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He was known during the 1930s as a hardline rubber stamp for President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[New Deal]] agenda, gaining attention in 1935 for feuding with Sen. Long.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8/> According to Robert L. Fleegler, he "amassed a strong progressive voting record, supporting New Deal legislation such as public housing that gave many southern representatives pause."

He was known during the 1930s as a hardline rubber stamp for President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[New Deal]] agenda, gaining attention in 1935 for feuding with Sen. Long.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8/> According to Robert L. Fleegler, he "amassed a strong progressive voting record, supporting New Deal legislation such as public housing that gave many southern representatives pause."

In a 1938 filibuster against anti-[[lynching]] legislation, the [[Wagner–Van Nuys Act]] introduced by Northern Democratic senators Robert F. Wagner and Frederick Van Nuys, Bilbo disparaged [[NAACP]] leader Walter F. White as a "flat-nosed Ethiopian" and said on the [[Senate]] floor that the bill would "open the floodgates of [[hell]] in [[the South]]" by encouraging [[black]] men to rape white women.<ref name=fleegler,p.9>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 9.</ref> Although most Southern Democratic senators opposed anti-lynching legislation on veiled arguments without overt race-baiting, Bilbo notably employed demagogic propaganda.

In a 1938 filibuster against [[anti-lynching legislation]], the [[Wagner–Van Nuys Act]] introduced by Northern Democratic senators Robert F. Wagner and Frederick Van Nuys, Bilbo disparaged [[NAACP]] leader Walter F. White as a "flat-nosed Ethiopian" and said on the [[Senate]] floor that the bill would "open the floodgates of [[hell]] in [[the South]]" by encouraging [[black]] men to rape white women.<ref name=fleegler,p.9>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 9.</ref> Although most Southern Democratic senators opposed anti-lynching legislation on veiled arguments without overt race-baiting, Bilbo notably employed demagogic propaganda.

Even after Bilbo's initial advocacy of deporting blacks to Africa, a move directly motivated and inspired by the activities of black nationalists including Marcus Garvey,<ref name=fleegler,p.9/><ref>Wade, Eve. [https://lib.usm.edu/spcol/exhibitions/item_of_the_month/iotm_july_2014.html Theodore G. Bilbo and the Greater Liberia Act]. ''The University of Southern Mississippi''. Retrieved December 18, 2022.</ref> national media outlets gave barely, if any public coverage. ''The New York Times'' was the only prominent publication to mention it, in one of its back-page stories without providing comment.<ref name=fleegler,p.10>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 10.</ref> When he subsequently introduced formal legislation on the repatriation of blacks to Africa, Bilbo extolled Nazi racial theories:

Even after Bilbo's initial advocacy of deporting blacks to Africa, a move directly motivated and inspired by the activities of black nationalists including Marcus Garvey,<ref name=fleegler,p.9/><ref>Wade, Eve. [https://lib.usm.edu/spcol/exhibitions/item_of_the_month/iotm_july_2014.html Theodore G. Bilbo and the Greater Liberia Act]. ''The University of Southern Mississippi''. Retrieved December 18, 2022.</ref> national media outlets gave barely, if any public coverage. ''The New York Times'' was the only prominent publication to mention it, in one of its back-page stories without providing comment.<ref name=fleegler,p.10>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 10.</ref> When he subsequently introduced formal legislation on the repatriation of blacks to Africa, Bilbo extolled Nazi racial theories: