Changes

Bilbo unsuccessfully ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1932,<ref name=msencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=483060 MS – District 07 Race – Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> though two years later sought a U.S. Senate seat and denied the renomination of the more conservative incumbent Democratic senator Hubert D. Stephens, proceeding to victory in the general election.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," pp. 7–8.</ref> In the primary, Bilbo garnered his usual support from the economically poor "hills" as opposed to the pro-[[Bourbon Democrat|Bourbon]] Delta region. His virulent campaign rife with attacks against Wall Street were noticed and reported on by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and was compared to Louisiana demagogic [[Huey Long]].

Bilbo unsuccessfully ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in 1932,<ref name=msencyclopediabio/><ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=483060 MS – District 07 Race – Nov 08, 1932]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved June 16, 2023.</ref> though two years later sought a U.S. Senate seat and denied the renomination of the more conservative incumbent Democratic senator Hubert D. Stephens, proceeding to victory in the general election.<ref name=fleegler,pp.7-8>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," pp. 7–8.</ref> In the primary, Bilbo garnered his usual support from the economically poor "hills" as opposed to the pro-[[Bourbon Democrat|Bourbon]] Delta region. His virulent campaign rife with attacks against Wall Street were noticed and reported on by ''[[The New York Times]]'', and was compared to Louisiana demagogic [[Huey Long]].

===1930s: hardline New Deal politics, diatribes against anti-lynching legislation===

===1930s: hardline New Deal politics===

[[File:FDRoosevelt by Perskie.png|thumb|left|210px|Bilbo was one of President Roosevelt's strongest supporters.]]

[[File:FDRoosevelt by Perskie.png|thumb|left|210px|Bilbo was one of President Roosevelt's strongest supporters.]]

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.