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The role the South has played in contemporary conservatism is perhaps the most consequential political phenomenon of the second half of the twentieth century. The region’s transition from Democratic stronghold to Republican base has frequently been viewed as a recent occurrence, one that largely stems from a 1960s-era backlash against left-leaning social movements. But as Joseph Lowndes argues in this book, this rightward shift was not necessarily a natural response by alienated whites, but rather the result of the long-term development of an alliance between Southern segregationists and Northern conservatives, two groups who initially shared little beyond opposition to specific New Deal imperatives. Lowndes focuses his narrative on the formative period between the end of the Second World War and the Nixon years. By looking at the 1948 Dixiecrat Revolt, the presidential campaigns of George Wallace, and popular representations of the region, he shows the many ways in which the South changed during these decades. Lowndes traces how a new alliance began to emerge by further examining the pages of the National Review and Republican party-building efforts in the South during the campaigns of Eisenhower, Goldwater, and Nixon. The unique characteristics of American conservatism were forged in the crucible of race relations in the South, he argues, and his analysis of party-building efforts, national institutions, and the innovations of particular political actors provides a keen look into the ideology of modern conservatism and the Republican Party.
E-Book Content
FROM THE NEW DEAL TO THE NEW RIGHT
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Joseph E. Lowndes
from the new deal to the new right RACE AND THE SOUTHERN ORIGINS OF MODERN CONSERVATISM
Yale University Press / New Haven & London
Published with assistance from the Kingsley Trust Association Publication Fund established by the Scroll and Key Society of Yale College. Copyright © 2008 by Yale University. All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers. Set in Galliard type by The Composing Room of Michigan, Inc. Printed in the United States of America by Thomson-Shore, Inc., Dexter, Michigan. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lowndes, Joseph E., 1966– From the New Deal to the New Right : race and the southern origins of modern conservatism / Joseph E. Lowndes. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-300-12183-4 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. United States —Race relations—Political aspects—History—20th century. 2. Racism—Political aspects—United States—History—20th century. 3. Southern States—Race relations—Political aspects— History—20th century. 4. Racism—Political aspects—Southern States—History—20th century. 5. Conservatism—United States—History. 6. Republican Party (U.S. : 1854– )—History —20th century. 7. United States—Politics and government— 20th century. 8. Southern States—Politics and government— 20th century. I. Title. E743.L59 2008 973.91—dc22 2007044683 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. 10 9 8
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For Priscilla, and for Benjamin and Adam
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix 1 Beyond the Backlash Thesis 1 2 “White Supremacy Is a Political Doctrine”: Charles Wallace Collins and the Dixiecrat Revolt of 1948 11 3 “Goldwater Was the Horsepower”: National Revie