Jacob Thorkelson
Encyclopedia
Jacob Thorkelson was an American elected official, Naval officer and medical doctor.
, a coastal town in the county of Rogaland
, Norway
. Thorkelson immigrated to the United States in 1892 and worked as a navigator. He was a physician who graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, University of Maryland, Baltimore
in 1911, and served as a member of the faculty from 1911 until 1913. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1936 until 1939 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
In 1938, he ran as a Republican Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives
, representing the 1st District of Montana
. He defeated incumbent representative Jerry J. O'Connell
and served as United States Representative from March 3, 1939 until March 1, 1941.
Thorkelson was labeled as "rabidly pro-fascist and anti-semitic" and "Jew-baiting, Fascist-minded"
by contemporary journalists for his use of the Congressional Record
to reprint anti-British and anti-Jewish propaganda and his support for retired General George Van Horn Moseley
. Commentator Walter Winchell
called Thorkelson "the mouthpiece of the Nazi movement in congress". Thorkelson later sued Winchell for $1.8 million after being included by Winchell as one of a list of "Americans We Can Do Without".
Modern historians have described Thorkelson as "best known for his diatribes against Jews and the New Deal and for his calls to revise the United States Constitution" and "a raging anti-semite and pro-fascist" .
Thorkelson was defeated in the 1940 Republican primary by Jeanette Rankin. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate
in 1942 and for Governor
of Montana in 1944.
Biography
Thorkelson was born in EgersundEgersund
The town of Egersund was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . It was merged with the surrounding municipality of Eigersund January 1, 1965....
, a coastal town in the county of Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Thorkelson immigrated to the United States in 1892 and worked as a navigator. He was a physician who graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
in 1911, and served as a member of the faculty from 1911 until 1913. He served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1936 until 1939 with the rank of lieutenant commander.
In 1938, he ran as a Republican Party candidate for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, representing the 1st District of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. He defeated incumbent representative Jerry J. O'Connell
Jerry J. O'Connell
Jerry Joseph O'Connell was a U.S. Representative from Montana.-Background:Born in Butte, Montana, O'Connell attended the parochial schools and Butte Central High School. He graduated from Carroll College , Helena, Montana, in 1931, and from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., in 1934...
and served as United States Representative from March 3, 1939 until March 1, 1941.
Thorkelson was labeled as "rabidly pro-fascist and anti-semitic" and "Jew-baiting, Fascist-minded"
by contemporary journalists for his use of the Congressional Record
Congressional Record
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
to reprint anti-British and anti-Jewish propaganda and his support for retired General George Van Horn Moseley
George Van Horn Moseley
George Van Horn Moseley was a United States Army general. Following his retirement in 1938, he became controversial for his anti-immigrant and anti-Semitic views.-Biography:...
. Commentator Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell
Walter Winchell was an American newspaper and radio gossip commentator.-Professional career:Born Walter Weinschel in New York City, he left school in the sixth grade and started performing in a vaudeville troupe known as Gus Edwards' "Newsboys Sextet."His career in journalism was begun by posting...
called Thorkelson "the mouthpiece of the Nazi movement in congress". Thorkelson later sued Winchell for $1.8 million after being included by Winchell as one of a list of "Americans We Can Do Without".
Modern historians have described Thorkelson as "best known for his diatribes against Jews and the New Deal and for his calls to revise the United States Constitution" and "a raging anti-semite and pro-fascist" .
Thorkelson was defeated in the 1940 Republican primary by Jeanette Rankin. He unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1942 and for Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Montana in 1944.