10 Historical Facts They Don't Teach You At School

4. A US President Paid The KKK's Joining Fee

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Public Domain/Flickr (CC Paul Walsh)

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, was in office at the White House between 1945–53. An unassuming looking fellow, Truman's college professor appearance hid the fact he once tried to join one of the most aggressively racist groups in history.

Old Harry must have wished he'd never listened to his advisors.

It was they who suggested he hook up with the Ku Klux Klan because political opponents in the Jackson County area had support from the group. After all, they seemed like such grounded, civilised folk who just wanted the best for America. Of course, that boiled down to hate crimes against those who happened to be born with a different skin colour. Lovely.

Truman paid the $10 joining fee but eventually changed his mind upon finding out what the KKK were really about and reneged on the Klan's offer to have him join properly. Can you imagine the embarrassment?

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