Aimee Semple McPherson and the Nature of Charisma
The NYPR Archive Collections | Jan 1, 2000
Gilbert Highet gives us a profile of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson and he considers the nature of charisma during her 'world-wide vindication tour.'
He first gives us a summary of the story of her disappearance and alleged kidnapping. The attempted prosecution of her for the obstruction of justice.
"I saw her. I met her. I heard her. She made an enormous impression on me...She was the strongest public personality I'd ever seen." He describes in detail the spectacle of one of her public performances. "She put on a terrific show" Highet says she was not always accurate. Making that known, however, got him thrown out of the event.
He warns we must be wary of such charismatic people.
WNYC archives id: 90910
