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Published and distributed by the Christian Crusade out of Tulsa, Oklahoma—led by the fiery evangelist Billy James Hargis—this short pamphlet features an essay by Matt Cvetic, best known as an FBI informant who infiltrated the Communist Party in Pittsburgh during the late 1940s. In “Extremists!” Cvetic takes aim at supposed “pinko” conspirators and “self-appointed liberals” whom he claims smear patriotic Americans by labeling them extremist or fascist. Fueled by Cold War anxieties, the piece weaves biblical references, anti-leftist invective, and dramatic anecdotes to reinforce the Christian Crusade’s worldview that communists would go to any lengths—planting bombs, circulating false propaganda—to discredit and undermine America’s defenders.

Historical Context

“Extremists!” emerged against the backdrop of the early 1960s, when Cold War tension remained high, even as the McCarthy era had begun to fade. Public revelations of FBI informants like Cvetic fed both curiosity and suspicion around covert anti-communist operations. Meanwhile, the Christian Crusade was among several right-wing Christian groups claiming that traditional American values were under siege by atheistic socialism and communist plots. Pamphlets of this sort were widely distributed at church gatherings, on college campuses, and through local conservative clubs—bolstering grassroots organizing efforts on the Christian Right.

Strategy and Key Themes

1. Stoking Moral Panic
   Cvetic’s references to bombs, infiltration, and staged provocations position communists as cunning enemies who weaponize fear and public confusion. This reinforces a sense of moral panic, urging readers to remain vigilant.
2. Defensive Nationalism
   By claiming that any strong stand against communism gets labeled “extremist,” Cvetic suggests that good, patriotic Americans are unfairly smeared. This “blame-the-victim” narrative encourages readers to see themselves as the underdogs—courageous truth-tellers persecuted by deceptive elites.
3. Appeals to Religion
   The pamphlet’s publication under the auspices of a “Christian Crusade” underscores how theological and political messaging overlapped in anti-communist activism. Insinuations that critics “never heard of the Bible’s reference to ‘rash judgment’” elevate the conflict to a spiritual plane, where defending the nation becomes tantamount to defending one’s faith.
4. Call to Organize and Publicize
   Cvetic urges readers to fight back by building bookstore networks, forming study groups, and harnessing “press, radio and television” to spread their own brand of anti-communist “truth.” By offering to sell copies in bulk (25, 200, or 500), the Christian Crusade shows its ambitions to expand the text’s reach.

Language, Imagery, and Symbolism

• Dramatic Cartoons and Headlines: A cover cartoon—reprinted with permission from a Dallas News staff cartoonist—depicts left-leaning voices as cloud-throwing aggressors who brand real patriots as “extremists.” This frames the pamphlet’s tone from the outset: hyperbolic, embattled, and dismissive of any centrist or liberal critique.
• Polarizing Terminology: Words like “pinko,” “fascist,” or “Red conspirators” emphasize the pamphlet’s us-vs.-them worldview, inviting readers to see moderate positions or critiques of anti-communism as equally suspect.
• Biblical Allusions: Dropping references to Christian morality and condemnation of “sin” and “rash judgment” signals that the pamphlet is intended not simply as a political screed but as a divine imperative to defend America against subversive evil.

Impact

Though overshadowed by high-profile figures like Senator McCarthy and the John Birch Society, the Christian Crusade and its stable of pamphleteers—including Matt Cvetic—contributed to a broader wave of grassroots anti-communism. Their blending of spiritual fervor, patriotic activism, and conspiratorial claims influenced later conservative movements, from the 1970s Christian Right to the Reagan-era revival of strident anti-communist rhetoric. Over time, Cvetic’s credibility and the Christian Crusade’s methods came under scrutiny, but their literature offers a window into how moral and religious themes were leveraged in Cold War political mobilization. For researchers today, “Extremists!” stands as a striking example of how Cold War paranoia filtered through a fervently religious lens to spark grassroots agitation.

Special thanks to the USC Digital Imaging Lab for their support in digitizing this item.