Jan. 16, 2006

The Neo-Nazi Who Wasn’t

The strange story of Jacques Pluss just got stranger.

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In March, Pluss was fired from his position as an adjunct professor of history at Fairleigh Dickinson University shortly after it became known that he had become a leader of the National Socialist Movement of the United States, which is also known as the American Nazi Party. Students and colleagues at the New Jersey institution were stunned, but Pluss could be heard on Nazi radio broadcasts and made racist and anti-Semitic comments to reporters covering his dismissal.

Today, in an article being published on the History News Network, Pluss explains that he was never a real Nazi, but pretended to be one and outed himself so that Fairleigh Dickinson would fire him — all to collect material so he could write a book.

In an interview, Pluss explained why he became a Nazi by saying: “I do not believe that any historian can fully grasp the actual spirit that is the essence of their subject unless they participate in it, and that participation has to come in as full a manner as possible.”

In his article, Pluss cited the influence of the French deconstructionists Derrida and Foucault, as well as the work of Ernst Kantorowicz, a historian of medieval Europe, to explain why he pretended to be a Nazi. While all three scholars dealt in varying ways with issues of reality, their followers have not generally been known to take the approach Pluss did. Pressed further on why he pretended to be a Nazi, he also cited interviews in which Anthony Hopkins discussed trying to think like an evil person when he was preparing for the role of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs.

The research from his time as a Nazi will go into a book that will probably take the form of historical fiction, Pluss said. He said that he anticipates publishing the book with his own publishing company.

Pluss seemed somewhat surprised by questions on whether there were moral issues associated with writing for Nazi Web sites, making audiotapes of Nazi ideology, appearing at rallies in brownshirt uniforms, etc. He acknowledged that his actions as a Nazi had probably “caused pain” for some people, but said that his findings were significant. Asked about them, he said, “There is nothing romantic about putting on a Nazi uniform and playing Third Reich. That ended in 1945. There are connections between white power groups that reach far and wide, and include a sort of spider web across America — skinhead groups, National Socialist groups that don’t use uniforms, and so forth.”

Told that the links among various white power groups have been well documented by groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center, he said, “I became a Neo-Nazi because when I was thinking of applying my historical method last year, I wanted to find the most hard-hittingly obnoxious group that I could come up with.”

He stressed that he finds Nazi ideology offensive. He said that he realizes his approach upset his former colleagues and students at Fairleigh Dickinson; at William Paterson University, where he previously was a tenured professor of history; and at the University of Chicago, where he earned his Ph.D. Pluss said that he couldn’t tell anyone about his deception as that would have disturbed his “method acting approach.”

He said he did make one exception: He told his mother, who he said was Jewish and who recently died, that he was faking his Nazi ties. (Pluss said that his one-time Nazi colleagues never learned that he had a Jewish parent, and that he does not practice any religion.)

A spokeswoman for Fairleigh Dickinson said that officials there did not have any comment on the latest revelations from Pluss. She said she did not know of anyone at the university who was aware of the deception.

Rick Shenkman, editor of the History News Network, said today’s article came about when Pluss contacted him to complain about being listed on the Web site’s “Historians on the Hot Seat” list of scholars involved in various scandals.

Shenkman said that Pluss was surprised that his October resignation from the Nazi organization hadn’t been noticed or led to his removal from the list.

Pluss said he was looking forward to people knowing the nature of his time as a Nazi. Asked if we can know with confidence that he’s not engaged in another hoax, he said, “you don’t know,” but insisted that he was telling the truth — this time.

— Scott Jaschik

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Comments

What an Idiot

My only regret is that Pluss didn’t choose to study the death penalty using this same “research methodology.” What an ethicaly depraved creature.

Bob Sharmuta, at 9:17 am EST on January 16, 2006

And people are to believe this, why? Sounds like the little Nazi wants his job back and made up a farfetched story about “only pretending to be a Nazi” to get it.

Prussian Black, at 10:22 am EST on January 16, 2006

Method acting?

There is madness in this scholar’s Method. If Pruss actually wanted to practice the Method, he ought to have learned a little more about the art of acting. An actor playing a murderer does not prepare by murdering someone. He might try what Method folks call “affective memory,” recalling experiences that are in some ways similar to the experiences of a character, in this case, getting in touch with his inner bigot, perhaps. But an actor knows if he gets caught up in a character’s feelings, he will not be able to give a controlled performance. And actors aren’t afraid to discuss their preparation with a director/department chair and other actors/colleagues. —Davi Napoleon

Davi Napoleon, University of Michigan, at 10:56 am EST on January 16, 2006

Now we know...

So maybe George Bush is a smart man, pretending to be a dumb man, pretending to be a smart man! Whew! What a relief! Maybe after he’s been impeached, he’ll reveal his clever ruse and offer to fix all the damage that he’s done. Or maybe he’ll just write a book about it that will entertain readers for generations (well, those generations that can still afford books). It’s nice that people in positions of responsibility can, in good conscience, shred everything that their profession stands for and then say, “but I was secretly doing it for the good of everyone"...

huntly, at 12:37 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Oh, boy, have I annoyed many people!

I wish to thank all of those readers who took the time to read “The Neo-Nazi who Wasn’t.” Please just remember that there are certain details which can’t be revealed, for reasons which can’t be listed. But, if one visits any of the wacky White Power sites, you’ll see how annoyed they’ve become over the truth. The largest amount of falsehoods occur on Bill White’s site, Overthrow.com. White bends the truth until it nearly breaks. See, for instance, my blog about him and his minions: http://njeo53.blogspot.com. As for my historical method, I had only small hope that anybody, even in the profession, would have the insight or intelligence to grasp what I’m up to, and how it’s done. I’m sorry about that, but I’m not surprised. So, keep on vilifying me. At least I’ve gotten you to think! Dr. Jacques Pluss

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 12:42 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Thank You, Huntly

Thank you, “Huntly” for that incredibly insightful analysis. So, George Bush is an idiot? Gee, what insight, what originality. (I’m guessing your political opinions are derived mainly from Saturday Night Live and half-drunken conversations at graduate student parties, but that is only a guess). Please, in the future try to stick to the issue at hand and spare us the facile and juvenile attempts at satire. (I mean, come on guys: one minute he’s a functionally retarded hick; the next minute he’s an evil genius bent on world domination. Which is it? Wait – maybe it’s possible that he is simply someone who disagrees with you – neither stupid nor evil. Then again, you so rarely meet such people in academia, how would you know?)

Grow up.

Cato, Professor, at 3:22 pm EST on January 16, 2006

get it?

Actually, my juvenile attempt at humor is really insightful analysis DISGUISED as a juvenile attempt at humor! Only, as Dr. Jack + observes, no one in my profession or on this board is smart enough to understand it! (Especially the right-brained apologists for our evil hick president, who’s brilliance is only surpassed by his stupidity). As this story teaches us, no one is too smart or too educated to be an idiot...

huntly, at 4:59 pm EST on January 16, 2006

How Kaufmanesqe...

Am I the only person who actually finds this funny? I personally did something similar on a much smaller scale (Ran for an office from a joke fascist platform) and constructed an elaborate joke.

This is so much better. He put himself on the line just to measure people’s reactions. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Alex Cline, at 5:37 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Thank-you Cato

Cato, I don’t like to be piling on anyone, but I totally agree with your assesment of “Huntly". Looks to me like he just enjoys seeing his “name in lights” so to speak. He must not know the democrats (with great leaders like “Monica” Clinton) have their own radio channel to express and listen to their sour grapes dribble.

huntly-brinkley, at 5:37 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Galileo Moment

I think Dr. Pluss is having a “Galileo Moment” — “They persecuted geniuses through the ages...” etc., etc., — which just reveals the depth of his isolation from the historical profession. There are historians who participate in historical recreations, from debates to reenactments, even television documentaries (1900 House, Frontier House) which are fantastic recreations of lost milieu which we can use as teaching tools.

There’s a long debate about the importance of empathy and sympathy in historical writing as well, but one thing that the vast majority of historians agree on is that “direct experience” is not necessary; in fact, it’s often more of a barrier to dispassionate analysis than an aid.

Finally, I’d invite him to repost the website he was referring to, as the once cited above does not appear to exist.

Jonathan Dresner, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, at 5:38 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Doesn’t sound like academia is buying this story

It appears Dr. Pluss wants to be accepted back into the academic community, but it doesn’t sound like his college comrades are buying it.

You Know Who, at 5:45 pm EST on January 16, 2006

Back into Academe? Heaven Forbid!

No, I have no desire to re-enter the academic world. If I liked it that much, I would never have left a tenured post at the William Paterson University of New Jersey in 2000 — I would have stayed on and, like most, slowly become sclerotic as I tried my best to penetrate the cyber-soaked minds of American youth today. I far prefer riding my horses and writing independently. And what’s so very sweet about it all, gang, is I will never have to worry about a pay check to get by. That was such a fitting accident of birth, which I’ll reflect on as I gaze upon the same Alps Percy Shelley did — on my next trip to Switzerland, the place of my birth. Happy Trails!

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 9:23 pm EST on January 16, 2006

He’s a liar and a nazi

We already know that he’s a liar since he admitted it. But anybody who would do something so hurtful to others and not care cannot claim that he was insincere. He effectively told many people that he wants to see them dead, and see their entire families wiped off the face of the earth. If somebody told me that he wanted to see me dead, I’d take it as a direct threat on my life.

Ironically, if his mother was Jewish, that makes him Jewish too. It’s not only the Jewish people who hold that view, but also the Nazis who would have gladly killed him for being Jewish regardless of what religious practices he may or may not have.

Hagrinas, at 4:26 am EST on January 17, 2006

Jaques Pluss

Re: Jaques Pluss and his assuming the role of a Nazi. The activity is not strange or rare and I am surprised at the near total negative reaction of readers. Sociologists and anthropologists for decades have done the same when investigating other cultures. The method goes by a number of names, (such as “endo” vs. “ecto” or the like) made most famous by the antics of Carlos Castaneda 40 years ago when he claimed to do the same when investigating the hallucinatory experiences of Northern Mexico native tribes and healers. Remember Don Juan? Castaneda won his UCLA PhD in anthropology for his thesis which recounted his adventures. Except in his case he made the whole thing up, creating the grandest literary hoax of the 20th century, possibly ever. He was exposed by psychologist/historian and writer, Richard De Mille, nephew of Cecil B., a resident of Santa Barbara. De Mille’s investigation of Castaneda, recorded in his two books, is a classic in detective work. But the relevant point is that the assumption of the cultural roles as a method of investigation and description is a well known and accepted academic method, in order to be able to describe the subjective experience of the culture’s members. . One may disagree with the ethics and the objectivity of such method, but why the fuss? Pluss is honest about his adventure — and deserves credit for a courageous and risky piece of investigation. I am anxious to read more. Wallace Sampson MD

Wallace Sampson, Physician, retired, at 4:27 am EST on January 17, 2006

Isn’t this McCarthyism?

Why the heck was he fired for being a Nazi? This is America and we’re supposed to be free to express any political ideology we wish as long as we don’t break the law in doing it. Firing him sets a dangerous precedent- what next, are they going to start firing people for being Democrats or Republicans? We already tried this with Communists and most anti-Communists like myself agree that McCarthy did more harm than good.

Mike, at 10:57 am EST on January 18, 2006

Huntly, grow up

Anyone wanting to see Mr. H at his best, see —

http://insidehighered.com/news/2006/01/16/rate

Mr. H is outstanding in his ability to bring life to its lowest denominator. He’s a protest petition, waiting to happen.

R.A., at 10:57 am EST on January 18, 2006

It’s not like participant-observer anthropology. The anthropologist doesn’t tell the outside world “I am really a member of this tribe.” S/he goes to the tribe, introduces herself as a visitor, and asks to live among them and learn their ways.

And when it’s done, what the anthropologist publishes may include “I participated in this ritual” or even “I was adopted into this group,” but the distinction between a native-born member of the group and a university-trained scholar visiting for a few years is understood.

Vicki, at 10:57 am EST on January 18, 2006

Being that I am Jewish, my first conclusion is that I could never trust this individual based on what has happened. The trust has been irrevokably broken.

With that said, I respect what he claims he was trying to do. If this professor is truly good, and not racist, then there is complete merit to the actions. He risked his career, reputation and I am guessing friendships, for the truth. How many are willing to do that?

The consequence of these actions are obvious. His response to these comments capture it. People vilify him for his actions.

So the results become that he had to risk a lot for the truth, and now no one but him can ever really know the truth. Why? Because he is the one who found it, and through his actions, we cannot trust him.

In the end I agree with the comment that makes this analygous to the actor preparing to play a murderer. One does not need to murder to understand, only experience that mindset.

p.s. the last comment in the list about a communist group, is ridiculous. We are taking about a Nazi organization that in the 1940’s killed millions of people. Compare apples to apples, not pommegranet seeds.

Courtney, at 10:57 am EST on January 18, 2006

“p.s. the last comment in the list about a communist group, is ridiculous. We are taking about a Nazi organization that in the 1940’s killed millions of people. Compare apples to apples, not pommegranet seeds.”

According to some accounts, the Communist killed 30 million Ukrainians before the beginning of WWII. I think the comparison is valid.

My problem with censoring groups like the Nazis is that this allows them to hide from public view. This lets them preach to the choir without having to accommodate an alternate point of view. This, in turn, reinforces their belief system. We should advertise their beliefs and counter them. We should force them to publicly explain themselves. We should hold ridiculous, albeit dangerous, points of view up to public ridicule. However, we can’t do that if they are not allowed to speak publicly.

JD, at 2:59 pm EST on January 18, 2006

A am a Jew and I am named after a grandfather who died during the Holocaust. Obviously I have no love for the Nazis. Still, I do not understand how a man could be fired from his job for belonging to an organization, no matter how odious. Is Joe McCarthy back?

Yuri, McCarthy?, at 2:12 pm EST on January 19, 2006

I was a student in Pluss’ Western Civ class, and although opinionated, he never stated anything in class that had to do with his opinion that he couldn’t back up with fact. Although his behavior was original to say the least, I don’t think he meant any harm to anyone. If he stated that he had intentions of doing so, I truly believe that it was purely on a research basis. I look foward to reading his book and I think that anyone that everyone “hates” so much has got to have something interesting to say.

Nora Hurley, This is what happens..., at 4:21 am EST on January 23, 2006

The issue of tenure

Although I lack the intution that firings based on group membership lack merit, I recall that the original purpose of tenure was to preserve experienced tutors from changes in administration in which the new administration may find their ideas abhorrent. It seems curious that this case would not be afforded the same protections, where Pluss’s personal ideology, real or professed, as we in the non-telepath community have no way of knowing the difference, should have been an illegitimate cause for firing. I am not necessarily opposed to the weakening of tenure, but the consequence should be addressed.

Elliot, at 4:21 am EST on January 23, 2006

Thank you, Wallace and Nora!

I thank both of you, Wallace Sampson,M.D. and my former student, Nora (yes, I remember you!) for having the presence of mind to understand both my methodolgy and its purposes of disclosure through historical post-modern participation—even if that means taking part in a vile organization which the researcher has to practically hold his stomach in order to work within. I just find it surprising that so many commentators on my story have not the least ability to abstract themselves from their own feelings in order to attempt to grasp my approach. I had to do that, for months, in the company of neo-Nazi’s in order to “get my story.” Without sounding too harsh, I must urge those critics of mine (and not all commentators are)to try my “method acting” approach to history or, better, to contemporary studies, and then revisit the content and tone of their comments. But Wallace and Nora, thank you very much for your open-mindedness. Dr. Jacques Pluss

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 7:45 pm EST on January 23, 2006

Pluss must be one Hell of an actor

I just listened for myself what the good doc had to say.

Listen for yourself and make your own determination:

http://www.nsm88radio.com/wv041605.wma

You Know Who, at 1:00 pm EST on January 26, 2006

On Post-Modernism and Historical “Method Acting.”

Yes, of course, I HAD to be a good “actor” in order to do a convincing job of infiltration. I had to advance in the organization in order to gather the most valuable research information I possibly could. I had to become “trusted.” I could not do that by sitting in a back row. The proof of the pudding is that I was successful. My historical method, my poetic sense, and my strength of personality (and stomach) in appearing to agree with those White Power characters (to be kind), was convincing enough to have them make me a national officer (office of information) within a month of my joining. Let’s also not forget that I have years of public speaking experience — from teaching since 1982! But the message, if you’ll note, was “boiler-plate” pedantic National Socialist material delivered in a vibrant manner to excite the monkeys I was addressing. Why else would they be fuming now? They bought my nonsense, hook, line, and sinker. By the way, what you heard is a speech I delivered to a group of about thirty National Socialist Movement members at the “National Meeting” in Kansas City last April. If you should happen to come across any of my old “White Viewpoint” Internet broadcasts (I think they’ve been pulled off the NSM radio site), you’ll note that I deliver the same message over and over again. Keep in mind that I was dealing with a listening audience which, when it was from a White Power group, was comprised of individuals with IQ’s well below 90 — in other words, borderline to complete idiots. Dr. Jacques Pluss.

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 5:40 pm EST on January 29, 2006

The National Socialist Movement’s Bad Deam!

Please permit me a brief non-education oriented comment as I point out that, if I did the National Socialist Movement as little harm as some of them claim, why do they bother to defend themselves by insisting on their nsm88forum (where a silly statement about me sits right on the first page of the Forum — you can’t miss it) and their website news section (www.nsm88.com)that I’m a man unhinged? Could it be that, aside from infiltrating them, I’ve “got” something on them? Did I truly refrain from disclosing my infiltration to absolutely no one? Did letters naming their most outspoken Holocaust critics go to one office or another of the Federal Republic of Germany, where Holocaust Denial is a criminal offense? Well, it’s all as much food for thought as is my historical methodology. Dr. Jacques Pluss.

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 10:35 pm EST on February 4, 2006

It’s not only Holocaust denial that’s a crime in the Federal Republic of Germany. The wearing of Nazi emblems and regalia is also a crime, and this is the law not only in Germany. Since your broadcasts were over the internet, if you attempt to enter Germany, Austria, France, or a number of other European countries, you will be detained. It doesn’t matter whether they believe you were perpetrating a hoax or not (They won’t believe it), the fact that you perpetrated these crimes is all that matters. David Irving seems to have concluded that perhaps the Holocaust occurred after all, but this won’t save hom from spending years in prison.

Ralph Jefferson, at 7:05 am EST on February 9, 2006

Mr. Jefferson’s “Disabled” Brilliance.

Mr. Jefferson: Like all people possessed by the tunnel vision of their own disabled minds, you apparently believe that you are an expert on the laws of various foreign countries regarding Nazism. Believe me, you have a great deal to learn about the things different foreign authorities care or don’t much care about. What would I know? I’m merely a citizen of one of those countries and I hold a degree in Civil Law from Queens’ College, Cambridge (U.K.) Did you even graduate from High School? Your posts are being passed on to my psychoanalyst colleagues in New York, so that I can accurately describe your psychological pathology in my up-coming book. Why in the world are you so interested in me, any way? And, more importantly, what abuse in your past brought you into the fold of a hate group? Childhood abuse? Lack of a father figure — whom you replaced with the coward Hitler (who blew his brains out rather than fight, even though disabled, in the Battle of Berlin)? A bad marriage or an inability to be intimate with others? In any case, you’re giving me some fine information for my written work. Dr. Jacques Pluss.

false Nazi, Director at Aargau Books LLC, at 7:35 pm EST on February 13, 2006

Mr. Pluss’ Last Post

It’s difficult to make sense out of Mr. Pluss’ incoherent last post, but, unlike him, I have never worn a brown shirt and swastika; nor have I been a member of a hate group. The European country of which he is a citizen is no doubt Switzerland, where, as he informed the racist groups that he recently addressed, he received his early education in Nazism. Switzerland has not demonstrated a great deal of moral clarity in the recent past, but many member states of the European Union, such as Germany, Austria, France, and Poland, have rather strict laws against denying the holocaust, making public anti-Semitic statements, and wearing or displaying Nazi paraphernalia, all of which Mr. Pluss has done in audio and visual broadcasts over the internet. If he is convinced that these laws will not be enforced, I should think that Mr. Pluss would have no problem in flying to Frankfurt and presenting his passport to the young man in the green shirt at the airport terminal. He will then be given ample opportunity to explain to a German court that he was only doing research for his next self-published book.

Ralph Jefferson, at 12:30 pm EST on February 15, 2006

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