Bill Smith Letters

In October 1943, L.E. Faulkner, the vice-president of Mississippi Central Railroad, started writing the Bill Smith Letters. With the motto "Put first things first.  Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," the letters were written with the intention of representing the feelings of the average American. His letters promoted capitalism, the fight against communism, and citizens' rights. Faulkner was vigilant in his mission of identifying communist activity in the states, whether it was relating to local education or statewide civil rights efforts.

Faulkner published 18 letters penned by the fictional Bill Smith. These letters were distributed to businesses around the United States for circulation among the white, male employees. After two years of production, over 250,000 Bill Smith Letters had been circulated across the country.