The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition by Linda Gordon (review)

For some, the 1920s rouses images of flappers, Model T Fords, and radio. Yet, a countermovement ran alongside this rise in consumerism, promiscuous culture, and urban life. That countermovement, according to Gordon, was the “second Klan,” which began in 1915 and ran with remarkable success until 1926. She describes the Klan as a social movement that effectively blended nationalism with religion, espoused antielitism, and advocated for a return to tradition. As such, it was a mainstream movement far larger than the first Klan. Gordon makes it clear in the introduction that she is “offering an interpretation” of the 1920s Klan, “not a scholarly monograph” (7). She admits personal and modern political influences in writing the book. In both the introduction and conclusion she draws parallels between Klan ideology and right-wing, even fascist, movements that emerge later, citing the Tea Party and Trump supporters as the most recent examples. Therefore, even though the “second Klan” had a relatively short life span, it achieved significant political victories like state eugenics laws and immigration restriction. Its greatest triumph, according to Gordon, was its influence on American “political consciousness” (7).

In eleven chapters Gordon examines the 1920s Klan from its sluggish “re-birth” to its tarnished end. Throughout, she contrasts the success of the Klan in various states and cities, dedicating an entire chapter to the Klan in Oregon, which shared a distinction with Indiana as one of the states with the highest per capita Klan membership. More broadly, Gordon tries to understand the appeal of the Klan by examining recruitment strategies, membership privileges, and, most importantly, its ideology, which was intensely anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic. In all of these areas, Gordon considers differences along gender lines as well. In the last chapter, Gordon goes beyond the demise of the Klan by making note of how Klan ideology outlived the structures of the organization by appearing in American politics in later decades. She uses McCarthyism, and its attempt to define opposition as un-American, as an example of the Klan’s lasting influence. Additionally, Gordon situates the “second Klan” in an international context by comparing it to other “right-wing populisms” that emerged in central and eastern Europe during the interwar period, thereby asserting that the Klan was “not a uniquely American phenomenon” (199).

The Second Coming of the Ku Klux Klan is rich in content. Gordon provides detailed information about individuals involved in the “rebirth” of the Klan, particularly through advertising, PR, and technology. Some of these were women like Elizabeth Tyler, who became codirector of the Klan’s PR firm, and Rev. Alma Bridwell White, who, although never a member, was instrumental in spreading the Klan’s message of white supremacy through sermons, hymns, and writings. Gordon also presents financial details such as the costs of membership, Klan costumes, and other Klan memorabilia. She presents estimates of profits accumulated by leaders and even donations to churches. The ability to turn a profit or enhance social status was one of several incentives for members.

The content that is most supportive of Gordon’s interpretation is that concerning the 1920s Klan’s predecessors and the Klan’s influence in local, state, and national politics. Gordon outlines the Klan’s six ancestors in the second chapter. They include the original Klan, nativism, temperance, fraternalism, Christian evangelicalism, and “populism.” These together are a significant part of the American historical fabric. Illustrating the ways in which the Klan borrowed from these predecessors, then, supports Gordon’s assertion that the Klan shared much with mainstream American ideology. Additionally, the information regarding the Klan’s direct and indirect involvement in American politics supports a connection between the Klan and the American political tradition. Some Klan members held high offices as senators, congressmen, or governors. Albert Johnson, a...