Theodore Gilmore Bilbo (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947) was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi (1916–20, 1928–32) and later became a U.S. Senator (1935–47). A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a "rough and tumble" fighter in debate, Bilbo became a synonym for white supremacy. Proud of being a racist, Bilbo believed in the natural inferiority of black people, was a fiery defender of seg...
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Theodore Gilmore Bilbo (October 13, 1877 – August 21, 1947) was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi (1916–20, 1928–32) and later became a U.S. Senator (1935–47). A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a "rough and tumble" fighter in debate, Bilbo became a synonym for white supremacy. Proud of being a racist, Bilbo believed in the natural inferiority of black people, was a fiery defender of segregation, and was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Of short stature (5' 2" or 157 cm), Bilbo wore flashy clothing, and was nicknamed "The Man" because he tended to refer to himself in the third person.
Bilbo was the author of Take Your Choice: Separation or Mongrelization.
Bilbo was born to a poor family in Juniper Grove, a hamlet in Pearl River County, Mississippi. He attended college at Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, and law school at Vanderbilt University, although he did not graduate from either institution. Later, Bilbo worked as a...
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