Charles Koflin American religious leader of Canadian origin. Date of Birth: 25.10.1891 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Background
2. Radio Evangelist and Populist Appeal
3. Anti-Semitism and Support for Fascism
4. Political Involvement and Restrictions
5. Later Years and Legacy

Early Life and Background

Charles E. Coughlin, a Canadian-born American religious figure and radio evangelist, was born into an Irish Catholic family in Canada. In 1923, he relocated to Detroit, where he began his influential career.

Radio Evangelist and Populist Appeal

From 1926 onwards, Coughlin gained immense popularity as a radio preacher. His broadcasts reached an audience of approximately 40 million people, and he received up to 80,000 letters weekly. Initially a supporter of Franklin Roosevelt, Coughlin became a staunch critic of the president and his New Deal policies.

Anti-Semitism and Support for Fascism

Coughlin's broadcasts often espoused anti-Semitic rhetoric. He accused Jewish bankers of orchestrating the Great Depression and the Russian Revolution. His newspaper, Social Justice, published the anti-Semitic hoax known as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Coughlin openly admired the fascist regimes of Hitler and Mussolini. In a 1938 speech in the Bronx, he delivered a Nazi salute and threatened violence against American Jews.

Political Involvement and Restrictions

In 1936, Coughlin co-founded the Union Party, which unsuccessfully ran in the presidential election. His activities on radio and in the press were severely curtailed by the government in the late 1930s due to his incessant criticism of the Roosevelt administration.

Later Years and Legacy

Despite the restrictions, Coughlin continued to write anti-communist pamphlets until his death at age 88. He remains a controversial figure in American history, remembered for his populist appeal, anti-Semitic views, and support for fascism.