What do you think?
Peddlers of Hate: How the Ku Klux Klan Seized Power in 1920s Oregon
Peddlers of Hate is the first book to provide a statewide and comprehensive account of the Klan in Oregon, where the hate group enrolled its highest per-capita membership outside Indiana and made Portland its sixth-largest chapter in the nation.
Law relays how a small cadre of paid out-of-state organizers fanned the flames of religious bigotry, racism and anti-immigrant nativism to create Oregon’s dominant political force. In less than two years, the Klan toppled a sitting governor, convinced voters to ban Catholic schools, and seized power in the Oregon Legislature and local governments in Multnomah County, Eugene, Astoria, and Tillamook.
Peddlers of Hate is filled with local color and captivating details: an “escaped nun” whipping up anti-Catholic votes, a shoot-out at Klan offices in Condon, and a wave of near-lynchings dubbed “necktie parties” in Medford. Klan lecturers drew capacity crowds at Portland’s Keller Auditorium, and the hate group held initiation ceremonies at the state fairgrounds in Salem and atop Mt. Tabor and Mount Scott cemetery in the Portland area.
Law relays how a small cadre of paid out-of-state organizers fanned the flames of religious bigotry, racism and anti-immigrant nativism to create Oregon’s dominant political force. In less than two years, the Klan toppled a sitting governor, convinced voters to ban Catholic schools, and seized power in the Oregon Legislature and local governments in Multnomah County, Eugene, Astoria, and Tillamook.
Peddlers of Hate is filled with local color and captivating details: an “escaped nun” whipping up anti-Catholic votes, a shoot-out at Klan offices in Condon, and a wave of near-lynchings dubbed “necktie parties” in Medford. Klan lecturers drew capacity crowds at Portland’s Keller Auditorium, and the hate group held initiation ceremonies at the state fairgrounds in Salem and atop Mt. Tabor and Mount Scott cemetery in the Portland area.
292 pages, Paperback
Published July 11, 2026
About the author
Steve Law
1 book1 followerSteve Law served 33 years as a staff reporter and editor for the Portland Tribune, Salem Statesman-Journal, Portland Business Journal, and other newspapers, including a decade covering state politics from the bowels of the Capitol.
After graduating from Antioch College, he taught history in inner-city Los Angeles schools, then moved into community radio at KBOO in Portland and KMXT in Kodiak, Alaska.
Law twice earned Oregon’s most prestigious journalistic prize, the Bruce Baer Award, among more than 50 reporting awards.
He and his wife live in Southeast Portland.
After graduating from Antioch College, he taught history in inner-city Los Angeles schools, then moved into community radio at KBOO in Portland and KMXT in Kodiak, Alaska.
Law twice earned Oregon’s most prestigious journalistic prize, the Bruce Baer Award, among more than 50 reporting awards.
He and his wife live in Southeast Portland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 5, 2026
Peddlers of Hate: How the Ku Klux Klan Seized Power in the 1920's Oregon by Steve Law.
Peddlers of Hate is at once a fascinating and disturbing recounting about the revival of the KKK in the 1920's in Oregon. The second iteration of the Klan was started as a private company similar in nature to a fraternal organization, soliciting and recruiting mostly white males to join. The main tenets of this second iteration of the Klan was based on a dislike for Catholics, Jews and Blacks. Interestingly, the Klan was most concerned about Catholic's creating numerous parochial schools which were seen as a means to recruit more Catholics, threatening the Protestant core of the Klan. The Klan charged members an fee to join, and the fee was split among the various leaders, both nationally and in Oregon. In Oregon, this second iteration of the Klan took on a political role, and in 1922, many if not most of the elected legislators were part of or influenced by the Klan. While this iteration of the Klan was not violent in the ways of the Klan in the 1870's, the Klan used it's clandestine nature and white hoods to intimate, harass and discredit other groups they opposed, including fear mongering acts such as lighting on fire large crosses on Mt Tabor that could be seen throughout Portland. Law's book walks the reader through this odyssey illustrating the clans surprising and sudden rise to influence and power in Oregon, second in strength only to Indiana nationally. Ultimately, internal fighting, corruption over the use of funds and infighting for those funds led to the demise of the Klan in a few years. Well worth the read to better understand and acknowledge Oregon's history.
Peddlers of Hate is at once a fascinating and disturbing recounting about the revival of the KKK in the 1920's in Oregon. The second iteration of the Klan was started as a private company similar in nature to a fraternal organization, soliciting and recruiting mostly white males to join. The main tenets of this second iteration of the Klan was based on a dislike for Catholics, Jews and Blacks. Interestingly, the Klan was most concerned about Catholic's creating numerous parochial schools which were seen as a means to recruit more Catholics, threatening the Protestant core of the Klan. The Klan charged members an fee to join, and the fee was split among the various leaders, both nationally and in Oregon. In Oregon, this second iteration of the Klan took on a political role, and in 1922, many if not most of the elected legislators were part of or influenced by the Klan. While this iteration of the Klan was not violent in the ways of the Klan in the 1870's, the Klan used it's clandestine nature and white hoods to intimate, harass and discredit other groups they opposed, including fear mongering acts such as lighting on fire large crosses on Mt Tabor that could be seen throughout Portland. Law's book walks the reader through this odyssey illustrating the clans surprising and sudden rise to influence and power in Oregon, second in strength only to Indiana nationally. Ultimately, internal fighting, corruption over the use of funds and infighting for those funds led to the demise of the Klan in a few years. Well worth the read to better understand and acknowledge Oregon's history.
August 22, 2026
“History doesn’t repeat itself, it but it often rhymes”, so said psychoanalyst Theodor Riek.
Rhyme seekers reading Peddlers of Hate by Steve Law will not be disappointed in their quest to relate our current political climate to the early twentieth century when “America First” and the belief that immigrants, people of color, Catholics, Jews and bootleggers were the principal reason for society’s ills.
Peddlers of Hate follows the history of the klan in Oregon from the first recruiting trip by the klan’s “Keagles” (recruiters) who profited at every turn from commissions on initiation fees to the sale of robes and hoods. The book describes these multi-level marketers of private club memberships using many thoroughly modern marketing methods.
The author describes the some of the horrors inflicted on their enemies, like the “Necktie parties” in southern Oregon, and how the political support lent by the klan eventually helped elect a governor and protect the perpetrators. He explains the internal politics and intrigue of the organization, how who was the enemy was tailored to local conditions all to the benefit of klan leaders.
The author leans heavily on klan correspondence, and records form the Oregon historical Society as well as over fifty newspapers and magazines plus interviews with scholars and others who have written about this subject to portray this shadowy portion of Oregon’s cultural landscape in the 1920’s.
At under 230 pages not counting appendixes, footnotes and acknowledgments it’s a well written story that I’m glad I took the time to read.
Rhyme seekers reading Peddlers of Hate by Steve Law will not be disappointed in their quest to relate our current political climate to the early twentieth century when “America First” and the belief that immigrants, people of color, Catholics, Jews and bootleggers were the principal reason for society’s ills.
Peddlers of Hate follows the history of the klan in Oregon from the first recruiting trip by the klan’s “Keagles” (recruiters) who profited at every turn from commissions on initiation fees to the sale of robes and hoods. The book describes these multi-level marketers of private club memberships using many thoroughly modern marketing methods.
The author describes the some of the horrors inflicted on their enemies, like the “Necktie parties” in southern Oregon, and how the political support lent by the klan eventually helped elect a governor and protect the perpetrators. He explains the internal politics and intrigue of the organization, how who was the enemy was tailored to local conditions all to the benefit of klan leaders.
The author leans heavily on klan correspondence, and records form the Oregon historical Society as well as over fifty newspapers and magazines plus interviews with scholars and others who have written about this subject to portray this shadowy portion of Oregon’s cultural landscape in the 1920’s.
At under 230 pages not counting appendixes, footnotes and acknowledgments it’s a well written story that I’m glad I took the time to read.
September 1, 2026
This is a great cautionary tale about how hucksters can gain great power by preying on the prejudices and tribal instincts of people. When the Ku Klux Klan was recreated in the 1920s, Oregon wound up having the second highest per-capita membership in the klan of any state. Author Steve Law does a superb job of explaining how Oregonians were so susceptible to the Klan's message.
The author is particularly deft in explaining how the 1920s Klan, which was actually just a private, for-profit company, was under the sway of leaders primarily interested in lining their own pockets. They truly were peddlers of hate, targeting their rhetoric to match local demographics (play up anti-Catholic hate in one place, dial it down somewhere else). In Oregon, they attempted to close the private schools in the interests of teaching "Americanism." Voters passed an initiative to do just that but the Supreme Court ruled that the measure was unconstitutional. It's hard to imagine such a movement today -- particularly one supported by many conservative Protestants -- but that's the thing about Tribalism, it can erupt in so many different ways. Steve Law's book gave me plenty to think about and I'd recommend it even to non-Oregonians.
The author is particularly deft in explaining how the 1920s Klan, which was actually just a private, for-profit company, was under the sway of leaders primarily interested in lining their own pockets. They truly were peddlers of hate, targeting their rhetoric to match local demographics (play up anti-Catholic hate in one place, dial it down somewhere else). In Oregon, they attempted to close the private schools in the interests of teaching "Americanism." Voters passed an initiative to do just that but the Supreme Court ruled that the measure was unconstitutional. It's hard to imagine such a movement today -- particularly one supported by many conservative Protestants -- but that's the thing about Tribalism, it can erupt in so many different ways. Steve Law's book gave me plenty to think about and I'd recommend it even to non-Oregonians.
September 19, 2026
I highly recommend Steve Law's Peddlers of Hate: How the Ku Klux Klan Seized Power in 1920s Oregon as an excellent case study of the dramatic impact on societies and their people that can occur from the interplay between populist demagoguery, religious prejudice, ambitious power-seeking, financial greed, and fear of any perceived challenge to the established social order by the powerless in society. This book is clearly written and organized; amazingly thoroughly researched and sourced; and full of interesting anecdotes about the people who played a role in the KKK's relatively brief but meteoric rise to statewide power in Oregon, apparently with broad support in the population at large. (During this time, Oregon had the second most KKK members per capita in the country.) There are plenty of parallels and lessons for contemporary times. An excellent read!
August 15, 2026
An important book for all Oregonians to read!
Having not grown up in Oregon, I’m weak on Oregon history. Peddlers of Hate was very illuminating about a time in Oregon history we all should learn about. And there’s plenty to learn in Steve’s book.
A real accomplishment to research and compile so many facts and stories. I especially liked the anecdotal/person accounts he included. Made me want more. The timing of this book release coincides with a period in history, both locally and nationally when we need be aware of the creep of dangerous ideas and ideologies. Insidious. And who better to point out the danger of media, both social and traditional becoming too complicit than a veteran journalist.
Thank you Steve
Having not grown up in Oregon, I’m weak on Oregon history. Peddlers of Hate was very illuminating about a time in Oregon history we all should learn about. And there’s plenty to learn in Steve’s book.
A real accomplishment to research and compile so many facts and stories. I especially liked the anecdotal/person accounts he included. Made me want more. The timing of this book release coincides with a period in history, both locally and nationally when we need be aware of the creep of dangerous ideas and ideologies. Insidious. And who better to point out the danger of media, both social and traditional becoming too complicit than a veteran journalist.
Thank you Steve
September 18, 2026
This is a remarkably thorough chronicle of the rise and fall of the KKK in Oregon and across the country. It is deeply researched, documented, and footnoted. As a newspaper journalist, Steve Law combed through an extraordinary number of historical news papers and news reports both for and against the Klan.
For anyone following today’s news in 2026 and wondering about how we got here, this book reveals many roots of what we are experiencing. In addition, the decline of the KKK and Grand Dragon Fred Gifford in Oregon—and other Klan leaders around US—is reminiscent of the decline in polling for Trump and the GOP in 2026: high level corruption, GOP infighting, and citizens fed up with the authoritarian strong man.
For anyone following today’s news in 2026 and wondering about how we got here, this book reveals many roots of what we are experiencing. In addition, the decline of the KKK and Grand Dragon Fred Gifford in Oregon—and other Klan leaders around US—is reminiscent of the decline in polling for Trump and the GOP in 2026: high level corruption, GOP infighting, and citizens fed up with the authoritarian strong man.
September 17, 2026
Nothing New About Far Right Politics As A For-Profit Business
Although Peddlers of Hate focuses primarily on Oregon, it should be read by anyone interested in understanding how rightists operate. Is MAGA just a re-branding of something from our not-too-distant past? How the KKK captured Oregon politics, as well as many other states, and then collapsed, makes for a fascinating read in this very well written book.
Although Peddlers of Hate focuses primarily on Oregon, it should be read by anyone interested in understanding how rightists operate. Is MAGA just a re-branding of something from our not-too-distant past? How the KKK captured Oregon politics, as well as many other states, and then collapsed, makes for a fascinating read in this very well written book.
July 20, 2026
Peddlers of Hate is a detailed history of the Ku Klux Klan’s incursion into Oregon during the 1920s that documents a pivotal time in our country’s past. It is filled with tons of detail, reflecting the author’s long work as a newspaper reporter and editor in Oregon. Anyone interested in understanding the various incarnations of the KKK, or the history of the Northwest, should read this book.
September 4, 2026
I'm loving this book! Just halfway through, but it's so informative and reads like a novel. Though the subject is a troubling and complicated part of our history, style is almost conversational. Apparently the author is a former journalist, so though it's meticulously researched, it is not the least bit dry. I'm anxious to see how the story unfolds.
August 25, 2026
Extremely well written, sadly topical with todays headlines.
September 2, 2026
The rise of the KKK mirrors America today. Steve Law’s tale reads like an outstanding novel. Unfortunately it’s all too true
September 14, 2026
A fascinating journey into Oregon and our nation's dark past. So well written it keeps you engaged despite the challenging content. Very timely given what is happening in our country today.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews