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

Hindenberg, the man who had the power as president of the Reich, to appoint chancellors,

many chancellors, repeatedly appointing them in the last months, three in eight months or nine months.

They joked about it.

At this rate, everybody will get to be chancellor.

Why did Hindenberg 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 Ryback has an answer.

He was 84 years old.

He was weary.

Here's Timothy Ryback 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.

Hindenberg is complicated.

I personally, John, feel that Hindenberg was trying to do whatever was best for the

German nation at large. He was conservative. He was a monarchist at heart, but he was doing his

duty, putting Germany above all else at the end of the day.

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