logo

60 pages 2 hours read

Rachel Maddow

Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2023

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 16-19Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 16 Summary: “‘Promiscuous Use of His Frank’”

In August 1940, the Dies Committee heard from a witness named Henry Hoke, a professional advertiser who ran the publication The Reporter of Direct Mail Advertising. Hoke was alerted to the growing Nazi threat in the US when his college-aged son showed him pro-Nazi flyers that were passed out at his school. Being in advertising, Hoke recognized them as propaganda. Over the next six months, Hoke collected more examples of Nazi propaganda, and he published his findings in a long exposé in The Reporter of Direct Mail Advertising. He named the organizations behind this propaganda campaign—including The German Library of Information, The German Railroads Information Office, and the German Board of Tradeand tallied their outputs; collectively, they were publishing hundreds of thousands of pieces of propaganda to disseminate throughout the US. Hoke was struck by the campaign’s well-financed, strategic, and sophisticated nature.

Despite receiving threatening letters at his home, Hoke continued in his efforts. After he published his exposé, citizens from across the country started sending him more examples of propaganda. Hoke attempted to alert various authorities about the Nazis’ campaign, including the postmaster general of the US, but the postal inspectors told Hoke they could not act because none of what Hoke had found was against the law.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 60 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools