That's an intriguing analogy, pdq! ;-) Yep, controversial figures like that are always wise to curry as much favour with the locals as they possibly can, and it helps build them a strong power base.

If they win in the long run, then they are hailed as heroes by most people. If they lose in the end, they are damned by most people, although they may remain heroes to a few. The gangsters of the depression were folk heroes to a lot of people, and so was Jesse James before them.