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→1946 voter suppression, denial of Senate readmission, subsequent death
====1946 voter suppression, denial of Senate readmission, subsequent death====
====1946 voter suppression, denial of Senate readmission, subsequent death====
In 1946, after four white men beat a black Army veteran for attempting to register to vote, Senator Bilbo delivered a radio address urging every "every red-blooded American who believes in the superiority and integrity of the white race to get out and see that no n***** votes."<ref>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 20.</ref> Subsequently, violent voter suppression became rampant in the primary as white Mississippi Democrats formed mobs twice preventing a group of black veterans, including Medgar Evers, from voting in Decatur. In true Democratic tradition, Bilbo won the rigged primary election with 51% in a four way contest.
In 1946, after four white men beat a black Army veteran for attempting to register to vote, Senator Bilbo delivered a radio address urging every "every red-blooded American who believes in the superiority and integrity of the white race to get out and see that no n***** votes."<ref>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism," p. 20.</ref> Subsequently, violent voter suppression became rampant in the primary as white Mississippi Democrats formed mobs twice preventing a group of black veterans, including Medgar Evers, from voting in Decatur. In true Democratic tradition, Bilbo won the rigged primary election with 51% in a four way contest.
[[File:Allen Joseph Ellender.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Democratic Sen. [[Allen Ellender]] defended Bilbo during the Senate investigation.]]
After being re-elected due to a violent campaign marked with rampant suppression and fraud, left-wing Idaho senator Glen H. Taylor requested an investigation of Bilbo's conduct by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee.<ref name=fleegler,pp.21-22>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, pp. 21–22.</ref> The anti-Bilbo movement gained traction particularly after the Mississippi senator told ''[[Meet the Press]]'' in an interview where he admitted of [[Ku Klux Klan]] membership:<ref name=fleegler,pp.21-22/>
After being re-elected due to a violent campaign marked with rampant suppression and fraud, left-wing Idaho senator Glen H. Taylor requested an investigation of Bilbo's conduct by the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee.<ref name=fleegler,pp.21-22>"Theodore G. Bilbo and the Decline of Public Racism, pp. 21–22.</ref> The anti-Bilbo movement gained traction particularly after the Mississippi senator told ''[[Meet the Press]]'' in an interview where he admitted of [[Ku Klux Klan]] membership:<ref name=fleegler,pp.21-22/>
{{cquote|No man can leave the Klan. He takes an oath not to do that. Once a Ku Klux, always a Ku Klux.|||Bilbo, August 9, 1946}}
{{cquote|No man can leave the Klan. He takes an oath not to do that. Once a Ku Klux, always a Ku Klux.|||Bilbo, August 9, 1946}}