Lead: Senator Bilbo’s racism could make a bigot blush. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: In the American South during the early part of the 20th century, among the most successful politicians were the demagogues. Recognizing the frustrations and fears of lower middle-class and poor whites, they combined populist attacks on aristocratic whites, railroads and entrenched business interests with overt appeals to racism. Pitchfork Ben Tillman, Cotton Ed Smith, George Wallace, and in his early campaigns, Strom Thurmond, all supported comparatively progressive policies while in office, but secured election by playing the race card. They defended white supremacy with a stridency that overwhelmed their more moderate opponents. Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab Download [69.86 KB] Share