ParaBack to Table of ContentsParaMy wife Margie and I were visiting my father who lives near Lake View, South Carolina, during the summer of 1974 when I read a racist newspaper for the first time. The newspaper, entitled “The Thunderbolt” and published by Dr. Edward Fields of the National States Rights Party, was given to me by my father who had obtained it from one of his farmer neighbors.
ParaWithin two minutes of browsing through this 16-page tabloid, I knew I had found a home within the American White Movement. I was ecstatic. Here was formal, articulate confirmation of my own political and racial views. And, more important, it represented an organized group of White people, and an organization, to which I myself could join.
ParaBy this time, I was already an outspoken anti-Semite as well as a racist, having believed for years that Jewish people had a very heavy influence over the national communications media, and having lived through the violent Civil Rights years of the 60’s and 70’s. For example, I blamed the Jews directly, for the successes of Blacks in their Civil Rights struggles, and for the loss of the Vietnam War, the latter because I believed the national media and especially TV news destroyed the American will to win that war.
ParaAnyhow, upon returning to our home in Angier, NC, I called the NSRP at their headquarters in Marietta, Georgia, talked with Dr. Fields, and after telling him how delighted I was with his newspaper, I asked how I could join the NSRR. He gave me the
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name and telephone number of the state leader for North Carolina; a Mr. Ken Poole from Rocky Mount, whom I called the same day and received an invitation to attend their next monthly meeting. Meanwhile, I mailed in my NSRP membership application form along with the $20 annual dues.
ParaBear in mind here that I was an active member of the U.S.Army at this time, and in fact had been for the past 15 years. But, I saw no conflict or anything improper at being members of both. After all, Blacks, Jews, Indians, and Hispanics within the Army joined groups representing their people, so why couldn’t I do the same?
ParaTwo weeks later on a Saturday night, my wife and I (we had no children then), drove the 70 miles to the Rocky Mount Chapter of the NSRP meeting hall, located in the country at the end of a long dirt path. Mr. Poole had given me the directions via our telephone conversation.
ParaMargie and I were graciously greeted by Poole as we got out of our car. After handshakes and introductions, he invited us into the meeting hall, a 30 x 80 foot cinder-block building, built by NSRP members some 20 odd years earlier solely for the purpose of holding White racist meetings. Poole then went about the task of introducing us to the 15 to 20 adults there. An equal number of teens and younger children were also there or running around outside. Everyone was extremely nice and seemed genuinely happy to see us.
ParaThese people, like the vast majority of NSRP members (and the Klan, too for that matter), were lower income type people and understandably less educated as well. But, they were very nice and decent Christian working people. No profanity or miniskirts here.
ParaMr. Charlie Palmer was also present at this meeting. Charlie was a multimillionaire from Kingston, NC and was in his late 60”s even then; who was a long time activist, and contributed money to several different White groups. Charlie was also in the Klan convoy during the shootout with Communists in Greensboro, five years later in 1979. Of the 40 or 50 times I’ve seen Charlie, only three or four times was he without his com-
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panion, Linda, a handsome blonde lady, 30 years his junior, who worked for Charlie, sharing his racial views, and driving duties. I’ve never personally seen evidence of anything dishonorable in their relationship. Charlie was the stereotype “Lil’ Southern Colonel,” but a very fine gentleman and Linda was a nice Southern lady. Short, stocky, and with flaming red hair, no White racist meeting in NC was complete without “Mr. Charlie.”
ParaI really enjoyed my first White racist meeting. It was good to talk racist politics with people who shared my views, and who actively engage in furthering them. Though I was disappointed at the small crowd, I was pleased overall, because now finally, I had made the decision to become actively involved, and I had met others who already had.
ParaMr. Charlie, Ken Poole and I spoke together prior to the formal meeting for 30 minutes or so, and Margie chatted animatedly with several of the NSRP ladies.
ParaAnd, then we all got in line to receive a delightful dinner of fried chicken, candied yams, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, and buttered biscuits, at a modest cost of $3.50 each. Those without funds knew they were welcome to eat their fill anyway.
ParaKen Poole began the meeting with a prayer, followed by a one hour speech, filled with tirades against Jews, Blacks, and other non-Whites, and quoting Bible scriptures to back up his racial and political statements.
ParaPoole also stated how happy he was to see two new NSRP members at the meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Miller of Angier, NC.
ParaPoole’s speech was followed by shorter speeches by two other NSRP leaders, all of which lasted a total of about two hours.
ParaOutside, two or three men with holstered pistols milled around smoking cigarettes and performing guard duty.
ParaWe also learned that there were two NSRP chapters in North Carolina, the other being near Louisburg, which also conducted monthly meetings. Margie and I promised to attend their meetings as well. We found out later, that with a few exceptions, the same people attend both gatherings.
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ParaThe meeting was concluded with the last speech. Everybone was thanked for coming, and encouraged to pick up a few of the NSRP newspapers and pamphlets on display on one of the tables, to distribute among friends and neighbors.
ParaAnd so, I had attended my first Racist meeting and met White activists for the first time. By the next meeting, I would have an official NSRP uniform which consisted of dark trousers, white shirt, black tie, red shoulder tabs, and a three inch in diameter shoulder patch, bearing a red streak of lightening inside a red ringed circle.
ParaBeing on active duty in the Army, though stationed at nearby Fort Bragg, I could not devote full time or attention to the NSRP, however, I attended at least one meeting per month, and I distributed literature. I ordered bulk copies of the Thunderbolt newspaper for distribution to the public, many months ordering 1,000 copies at a personal cost of $55, and I mailed financial donations directly to the NSRP at Marietta, Georgia. I immensely enjoyed reading each monthly edition of the Party’s newspaper, and I ordered and read several books recommended by the Party, such as Mein Kampf by Adolph Hitler, Which Way Western Man by William Gayle Simpson, and Dispossessed Majority by Wilmot Robertson. Further, through associates met within the NSRP, I learned the names and addresses of dozens of active groups from around the country and even overseas. I was especially impressed with Wilmot Robertson’s monthly magazine “lnstauration” which means “to rise from decay,” and William Pierce’s “National Vanguard," also a monthly magazine. Both publications are highly articulate, professionally packaged, and extremely persuasive in their presentations of White Supremacy, and of a Jewish conspiracy to rule the world.
ParaI developed an increasing appetite for knowledge about anything associated with what I called “The American White Movement,” and I read everything I could get my hands on. Margie often became upset at the large amount of money I was sending to various White groups for books, pamphlets, newspapers and donations.
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ParaI became obsessed, totally, completely, and unashamedly, and I stayed that way for the next 12 years, right on up to April 30, 1987, the day they closed shut the clanging iron jail doors behind me, for declaring war against Jews, minorities, and the U.S. Government.
ParaAfter 18 months or so with the NSRP, I became disappointed at that group’s inability to attract new members. The NSRP well presented my views, but seemed somewhat complacent. Neither of the two NSRP Chapters ever did grow in number. The same faces appeared at each meeting, with few exceptions, and hardly any young people at all even came around.
ParaAnd then out of the blue, and on a page of the Raleigh News & Observer came the story that Nazi Harold Covington, of the National Socialist Party of American (NSPA) had set up shop in Raleigh and was actively seeking members.
ParaSo, I dialed information, got his number, called and told him I was on my way, and high tailed it to Raleigh to meet up with this White Racist Nazi.
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