Intro
In this episode of Slow Burn, titled “One Year: 1955 – Siberia, USA,” the focus is on the lack of mental health care in Alaska during that time and the efforts to establish a mental health facility in the state. The episode also explores the rise of right-wing activism in Southern California and its impact on the perception of mental health professionals. The episode sheds light on the conspiracy theories and fears surrounding the Alaska Mental Health Bill and its connection to the treatment of mental illness.
Main Takeaways
Mental Health Care in Alaska
- In 1955, there were no treatment centers for mental health care in the entire American territory of Alaska.
- Morningside Hospital was a private institution charged with taking care of every mentally ill patient from Alaska.
- To get to Morningside, patients had to get arrested and be convicted of being insane by a jury of random male residents and a federal commissioner.
- After treatment at Morningside, many Alaskans were released, but for thousands, it was a one-way ticket.
- Alaska didn’t have the power to build a facility without the help of the US government, but in 1955, Alaskan’s elected a delegate to Congress who was a fierce advocate for statehood and for proper mental health treatment to be available in Alaska.
- In 1955, Alaskan delegate to Congress introduced a bill to build a mental health facility in Alaska.
- The bill passed out of committee and the US House of Representatives in a unanimous voice vote.
- The bill was derailed by a far-right conspiracy theory that the facility would be a gulag for patriotic Americans.
Rise of Right-Wing Activism in Southern California
- Southern California was a hotbed of right-wing activity in the 1950s.
- Women in affluent suburban communities found purpose in politics and activism.
- These organizations were mostly attended by women and provided a sense of community.
- The women were concerned about the threat of communism and how it was affecting American values.
- They believed in traditional gender roles and saw themselves as modern women fulfilling a vital role in fighting against international socialism.
- They supported Senator Joseph McCarthy’s mission to drive out subversives in government and feared leftist administrators, academics, and social scientists gaining control of Americans’ lives.
- Housewife activists in the 1950s were concerned about changes in their children’s schools and perceived them as communist indoctrination.
- They wrote into newspapers and tried to stymie administrators’ plans, ultimately getting two women elected to the Los Angeles School Board.
- The Minute Women of the United States of America grew to 50,000 members in 47 states and fought for God and country, but only for white Christian women.
Fear of Mental Health Professionals
- Mental health professionals became the activists’ next target, seen as suspicious and dangerous for giving liberal experts direct access to people’s vulnerable minds.
- The activists believed American psychiatrists were communist agents out to brainwash the populace and shared the hoax “brainwashing manual” as authentic evidence of a psychiatric plot.
- Right-wing activists feared being labeled insane by psychiatrists who they believed were communist agents out to brainwash the populace.
- Mental health professionals and journalists were criticizing the far-right’s paranoid beliefs as signs of psychological distress.
- Some activists sought diagnoses of sound mental health to avoid being institutionalized.
The Lucille Miller Case
- Lucille Miller, a homemaker and anti-Semitic newsletter publisher, was charged with violating the military draft law in 1955.
- Miller believed in a larger plot involving President Eisenhower’s Jewish strategists sending able-bodied men off to the military, so immigrants could replace them.
- Lucille Miller declared her home the Alamo and called journalists to gather outside during a standoff with law enforcement.
- Miller and her husband refused to surrender, leading to tear gas being thrown into their home.
- Miller was later sent to a mental institution in Washington, D.C.
- Housewife activists in California downplayed Miller’s anti-Semitism and portrayed her as a victim, leading to vigilance for being declared insane.
The Conspiracy Theory and Opposition to the Alaska Mental Health Bill
- A conspiracy theory was born about a bill to establish a prison camp in Alaska where leftists could send conservatives.
- The legislation would place every resident of the US at the mercy of anyone they might disagree with, causing a charge of mental illness and deportation to Siberia, USA.
- The theory spread rapidly and fired people’s imaginations, leading to concerned citizens across the country taking action.
- Actual Alaskans weren’t relevant to the conspiracy theorists, perpetuating the myth that Alaska was a desolate wasteland.
- A Senate subcommittee held public hearings less than a month after the Siberia USA article was published, with witnesses invoking Lucille Miller as an example of psychiatrists’ tyrannical power.
- The California Housewives’ opposition to the Alaska Mental Health Bill was initially seen as preposterous by many, including those on the right.
- Senator Barry Goldwater stood up for the bill and proposed a small modification that allowed it to pass the Senate unanimously.
- The California Housewives saw their opposition as a victory, realizing they had the power to cause a national uproar and force US senators to alter a bill.
Summary
Mental Health Care in Alaska and Rise of Right-Wing Activism
In 1955, Alaska lacked proper mental health care facilities, and patients had to be sent to Morningside Hospital in Oregon. However, efforts were made by Alaskan delegate to Congress to establish a mental health facility in Alaska. At the same time, right-wing activism was on the rise in Southern California, with women in affluent suburban communities joining patriotic organizations and fighting against perceived communist influences in American society.
Fear of Mental Health Professionals and the Lucille Miller Case
Right-wing activists targeted mental health professionals, considering them suspicious and dangerous for their perceived communist affiliations. The case of Lucille Miller, who was charged with violating the military draft law, further fueled the activists’ fears. Housewife activists in California downplayed Miller’s anti-Semitism and portrayed her as a victim, leading to concerns about being declared insane.
The Conspiracy Theory and Opposition to the Alaska Mental Health Bill
A conspiracy theory emerged around the Alaska Mental Health Bill, suggesting that it would establish a prison camp in Alaska where conservatives could be sent. This theory gained traction and caused widespread opposition to the bill. However, Senator Barry Goldwater’s support and a modification to the bill allowed it to pass the Senate. The opposition by the California Housewives showcased their influence and ability to shape national discourse.
Conclusion
The episode highlights the challenges faced by Alaskans in accessing mental health care and the impact of right-wing activism on the perception of mental health professionals. It also showcases the power of grassroots opposition and the influence of women in shaping political discourse. The story of the Alaska Mental Health Bill and the conspiracy theories surrounding it provide insights into the complexities of mental health care and political dynamics during that time.
