Second part of a two-part series on the controversial southern politician David Duke. 

Populism's egalitarian face can turn ugly in times of economic downturns. Blame is meted out to any available enemy. Was it the Communists, the capitalists, the Japanese, the Jews, the Blacks? In the old days, in the South, Lyndon Johnson used to lament what he called the politics of the N-word. In other words, when a candidate got in trouble and didn't know what else to do, he just started yelling the N-word. It might not make any sense, but it magically explained everything. It told who the enemy is, and what you ought to do about it. These days the N-word isn't used as much. But we have other words - like welfare, or immigrants. Or that other “N” word, Nazis. Which kept cropping up in 1991 when David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, ran for governor of Louisiana. 

Producer Gary Covino followed Duke during that campaign. Covino takes us to Duke rallies, the Governor’s office, the streets and clubs of New Orleans, the homes of Duke voters, Black churches, and the tomb of Louisiana’s most famous populist Huey Long. In the process, we learn about what once made him a political force and the implications of his rise to prominence. This two-part series received a 1991 Excellence in Broadcast Award from the Sydney Hillman Foundation. 

The Soundprint documentary series features the best work of top radio producers. The award winning documentaries are renowned for drawing the listener into the story with compelling interviews, authentic voices and rich sound. From memoirs to science, health and popular culture, Soundprint creates a powerful experience the listener will not soon forget. 

Here are some related Soundprint documentaries: 

David Duke’s New Profile Produced by: Gary Covino

Keysville, GA: Old Dreams, New South Produced by: Dan Collison

Soundprint Executive Producer: Bill Siemering

Producer: Moira Rankin

Audio Engineer: Anna Maria de Freitas

Associate Producer: Debra Morris