Thread by @WW2HistoryGal

Here he is, the infamous subject of my PhD research: Charles B. Hudson. A native of Omaha, he wrote an antisemitic, fascist newsletter, "America In Danger!", from 1936-1948, was investigated by the FBI, and charged with sedition 3 times. THREAD 1/

Hudson came to national attention with the above photo which appeared in LIFE magazine in 1939. He'd accompanied noted fascist and antisemite General George Van Horn Moseley to the House on Un-American Activities Committee in D.C. 2/

When Moseley joked that the Committee might have poisoned the cup of water on his desk, Hudson sprung into action, whisking the cup away from the general. A photographer caught him in action, and Hudson's nickname became "Poison Cup Charlie." 3/

This photo became Hudson's de facto mug shot. He wrote at length about the episode in his newsletter, and claimed the Hidden Hand (his nickname for the Jewish worldwide conspiracy) was behind it. 4/

He wrote, “The unexpected flashlight explosion in my ear when bending over to empty that glass, caused that startled look and created the picture used so widely to ridicule the General." 5/

Incongruously, Hudson also compared Moseley’s hearing to the trial of Christ, describing in detail how bright lights and cameras were set up in front of Moseley to intimidate him, calling it “Hollywood Jewish staging.” 6/

Hudson was part of the Great Sedition Trial in 1944. @maddow 's excellent podcast, ULTRA, gives an in-depth look at the actors and events leading up to and including the trial itself. 7/

The trial was full of antics. A reporter wrote, "Whenever a defense motion has been denied, Charles B. Hudson of Omaha, Nebraska, publisher of a pro-Fascist newsletter, ‘America in Danger,’ has turned and chanted to reporters, ‘Railroad! Railroad! Toot-toot-toot!’" 8/

Because Chief Justice Eicher suffered a heart attack and died during the trial, it was delayed and eventually, declared a mistrial. Hudson was never convicted of sedition. 9/

Unsurprisingly, Hudson denied the Holocaust. He wrote, “All the crying, however, is over the Jews that were supposed to have been tortured, starved and killed…With 100 such camps, try to find anywhere near the 5 to 6,000,000 Jews that Jewry claims were exterminated." 10/

The following statement, however, proved how deep his antisemitism and denial went: “And remember, thousands of Jews were in the Gestapo – responsible for such atrocities.” 11/

Hudson was not an outlier. He was part of the native fascist movement in America during the interwar years. His fellow travelers included Elizabeth Dilling, Father Coughlin, Gerard Winrod, Gerald L.K. Smith, and more. 12/

Their brand of fascism was uniquely American and distinct from the fascism of the German-American Bund and the Italian fascist groups in America who based their fascism on Nazi Germany and Italy. 13/

I believe there are four distinct "pillars" of native fascism in interwar America: antisemitism, anti-communism, nativism, and Christian nationalism. Racism, white supremacy, populism, etc. are under this umbrella. 14/

Hudson was emblematic of the native fascists of this era. To call them "crackpots" and the "lunatic fringe" is dangerous. 15/

If these individuals and movements had been able to coalesce their ideas into a single, united cause, their influence might have been far greater. Any number of historical events could have gone differently, even paving a path for native fascists to reach the White House. 16/

Why does this matter? Because fascism native to America is here again. It never really left. Understanding its roots is one way we can combat it. This is why history matters. 17/End #HistoryMatters #twitterstorians #fascism #Holocaust