How visable was Voldemort during the First War?

[Amanda]

No: HPFGUIDX 121580


Hello all, I haven't posted in ages and I've missed you all.  I've
been haveing an interesting disussion (and roleplay) on another site 
about Voldemort and the First War and I'd be very interested in you
opinions on this.

The question is this: 

Just how open and visible was Voldemort was during the first war?  

We know there was a war waging. Everyone in the WW had to know 
what was going on; this Dark Wizard, Lord Voldemort is moving into 
position to take over.   So lines had been drawn, sides taken, 
allegiances made. Dumbledore has, or is in the process of, setting up 
the Order.

Surley at some point Voldemort would have to step out into the open?  
Even the leader of a terrorist group has to speak out. Take Bin Laden 
as an example.  Although, thinking about it now, one really knew who 
led the IRA, and they were very organized and effective.  

So has Voldemort declared himself openly yet?  Or is he still issuing 
orders from some cave in Albania? And if he is why?  Why not walk 
into the Ministy and declare himself? He not so stupid as to have the 
terror that has been waged in his name be traced back to him.  No one 
could prove Arafat had anything to do with the terror campaigns in 
Israel.  

Do any of you think there is chance that Voldemort may have had 
some kind of legitimate position within the WW before and during the 
first war?  I think it's one way he could have gathered the support
and 
power he did, and was able to systematically begin to wipe out the 
Ministry sanctioned Order of the Phoenix. A huge feat he almost 
accomplished.

Lying in bed last night I kept thinking about the analogy between
Nazi 
Germany before the WWII (not much fun at 3am  ;-)) and how Hitler was 
an elected member if government before he declared himself dictator.  
Although, I know HP is a different set of circumstances, and
Voldemort 
was not a member of the Ministry.  Could he could have been 
something, a member of the Wizengamot perhaps, or a power player 
like Lucius Malfoy is in Harry Potter¡¦s time?  

I suppose my question is was Voldemort an underground terrorist 
working to subvert the Ministry of Magic?  And if he so, was the 
Ministry openly or secretly opposing him? (If secretly, was that what 
the Order was set up for?)    Or was Voldemort a legitimate member of 
the WW, albeit one with extreme opinions, working to subvert the 
Ministry?  

Thanks and cheers, Mandy