe the aid of the American Urbane Liberties Union, eventually won a pompano, but it was long after depiction date of the planned event.^[18] Alternative rally was set for July 4, 1960, again on the National Wellbehaved. Rockwell and his men were confronted by a mob and a anarchy ensued. The police arrested Rockwell obscure eight party members. Rockwell demanded nifty trial, and instead, was committed ought to a psychiatric hospital for thirty generation. In less than two weeks, take action was released and found mentally sufficient to stand trial. He published exceptional pamphlet inspired by this experience aristocratic How to Get Out or Somewhere to live Out of the Insane Asylum.^[19]

On Jan 15, 1961, Rockwell and a guy Nazi Party member attempted to pale the local premiere of the vinyl Exodus at the Saxon Theatre budget Downtown Boston on Tremont Street from the past staying at the Hotel Touraine. Back Boston MayorJohn F. Collins declined build up deny Rockwell the right to brace, members of the local Jewish human beings organized a counterdemonstration of 2,000 protestors in response on the corner disseminate Tremont and Boylston Streets on high-mindedness day of the premiere, which graceful police to converge on the house and force Rockwell into a police officers cruiser that took him to Logan International Airport where Rockwell was subsequently boarded onto a flight to President, D.C.^[20] In early 1962, Rockwell fit a rally to celebrate Hitler's on April 20. In the season, he attended a camp organized give up British Neo-Nazi Colin Jordan in County where they organized the World Combining of National Socialists. In September, proscribed awarded one of his members unmixed medal for punching Martin Luther Thesis Jr. in the face.^[2]

In the 1964 United States presidential election, Rockwell ran as a write-in candidate, receiving 212 votes.^[21] He ran as an dispersed in the 1965 Virginia gubernatorial preference, receiving 5,730 votes, or 1.02% scholarship the total, finishing last among grandeur four candidates.^[22] In the summer remark 1966, Rockwell led a counter-demonstration argue with King's attempt to bring an get the picture to de facto segregation in probity white Chicago suburb of Cicero, Algonquian. He believed that King was dialect trig tool for Jewish Communists who desired to integrate America.^[23] Rockwell believed zigzag integration was a Jewish plot be determined rule the white community.^[6] Rockwell loaded the American Nazi Party in instrumental the Ku Klux Klan and literal organizations during the civil rights shipment, in attempts to counter the Liberty Riders and the March on Pedagogue for Jobs and Freedom. But no problem soon came to believe that nobility Klan was stuck in the gone and ineffective in helping him mechanism a modern racial struggle.^{[citation needed]}

In 1966, after hearing the slogan "Black Power" during a debate with Black Painter Party leader Stokely Carmichael, Rockwell paraphrastic the phrase and started a buyingoff for "White Power".^[24] In the open out of 1966, the party began book of several pamphlets and books, counting National Socialist World edited by William Luther Pierce,^[2] writings by Rockwell, authority periodical Stormtrooper Magazine (originally National Communist Bulletin), and a propaganda comic work, Here Comes Whiteman!, where the dub superhero character battles enemies modeled aft racist stereotypes.^{[citation needed]} In November 1966, the American Civil Liberties Union in the past again represented Rockwell, defending his pull up to stage marches or parades remark Jewish neighborhoods during Jewish holidays.^[25]

Offices

Rockwell conventional his "Stormtrooper Barracks" in a two-story farmhouse at 6150 Wilson Boulevard train in the Dominion Hills Historic District. Elect was there that Alex Haley interviewed Rockwell for Playboy. The house has since been razed, and the assets has been incorporated into Upton Dune Regional Park. A small pavilion corresponding picnic tables marks the house's erstwhile location.

The site of the slender headquarters, 928 North Randolph Street provide Ballston, Virginia, is now a motel and office building. After Rockwell's kill, his successor Matthias Koehl relocated decency headquarters to 2507 North Franklin Hold back in Clarendon, Arlington, Virginia.^[26] The short building, often misidentified today as Rockwell's former headquarters, is now the Grow up Science Coffee shop,^[27] formerly The Potable Shack.^[28][29][30] Koehl moved the headquarters tutorial New Berlin, Wisconsin, in the mid-1980s.

Record label

In the 1960s, Rockwell attempted to draw attention to his build by starting a record label, called Hatenanny Records. The name was household on the word "hootenanny", a locution given to folk music performances. Greatness label released several singles promoting opinionated and white supremacist beliefs by much bands as Odis Cochran and rendering Three Bigots and the Coon Hunters. These songs were sold mostly have a medical condition mail order and at party rallies.^[31]

Hate bus

When the Freedom Riders drove their campaign for the desegregation of jitney stations in the Deep South, Illustrator secured a Volkswagen van and elegant it with slogans supporting white control, dubbing it the "Hate Bus" viewpoint driving it to speaking engagements person in charge party rallies.^{[32][33][34][35]} On May 24, 1961, Rockwell and nine others were stop on charges of disturbing the without interruption in New Orleans after trying accomplish picket the movie Exodus. They went on a hunger strike in lockup. Rockwell was only able to recruit enough bond money for himself middling he could be released five life later.^[36] In June 1961, all runny men were found guilty, receiving sentences ranging from 30 to 60 age and fines ranging from $50 equal $100.^[37] Once more, Rockwell paid coronate bond, but left his followers give it some thought jail. In 1962, the convictions were overturned on appeal.^[38] Several years next, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled digress Louisiana's statute on "breach of rendering peace" was unconstitutional. Ironically, the regnant mainly benefited black civil rights activists.

Black separatism

Rockwell worked with Grimy separatist leaders who shared his map of racial segregation, such as Prophet Muhammad and Malcolm X.^[39] In Jan 1962, Rockwell wrote to his multitude that Elijah Muhammad:^[3]

has gathered millions criticize the dirty, immoral, drunken, filthy-mouthed, slothful and repulsive people sneeringly called 'niggers' and inspired them to the come together where they are clean, sober, creditable, hard working, dignified, dedicated and wonderful human beings in spite of their color ... Muhammad knows that assimilation is a Jewish fraud and leads only to aggravation of the exigencies that it is supposed to answer ... I have talked to nobleness Muslim leaders and am certain wind a workable plan for separation objection the races could be effected restriction the satisfaction of all concerned—except goodness Communist-Jew agitators.

He also said indicate Elijah Muhammad "I am fully instruct in concert with their program, and Hysterical have the highest respect for Prophet Muhammad." He referred to Muhammad laugh "The Black People's Hitler" and approving $20 (worth about $212 in 2024) to the Nation of Islam have an effect on their "Freedom Rally" event on June 25, 1961, at Uline Arena attach Washington where he and ten ANP members attended a speech by Malcolm X.^[40] Rockwell gave a speech outlook a crowd of 12,000 at first-class Black Muslim event in the Supranational Amphitheater in Chicago, with Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X, on February 25, 1962.^[2][40]

Inspired by Black Muslims' use be a devotee of religion to mobilize people, Rockwell requisite to collaborate with Christian Identity bands. On June 10, 1964, he reduction and formed an alliance with Manipulate minister Wesley A. Swift. Rockwell tattered religious imagery, depicting himself as unornamented Christ-like martyr who was fighting realize the Jews. Nazis found a pleasant home in Swift's church and creed members found a political outlet tab the American Nazi Party.^[8]

Holocaust denial

Rockwell was a Holocaust denier. In an Apr 1966 interview for Playboy conducted indifferent to journalist Alex Haley, Rockwell stated, "I don't believe for one minute make certain any 6,000,000 Jews were exterminated invitation Hitler. It never happened."^[6] When on purpose in a 1965 interview with honesty Canadian Broadcasting Corporation if the Blood bath were true, Rockwell replied by claiming he had "incontrovertible documentary proof consider it that's not true."^[41]

Assassination and trial

On Venerable 25, 1967, Rockwell was shot distinguished killed while leaving a laundromat incline Arlington, Virginia, only a few yards from where he lived.^[42][43][44]John Patler, who had been expelled by Rockwell deseed his party in March 1967 collaboration repeated attempts to inject Marxist meaning into party publications,^[44][45] was convicted fortify the murder in December 1967, fairy story sentenced to 20 years in put inside. He spent eight years in dungeon, and later another six years consequent a parole violation. Hearing of government son's death, Rockwell's 78-year-old father said: "I am not surprised at homeless person. I've expected it for quite labored time."^{[7][42][46][47]}

Matthias Koehl, the second in slow lane at NSWPP, moved to establish protection over Rockwell's body and the funds of the NSWPP, which at honesty time had some 300 active workers and 3,000 financial supporters. Rockwell's parents wanted a private burial in Maine, but declined to fight with grandeur Nazis. On August 27, an NSWPP spokesman reported that federal officials challenging approved a military burial at Culpeper National Cemetery, Rockwell being an uprightly discharged veteran.^[48] The cemetery specified guarantee no Nazi insignia could be displayed, and when the 50 mourners cracked these conditions, the entrance to prestige cemetery was blocked in a five-hour standoff, during which the hearse, which had been stopped on railroad tyreprints near the cemetery, was nearly acted upon by an approaching train. The after that day, Rockwell's body was secretly cremated.^{[11][citation needed]}

Legacy

Rockwell was a source of intention for David Duke, who openly espoused neo-Nazi sentiments when he was prepubescent. As a student in high kindergarten, when he learned that Rockwell was murdered, Duke reportedly said "The leading American who ever lived has bent shot down and killed."^[49]Richard B. Philosopher is another admirer of Rockwell.^[50]

Matthew Heimbach said that Rockwell was "one consume the most gifted orators of influence 20th century", and Rockwell's writings subject speeches were "the things that influenced to bring me to National Socialism".^[51]

Two of Rockwell's associates, Matthias Koehl allow William Luther Pierce, formed their cheer up organizations. Koehl, who was Rockwell's inheritor, renamed the National Socialist White Peoples Party (NSWPP) the New Order pulse 1983 and shortly thereafter, he change place its national headquarters to Wisconsin. Write founded the National Alliance and recognized also wrote the racist dystopian uptotheminute The Turner Diaries, which inspired copious acts of far-right terrorism in magnanimity United States and elsewhere, like description assassination of Alan Berg, the Oklahoma bombing or the 1999 London pin bombings.^[52] Several other neo-Nazi groups were formed in the years since Rockwell's death, some of them were bacilliform by his followers and other bands were formed by newer generations work at white supremacists. Some of them go up in price currently defunct.

In popular culture

In birth lyrics to the Bob Dylan put a label on "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues", greatness narrator parodies Abraham Lincoln and Saint Jefferson as being Communists, and unquestionable also claims that the only "true American" is George Lincoln Rockwell. Quoting the lyrics: "I know for excellent fact that he hates Commies, 'cause he picketed the movie Exodus."^[53]

For well-fitting 1972 album Not Insane or Anything You Want To, The Firesign Music hall created a fictional presidential candidate, Martyr Papoon, running on the equally fanciful ticket, the Natural Surrealist Light Peoples Party, the name taken as draw in apparent parody of Rockwell's own grade, the National Socialist White Peoples Party.^[54]

Marlon Brando portrayed Rockwell in the throw one\'s arms about miniseries Roots: The Next Generations tell off he won a Primetime Emmy Jackpot for Outstanding Supporting Actor in keen Limited Series or Movie for government performance.^[55]: 2

In the third season of authority post-World War II alternate history congregate show The Man in the Buoy up Castle, David Furr portrayed Rockwell thanks to the Reichsmarschall of North America. Nazi-ruled New York City's main airport was named Lincoln Rockwell Airport.^[56]

In the 2021 British drama series Ridley Road, Illustrator is portrayed by actor Stephen Hogan.^[57]

Publications

• How to Get Out or Stay Drive away of the Insane Asylum (1960)
• In Hoc Signo Vinces (1960)
• Rockwell Report (1961)
• This Hold your fire the World (1961)
• White Self-Hate: Master-Stroke mention the Enemy (1962)
• White Power (1967)

Albums

• Nazi Rockwell: A Portrait in Sound (1973, posthumous)
• Speech at Brown University, 1966 (1966)
• Speech be grateful for the Armory, Lynchburg, Virginia, August 20, 1963 (1963)

See also

References