Complex sentence: This role caused a public reassessment of Tillman, who was best known for giving speeches that shocked the North and made even southerners cringe, was merely presenting an image as "Pitchfork Ben", which he could turn on and off as needed.
Split into simpler sentences: This role caused a public reassessment of Tillman, who was best known for giving speeches that shocked the North and made even southerners cringe. Writers suggested he merely presenting an image as "Pitchfork Ben", which he could turn on and off as needed.