WI: George Lincoln Rockwell lived longer?

I've actually read an academic biography of Rockwell, but I can barely recall anything about it.

Overall, I think an explicitly Nazi or fascist movement(as opposed to crypto-fascist like LaRouchianism) is going to be extremely marginalized in the USA, or any western country that was part of the Allies. Rockwell was a little more media-friendly than the general run of losers who drift into neo-nazism, so if he lives longer, he might do a few more high-profile interviews, maybe turn up on the same late-night show that interviewed Charles Manson in the 70s, that sorta thing. But the only impact there would be is on his personal media exposure, not on the fortunes of the movement as a whole.
 

Japhy

Banned
Biggest question I'd have to ask is how Rockwell felt about the development of the Neo-Nazi religious systems. A shift towards Hitler as a God, or corrupted versions of Hinduism was on the rise at the time, as well as the rise of the Christian Identity line of thought and of course on the third hand, Satanism.

What way would Rockwell have led his movement towards? His longer survival means unfortunately that whichever way he goes probably stands to be on a lot sounder footing than anyone was in securing a percentage of the movement after his death.
 

ThePest179

Banned
Biggest question I'd have to ask is how Rockwell felt about the development of the Neo-Nazi religious systems. A shift towards Hitler as a God, or corrupted versions of Hinduism was on the rise at the time, as well as the rise of the Christian Identity line of thought and of course on the third hand, Satanism.

What way would Rockwell have led his movement towards? His longer survival means unfortunately that whichever way he goes probably stands to be on a lot sounder footing than anyone was in securing a percentage of the movement after his death.

Going to go out on a limb and say "Christian Identity".
 
Biggest question I'd have to ask is how Rockwell felt about the development of the Neo-Nazi religious systems. A shift towards Hitler as a God, or corrupted versions of Hinduism was on the rise at the time, as well as the rise of the Christian Identity line of thought and of course on the third hand, Satanism.

What way would Rockwell have led his movement towards? His longer survival means unfortunately that whichever way he goes probably stands to be on a lot sounder footing than anyone was in securing a percentage of the movement after his death.

Not really any basis for this other than the little I know of the man, but what about Islam?
 

shiftygiant

Gone Fishin'
Not really any basis for this other than the little I know of the man, but what about Islam?

On a little note GLR had a degree of respect for the Nation of Islam, which is weird. Here's an article/photo on the affair (and it's worth looking at just for the photo)


But I think he would have been arrested in the long term. His followers would have done something he could be arrested for, or he would have been done in on a trumped up charge. Alternatively, he lays the ground stone for the American Nazi Party to become a political organisation in the 80's and 90's, and shifts the ideology to a general 'nationalism and white supremacy', using the depressions of the 70s and 80s to garner support among disenfranchised workers who feel their jobs are being taken by foreign workers. Whilst it won't be mainstream, it'll be a sort of underlining deal in society.
 
If I remember correctly, GLR was planning to tone down the neo nazi rhetoric and racial verbal attacks in order to appeal more to the voting base in the local elections he wanted party members to run in.
 

ThePest179

Banned
If I remember correctly, GLR was planning to tone down the neo nazi rhetoric and racial verbal attacks in order to appeal more to the voting base in the local elections he wanted party members to run in.

Okay, now I'm intrigued. What elections was he planing them run in?
 
If I remember correctly, GLR was planning to tone down the neo nazi rhetoric and racial verbal attacks in order to appeal more to the voting base in the local elections he wanted party members to run in.

Was Rockwell planning to change the name of his political party? Because I don't see much point in toning down the nazi rhetoric, when the party is still called The American Nazi Party. For most voters, the word "Nazi" is going to be a deal breaker, regardless of how "moderated" the party's policies actually are.
 
Okay, now I'm intrigued. What elections was he planing them run in?

God knows, probably classic small town white america. Building up over the years enough local support to try and get into state legislature and so on. It was all pretty vague with just an outlined plan he developed to go on but he got assassinated before any of it came to be and then party splintered so eh

Was Rockwell planning to change the name of his political party? Because I don't see much point in toning down the nazi rhetoric, when the party is still called The American Nazi Party. For most voters, the word "Nazi" is going to be a deal breaker, regardless of how "moderated" the party's policies actually are.

Well they actually did change the name, changing it to the National Socialist White People's Party (NSWPP). Not exactly anything major :rolleyes: but again he got assassinated and party splintered before he could push through anything further. If there's enough of an dissatisfied white voter base they could have at least won an election somewhere as "interesting" as that thought could be :eek:
 
Thanks! I guess I'd forgotten about the party's name change.

Of course, if people don't connect the words "National Socialist" to "Nazi", they're likely gonna connect it to "socialism". Which, pre-Bernie Samders As Media Darling, presents the party with a host of other image issues.
 
At best he would be a state legislator, like David Duke. Dog whistle politics has a long history in America, but voters tend to be turned off by extreme and overt racism (particularly when associated with the Nazis).
 
Anyone think the NSWPP could become a successful fringe party like the Greens or Libertarians with time?
No, because blatant white supremacy isn't a strong draw, and Nazism is even more unpopular (there's a reason people like to compare their opponents to the Nazis). If David Duke, who attempted to make white supremacy respectable and tried to distance himself from his Klansman past, can't become a successful fringe politician then a self-proclaimed Nazi won't be able to.
 
Thanks! I guess I'd forgotten about the party's name change.

Of course, if people don't connect the words "National Socialist" to "Nazi", they're likely gonna connect it to "socialism". Which, pre-Bernie Samders As Media Darling, presents the party with a host of other image issues.

Yeah don't worry about it too much, Rockwell's successor Matt Koehl soon enough changed the Party name to it's current name of "The New Order" and went all National Socialist esoteric. Still it is considered the legitimate successor to the original ANP. Basically in a nutshell Rockwell was the linchpin to the party, keeping hardliners and moderates in line, without him it all splintered off into various factions.

The fact that they're Nazi's would always be brought up first and foremost GLR just had the best knack of spinning the parties image to how he wanted it to go. Perks of being in the advertisement business beforehand I guess. Still wouldn't get them anywhere without racial tensions being kicked up a couple notches or some other POD.

At best he would be a state legislator, like David Duke. Dog whistle politics has a long history in America, but voters tend to be turned off by extreme and overt racism (particularly when associated with the Nazis).

Basically yeah

Anyone think the NSWPP could become a successful fringe party like the Greens or Libertarians with time?

Eh really depends how he went about it. With a POD of Rockwell living it would would be a highly entertaining TL tbh

No, because blatant white supremacy isn't a strong draw, and Nazism is even more unpopular (there's a reason people like to compare their opponents to the Nazis). If David Duke, who attempted to make white supremacy respectable and tried to distance himself from his Klansman past, can't become a successful fringe politician then a self-proclaimed Nazi won't be able to.

Yeah without higher racial tensions to exploit it won't work out for them.
 
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