In this episode of Underground History, we unravel the legacy of Lee Atwater - the political strategist who transformed American campaigning through the art of the “dog whistle.” From his role in refining the Republican Party’s Southern Strategy to his orchestration of the infamous Willie Horton ad, Atwater weaponized coded racial language to reshape national politics around fear, crime, and cultural resentment. We trace how his tactics evolved from subtle racial cues to the open xenophobia of the modern era, linking his influence to today’s political climate. Finally, we examine Atwater’s late-life reckoning, his public repentance, and the haunting moral cost of the ruthless system he helped create.

Featuring archival sources, historical analysis, and a look at how Atwater’s “blueprint” continues to shape America’s political soul.