5/8: America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War Hardcover – September 24, 2024 by H. W. Brands (Author)
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 6 November 2024
⏱️ 11 minutes
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Summary
https://www.amazon.com/America-First-Roosevelt-Lindbergh-Shadow/dp/0385550413
Hitler's invasion of Poland in September 1939 launched a momentous period of decision-making for the United States. With fascism rampant abroad, should America take responsibility for its defeat?
For popular hero Charles Lindbergh, saying no to another world war only twenty years after the first was the obvious answer. Lindbergh had become famous and adored around the world after his historic first flight over the Atlantic in 1927. In the years since, he had emerged as a vocal critic of American involvement overseas, rallying Americans against foreign war as the leading spokesman the America First Committee.
While Hitler advanced across Europe and threatened the British Isles, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt struggled to turn the tide of public opinion. With great effort, political shrewdness and outright deception—aided by secret British disinformation efforts in America—FDR readied the country for war. He pushed the US onto the world stage where it has stayed ever since.
In this gripping narrative, H.W. Brands sheds light on a crucial tipping point in American history and depicts the making of a legendary president.
1931 Lindbergh in Japan
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is CBS Eye on the World. Here's John Batchelor. |
| 0:12.0 | Continuing with Professor H.W. Brands, Bill Brands, his new book is America First, Roosevelt |
| 0:18.1 | versus Lindberg in the Shadow of War. These two men are as famous as the solar system |
| 0:23.7 | as we begin 1941. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, having won his third term, making remarks that I will |
| 0:31.5 | not send your son to die in a foreign war, knowing the whole time that the foreign war is beckoning, beckoning the U.S. |
| 0:40.7 | Our fleet is involved already in providing some comfort to so-called hemispheric defense, |
| 0:48.1 | but really it's a question of helping the Brits. |
| 0:51.2 | Our fleet is involved certainly having been moved the power of it to Hawaii. |
| 0:56.0 | There is foreshadowing for you in 1940 and 41 to hold off the Japanese who are making inroads |
| 1:03.7 | directing at the British Empire. We're keen on Congress now. The battle takes itself to the representatives. |
| 1:12.0 | H.R. 1776, January 10th, 1941. |
| 1:17.1 | What is that, Professor? |
| 1:18.2 | Thank you. |
| 1:19.4 | So this presents to Congress what will be the Lend-Leese Act. |
| 1:23.1 | There's a great irony here because HR 1776, of course, it's indicative of American independence, |
| 1:31.4 | except 1776 was when America declared independence from Britain, said we're not British anymore, |
| 1:38.0 | and we're separating ourselves from the British. But in fact, by this bill, Roosevelt intended |
| 1:42.6 | to marry America's future to Britain's |
| 1:45.6 | future. One of the parts of the neutrality legislation of the 1930s said that the United States |
| 1:52.3 | will not extend loans to the belligerents. So if they could pay cash after the arms embargo was |
| 1:59.9 | lifted, Roosevelt successfully got that removed, |
| 2:02.9 | they still ran up against the problem of can you pay for this stuff. And this was going to be a |
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