McCorkle is a casually anti-Semitic FBI agent who looks into the Roths several times over the span of a year or two, confronting each member of the family alone to ask about the political speech and activities of Alvin and, later on, of Herman. Agent McCorkle believes that the Roths’ opposition to Lindbergh means that they are either organizing or taking part in a conspiracy against his administration—a sentiment which foreshadows the larger and more insidious anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that will overtake America in 1942.
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FBI Agent/Agent McCorkle Character Timeline in The Plot Against America
The timeline below shows where the character FBI Agent/Agent McCorkle appears in The Plot Against America. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 5: Never Before
...that he can’t answer any questions—he’s on his way home. Philip is afraid of the agent finding the money Alvin has given him. The FBI agent assures Philip that he’s on...
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There is, however, plenty to be afraid of. Philip learns that the FBI agent who questioned him has also stopped by his mother’s work to question her and his...
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A week into Alvin’s job at the market, the FBI agent arrives at the grocery with several other agents to ask around about Alvin, insinuating to...
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Chapter 7: The Winchell Riots
McCorkle, the FBI agent who questioned the Roths long ago, shows up in their orbit once...
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