Source: Lynne Olson. Those Angry Days: Roosevelt, Lindbergh, and
America's Fight Over World War II, 1939 - 1941 (2013)
America's Fight Over World War II, 1939 - 1941 (2013)
President Franklin Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh were alike not only in terms of popularity; they were also very strong-willed and stubborn . . . both viewed themselves as the "Lord of All They Surveyed". Both felt endowed with a special purpose, and were slow (sometimes unable) to acknowledge mistakes, and they both hated criticism. FDR and Lindbergh were both self-absorbed and emotionally detached . . . and they were absolute control freaks. In short, two competing egomaniacs were leading actors in the American conflict over the degree of U.S. involvement in the war in Europe between 1 September, 1939, and 7 December, 1941 . . . it proved to be the most divisive years in American History during the 20th Century.
The first clash between FDR and Lindbergh was in 1934, over the government scandal over Air Mail. FDR ordered the US Army Air Corps to deliver the mail instead of the airlines, and Lindbergh publicly "called him out" in the media. FDR was more than embarrassed when Lindbergh was proven right about the inability of the Air Corps to reliably deliver air mail; they didn't have the necessary training or the instruments to fly in bad weather . . . there were 12 deaths and 66 crashes. For the first time, FDR found himself bested in the court of public opinion; it proved to be his only political mistake during his 1st term in office . . . from that point on, FDR viewed Lindbergh as a personal and political enemy.
After the trial / conviction of Bruno Richard Hauptmann in "The Crime of the Century" (the kidnapping and murder of Charles, Jr.), Lindbergh moved his family to England, and then France during 1935 - 1938. He made several highly-publicized trips to Nazi Germany (pictured: Hermann Goering presenting a ceremonial sword to Lindbergh in 1936), and was invited to inspect the Luftwaffe. Lindbergh stated that the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) was invincible, and that Britain and France should, in essence, appease Hitler in Europe. On his return to the U.S., Lindbergh's job was to help General "Hap" Arnold build up the Army Air Corps; both viewed the role of the Air Corps as a defensive strategy for "Fortress America".
FDR invited Lindbergh to the White House in April, 1939, to "get his measure" of the only other American that equalled him in fame, and also to try and find out how much of a problem Lindbergh would be in the upcoming trouble-filled months. Lindbergh thought the meeting went well, and the Air Corps Mail controversy was in the past, but he knew that whatever "Honeymoon" that existed between him and President Roosevelt would probably not last very long.
FDR invited Lindbergh to the White House in April, 1939, to "get his measure" of the only other American that equalled him in fame, and also to try and find out how much of a problem Lindbergh would be in the upcoming trouble-filled months. Lindbergh thought the meeting went well, and the Air Corps Mail controversy was in the past, but he knew that whatever "Honeymoon" that existed between him and President Roosevelt would probably not last very long.
On 1 September, 1939, Hitler invaded western Poland, and Britain and France declared war on Germany; that date was the "Lightning Rod" that started the most divisive period in US History during the 20th Century. By early-1940, Lindbergh had become the most famous spokesman for the "America First Committee" (pictured), and at that point, he became FDR's #1 adversary . . . what followed for 2+ years was a brutal, no-holds barred battle for the soul of the nation in terms of the level of American involvement in the War in Europe.
The shock of the Nazi blitzkrieg convinced many citizens that American military involvement in the war was very near. The national debate centered on this question: Should the U.S. aid Britain, and should the U.S. go further and enter the War in Europe? For the next 2+ years, that debate raged across America: should the U.S. be an Isolationist "Fortress" Nation, with a strong navy & air corps to defend itself (the Treaty of Versailles buttressed that perspective). Or, should the U.S. be an Internationalist Nation; that point of view held that the times were far too dire in Europe for the U.S. to avoid getting directly involved. To an Internationalist, Britain's existence was vital for America's security, and the U.S. had a moral obligation to stop the evil of Adolf Hitler; that view was challenged to the "nth degree" by the Isolationists.
The shock of the Nazi blitzkrieg convinced many citizens that American military involvement in the war was very near. The national debate centered on this question: Should the U.S. aid Britain, and should the U.S. go further and enter the War in Europe? For the next 2+ years, that debate raged across America: should the U.S. be an Isolationist "Fortress" Nation, with a strong navy & air corps to defend itself (the Treaty of Versailles buttressed that perspective). Or, should the U.S. be an Internationalist Nation; that point of view held that the times were far too dire in Europe for the U.S. to avoid getting directly involved. To an Internationalist, Britain's existence was vital for America's security, and the U.S. had a moral obligation to stop the evil of Adolf Hitler; that view was challenged to the "nth degree" by the Isolationists.
Nothing in the 20th Century, not even the late-1960s, divided America more than the Isolationist / Internationalist Debate from 1939 - 1941. This "Great Debate" has been lost in history; that was mostly due to shock to the system that was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December, 1941. Even the Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, didn't want the U.S. military directly involved (until after Pearl, of course).
FDR convinced himself that Lindbergh and the "Firsters" posed a major threat to the U.S.; FDR embarked on a dirty, nasty campaign to destroy the influence / reputation of the America First Committee, and especially the reputation of Lindbergh. FDR authorized FBI investigations on Lindbergh and many other "Firsters", as well as publicly labeling Lindbergh (& the "Firsters") as subversives, or even Nazis. Lindbergh and America First portrayed FDR as a dictator who had destroyed free speech in his "Rush to War". . . Lindbergh went so far to say that Democracy no longer existed in America. (Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, was not only an author of children's books, but also a political cartoonist for PM, a New York City Internationalist newspaper. His political cartoons skewered Axis leaders and American Isolationists before Pearl Harbor)
FDR convinced himself that Lindbergh and the "Firsters" posed a major threat to the U.S.; FDR embarked on a dirty, nasty campaign to destroy the influence / reputation of the America First Committee, and especially the reputation of Lindbergh. FDR authorized FBI investigations on Lindbergh and many other "Firsters", as well as publicly labeling Lindbergh (& the "Firsters") as subversives, or even Nazis. Lindbergh and America First portrayed FDR as a dictator who had destroyed free speech in his "Rush to War". . . Lindbergh went so far to say that Democracy no longer existed in America. (Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, was not only an author of children's books, but also a political cartoonist for PM, a New York City Internationalist newspaper. His political cartoons skewered Axis leaders and American Isolationists before Pearl Harbor)
Despite FDR's efforts to support Britain (who by 1940 was standing alone in Europe against the Nazis), he wanted to avoid sending U.S. troops to Europe. FDR was loathe to challenge Isolationists in Congress during his 2nd Term, which was the main obstacle in any meaningful progress towards helping an increasingly desperate Britain. FDR's 2nd Term would be marred by serious mistakes, as well as a lack of leadership in framing America's involvement in the War in Europe; most Americans were waiting for their President to lead them out of the contentious and divisive debate, but FDR placed far too much credence on the influence and power that Congressional Isolationists actually possessed. General Marshall (pictured) actually doubted FDR's ability to lead the U.S. in a major war; that would change after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor
(Below: Lynne Olson comments on FDR and Lindbergh before Pearl Harbor)
(Below: Lynne Olson comments on FDR and Lindbergh before Pearl Harbor)
For the Stout-of-Heart, here is Lynne Olson in a lecture promoting her book; it's a great detailed synopsis if you don't have time to read the book!