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)
By the latter third of 1940, FDR had become absolutely furious with America's Isolationists; so much so that he would dictate an off-the-record "Dossier of Grudges" in order to let some of his internal rage escape. But, once free of the "Election Barrier" from 5 November, 1940, FDR went on the attack against the Isolationists. FDR had hoped that the Lend-Lease Act would effectively end the Isolationist Movement (especially the America First Committee). Although diminished, die-hard Isolationists vowed to fight to the end against FDR's Internationalism. It didn't help matters that FDR insisted on national loyalty . . . only they had to be entirely on his terms.
In the process of attacking Isolationists in the name of national loyalty, FDR made a great mistake: instead of choosing to educate & illuminate Americans on what was at stake in Europe, he chose to attack, discredit, and dismiss the Isolationists. In essence, it was the birth of the Loyalty and Security Risks; those that didn't support FDR had their reputations attacked and their loyalties questions . . . many were even investigated.
FDR believed that Lindbergh was the main reason for the (in his opinion) hesitation for the U.S. to become more directly involved in aiding Great Britain against the Nazis. It was FDR's point-of-view that Lindbergh controlled the balance-of-power in the Isolationist Movement. Therefore, according to FDR's logic, if Lindbergh was the Lineal (Indispensable) Leader, and Lindbergh was taken out of the "Great Debate", then the Isolationist Movement would disappear as well. Dorothy Thompson, the most famous female journalist in the U.S. in 1941, went so far to compare Lindbergh's Isolationist followers to the Hitler Youth.
FDR believed that Lindbergh was the main reason for the (in his opinion) hesitation for the U.S. to become more directly involved in aiding Great Britain against the Nazis. It was FDR's point-of-view that Lindbergh controlled the balance-of-power in the Isolationist Movement. Therefore, according to FDR's logic, if Lindbergh was the Lineal (Indispensable) Leader, and Lindbergh was taken out of the "Great Debate", then the Isolationist Movement would disappear as well. Dorothy Thompson, the most famous female journalist in the U.S. in 1941, went so far to compare Lindbergh's Isolationist followers to the Hitler Youth.
The FDR White House recruited many to attack Lindbergh in public, including one of FDR's speechwriters, Robert Sherwood, who publicly called Lindbergh a Nazi. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes also went on the attack, reminding everyone that he was the first "Lindbergh Hater". Ickes claimed that Lindbergh raised aloft the standard of Nazism in America (to the left, Lindbergh was delivering another radio address on behalf of America First).
By the spring of 1941, FDR was convinced (like Ickes) that Lindbergh was a "Conscious Fascist". At the end of April, FDR appointed John Franklin Carter to be in charge of a secret organization . . . his mission was to collect information, from public opinion all the way to the actions of his enemies, and report only to the President.
By the spring of 1941, FDR was convinced (like Ickes) that Lindbergh was a "Conscious Fascist". At the end of April, FDR appointed John Franklin Carter to be in charge of a secret organization . . . his mission was to collect information, from public opinion all the way to the actions of his enemies, and report only to the President.
On 25 April, 1941, a reporter asked FDR why Lindbergh hadn't been called up to active duty in the Reserve Army Air Corps. Citing historical evidence (from John Franklin Carter), FDR responded that during the Civil War, many citizens were not allowed to serve due to their "defeatist attitude" (FDR was specifically citing Clement Vallandigham, the leader of the Copperheads; when he was asked if was referring to Vallandigham, FDR answered yes).
For all intents-and-purposes, FDR called Charles Lindbergh a traitor to his nation.
Wendell Willkie did not support FDR's name-calling; he stated that Hitler should be the person that Americans despised. Lindbergh was uncharacteristically shaken by FDR's public attack, mostly due to the fact that the President questioned his loyalty to his nation.
For all intents-and-purposes, FDR called Charles Lindbergh a traitor to his nation.
Wendell Willkie did not support FDR's name-calling; he stated that Hitler should be the person that Americans despised. Lindbergh was uncharacteristically shaken by FDR's public attack, mostly due to the fact that the President questioned his loyalty to his nation.
After a few days, Lindbergh wrote a letter to FDR, in which he resigned his commission in the Reserve Army Air Corps. Lindbergh also released the letter to the public on the same day he sent it to the White House; it was the same tactic he used in 1934 when he embarrassed FDR during the Air Mail contract dispute. Life magazine had little sympathy for either famous figure, stating that FDR delivered an unnecessary insult, and that Lindbergh's resignation was a result of an unnecessary temper tantrum.
Lindbergh's radio addresses became much more bitter, demagogic, and contentious. He specifically maligned FDR and other administration officials, claiming that they were undermining American Democracy. With FDR and Lindbergh setting the tone, the "Great Debate" to determine America's involvement in the War in Europe became even more vitriolic.
(Below: A portion of Lindbergh's America 1st speech at Des Moines on 11 September 1941; even if you listen for a few minutes, you can tell it was a controversial speech)
Lindbergh's radio addresses became much more bitter, demagogic, and contentious. He specifically maligned FDR and other administration officials, claiming that they were undermining American Democracy. With FDR and Lindbergh setting the tone, the "Great Debate" to determine America's involvement in the War in Europe became even more vitriolic.
(Below: A portion of Lindbergh's America 1st speech at Des Moines on 11 September 1941; even if you listen for a few minutes, you can tell it was a controversial speech)
Internationalists were also divided, but along the lines of moderates vs. radicals, and the moderates were losing. By the summer of 1941, it was common to see street-corner rallies descend into public physical brawls between Isolationists and Internationalists. For the America First Committee, it became more-and-more difficult finding public places to hold their rallies.
Lindbergh, more than ever, needed constant security when he appeared in public. J. Edgar Hoover (with FDR's blessing), had the FBI keep Lindbergh under very close surveillance . . . his phones had already been tapped for months. FDR asked FBI Director Hoover (pictured) to also investigate other prominent Isolationists, as well as major opponents of the Lend-Lease Act (those investigations presaged the FBI's investigational strategies during the Vietnam Era).
Lindbergh, more than ever, needed constant security when he appeared in public. J. Edgar Hoover (with FDR's blessing), had the FBI keep Lindbergh under very close surveillance . . . his phones had already been tapped for months. FDR asked FBI Director Hoover (pictured) to also investigate other prominent Isolationists, as well as major opponents of the Lend-Lease Act (those investigations presaged the FBI's investigational strategies during the Vietnam Era).
Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) became a major player in the "Blame Game" during this incredibly divisive time in U.S. History. Geisel was an editorial cartoonist for the left-leaning Internationalist New York City daily newspaper called PM. To Geisel, Isolationists were the enemies of Democracy, and they needed to be exposed as such.
Geisel had already published two children's books as Dr. Seuss (the second was Horton Hatches an Egg), when he started working at PM. Geisel's cartoons constantly skewered Axis leaders and US Isolationists. Next to Hitler, Geisel's favorite target was Lindbergh, as you can see to the left. Geisel's symbol for Isolationism was the ostrich with its head in the sand; as a result of Geisel's attacks (and others), America First moderates left the committee, leaving the hard-core extreme right in charge of the "Firsters". Lindbergh, quite against his will, became the darling of the extremists in America First.
Geisel had already published two children's books as Dr. Seuss (the second was Horton Hatches an Egg), when he started working at PM. Geisel's cartoons constantly skewered Axis leaders and US Isolationists. Next to Hitler, Geisel's favorite target was Lindbergh, as you can see to the left. Geisel's symbol for Isolationism was the ostrich with its head in the sand; as a result of Geisel's attacks (and others), America First moderates left the committee, leaving the hard-core extreme right in charge of the "Firsters". Lindbergh, quite against his will, became the darling of the extremists in America First.
The House Un-American Activities Committee got into the act as well; created in 1934, it was revived in 1938 by ultra-conservatives in Congress. By 1938, HUAC's main focus was the New Deal, which was labeled a "Communist Conspiracy". The chairman of HUAC, Representative Martin Dies, Jr. (TX; pictured), was like Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s in his efforts to ruin lives. McCarthy's template for oppression in the 1950s was created in the late-1930s by Dies, Jr. and HUAC.
HUAC went after any "Communist" that it believed interfered with what they considered to be the "American Way", and Internationalists were on their list to investigate. The time between 1939 and 1941 was so divisive, even the ACLU
(American Civil Liberties Union) barred/expelled anyone that had political ties to groups that were associated with dictatorship in any nation.
The most divisive era in U.S. History during the 20th Century would reach its crescendo on 6 December, 1941, before Pearl Harbor not only rendered the "Great Debate" moot, but also blasted the "Great Debate" into historical oblivion . . .
HUAC went after any "Communist" that it believed interfered with what they considered to be the "American Way", and Internationalists were on their list to investigate. The time between 1939 and 1941 was so divisive, even the ACLU
(American Civil Liberties Union) barred/expelled anyone that had political ties to groups that were associated with dictatorship in any nation.
The most divisive era in U.S. History during the 20th Century would reach its crescendo on 6 December, 1941, before Pearl Harbor not only rendered the "Great Debate" moot, but also blasted the "Great Debate" into historical oblivion . . .