Here is a book I discovered in history grad school. Published in 1954, it is relevant today: Reinhard H. Luthin, *American Demagogues--Twentieth Century* (1954 & 1959), with an introduction by the great historian Allan Nevins.
The author presents a very functional definition of "American demagogue":
"masters of the masses who, in their aspirations for political place and power pandered to the passions and prejudices, rather than the reason of the populace, and performed all manner of crowd-captivating tricks. . . . He is a politician skilled in oratory, flattery, and invective; evasive in discussing vital issues; promising everything to everybody; appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public; and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices--a man whose lust for power without recourse to principle leads him to seek to become a master of the masses."
He added, perspicaciously:
"In a future fraught with complex social, economic, and diplomatic dilemmas, future demagogues will probably find more untapped areas of ignorance, prejudice, bigotry, and emotionalism to exploit. With television and other means means of mass communication, their voices and their faces may invade any home in the United States--and many abroad. Such professional 'men of the people' accordingly present a persistent problem which this and future generations of Americans and peoples of other lands will be forced to face."
In the Intro, Professor Nevins notes: "We have had plenty of demagogues in state and city affairs. . . . But we have never had a President who by the wildest stretch of the English language could be justly called a demagogue."
That was in 1954 . . . . . . .
I attach the title page and the TOC.
