George E. Deatherage

Deatherage testifying before Congress in 1939

George Edward Deatherage (November 15, 1893 – March 31, 1965) was an American political activist and a promoter of nationalism. A native of Minnesota and an engineer by training, he authored several books on construction.

He is best remembered for his political activities. He wrote speeches for General George Van Horn Moseley as well as being the founder of a later version of the Knights of the White Camellia and the .^[1] Deatherage testified before the Dies Committee in 1939.^[2]

Deatherage was an important player in domestic and international anti-Jewish circles in the 1930s and 1940s, including collaboration with the Welt-Dienst/World-Service propaganda agency headed by German Ulrich Fleischhauer. Both were also defendants in the Great Sedition Trial of 1944.^[3] In 1942, the United States Navy declared Deatheredge to be a person “undesirable to have access to the work of the Navy Department” and directed his discharge from employment as chief engineer for private contractors on a $30,000,000 expansion project at the Norfolk Naval Base.^[4]

In November 1952, Deatherage was living in Baltimore when he wrote to J. Edgar Hoover alleging ties between Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, referring to Tom Clark as a "Texas pussywillow". He further suggested that Huey Long was assassinated with "Washington" being aware "eleven minutes ahead of time".^[5]

References[]

^ Under Cover, p. 140, by John Roy Carlson, (1943)
^ "In spotlight at Dies hearing. Washington, D.C., May 24. George Deatherage, Chief of the Knights of the White Camellia, today told the Dies Committee Investigating Un-American Activities that he once received a $200 contribution from Howland Spencer at Newport, R.I. Deatherage described Spencer as the 'man who sold Father Devine that property on the Hudson River near President Roosevelt's Hyde Park home.' He also testified that he had dinner on a yacht with Frazier Jelkeo Leomargerine King". Library of Congress.
^ Philip Jenkins, Hoods and Shirts: The Extreme Right in Pennsylvania 1925-1950 (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1997), especially chapter 8: "Fascism and anti-war activism in the United States 1939-45" online at [1]
^ "Navy Says Deatherage is "undesirable Person," Orders His Dismissal from Navy Work". 24 February 1942.
^ FBI Subject File 58-HQ-2000: Charles Gioe

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[1] Under Cover, p. 140, by John Roy Carlson, (1943)

[2] "In spotlight at Dies hearing. Washington, D.C., May 24. George Deatherage, Chief of the Knights of the White Camellia, today told the Dies Committee Investigating Un-American Activities that he once received a $200 contribution from Howland Spencer at Newport, R.I. Deatherage described Spencer as the 'man who sold Father Devine that property on the Hudson River near President Roosevelt's Hyde Park home.' He also testified that he had dinner on a yacht with Frazier Jelkeo Leomargerine King". Library of Congress.

[3] Philip Jenkins, Hoods and Shirts: The Extreme Right in Pennsylvania 1925-1950 (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1997), especially chapter 8: "Fascism and anti-war activism in the United States 1939-45" online at [1]

[4] "Navy Says Deatherage is "undesirable Person," Orders His Dismissal from Navy Work". 24 February 1942.

[5] FBI Subject File 58-HQ-2000: Charles Gioe

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