How FDR Built a 12-Million-Strong Military: Robert Brigham on America’s WWII Mobilization

Lectures in History

C-SPAN

History, Politics, News

4.1 • 696 Ratings

🗓️ 7 December 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vassar College professor Robert Brigham discussed his upcoming memoir about his search for his biological father, who served as a Marine in Vietnam. This event was part of the 2025 LCpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt Symposium on War, Conflict, and Society at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This week on the Lectures and History podcast, Vassar College Professor Robert Brigham
0:09.5	traces how President Franklin D. Roosevelt transformed the United States from an isolationist nation
0:14.8	with about 300,000 military personnel in 1939, into a global military power of more than 12 million by 1945.
0:23.6	Professor Brigham details the sweeping mobilization efforts that reshaped American society
0:28.3	and prepared the nation for its decisive role in World War II.
0:32.3	More after this.
0:34.3	Hey, Harry!
0:35.0	Hello, mate.
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0:45.6	Four, that's a steel of a deal
0:47.4	It's a good darn deal
0:48.5	That'll make your squirrel for real
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0:50.8	My name's not Neil
0:52.2	I know, bet it rhymes
0:53.9	Listen to Harry and make your best bet on the football At Bet Victor Neil? My name's not Neil. I know, but it rhymes.
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	...

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