The Fight for the Soul of the Democratic Party

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Fighting fascism requires a consolidation of progressive politics. Seventy-five years ago, Henry Wallace, then vice president, warned about the “Danger of American Fascism.” As World War II ended, he cautioned that while the U.S. might win the war, it risked losing the peace to a domestic variant of fascism, fueled by wealthy corporatists and media allies. Wallace predicted that without a renewed and expanded New Deal, American fascists would exploit fear, xenophobia, and racism to reclaim power. He envisioned a progressive postwar world that rejected colonialism and imperialism, countering the triumphalist “American Century.” However, his vision and bid to remain vice president were sidelined by Democratic leaders and segregationists. In subsequent decades, other progressives like George McGovern and Jesse Jackson attempted similar campaigns, ultimately facing failure—a cautionary tale for today’s reformers. John Nichols chronicles these efforts, providing insights into the Democratic Party's nature and strategic lessons for contemporary figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.