Conversation with the author Timothy Ryback, his book Takeover, Hitler's final rise to power.

Hindenburg, the man who had the power as president of the Reich, to Chancellor's, many Chancellor's, repeatedly

repointing them in the last months, three and eight months or nine months.

They joked about it. At this rate, everybody will get to be Chancellor.

Why did Hindenburg make mistake after mistake, change his mind? Go here, go there.

Why did Hindenburg building up to the worst mistake of all regard his role

as critical given that he couldn't decide that he was being manipulated.

Timothy Rybak has an answer.

He was 84 years old.

He was weary.

Here's Timothy Rybak on Hindenburg. What we can say now all these decades later after the tragedy of the 20th century.

Why the bad choices? More of this tonight.

Hindenburg is complicated. I personally, John feel that Hindenburg was trying to do whatever was best for the German nation at large.

He was conservative.

He was a clock, he was a monarchist at heart, but he was doing his duty, putting Germany above all else at the end of the day.

And I think where he did begin to stumble, maybe he just wearied.

Schleicha referred to himself as the last horse in Hindenburg's stall. I think Hindenburg found he had exhausted all of his

options. I do think that the man was 84 years old, he was weary,

and I think he made some unfortunate decisions.

And we ended up, where we ended up with on January 30th.