Episode Details

H.W. Brands, author of America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War, Part One: In April 1939, Charles Lindbergh returns to the United States amidst rising European tensions. Gaining global fame for his 1927 solo transatlantic flight and sympathy from his infant son's tragic kidnapping, Lindbergh remains an incredibly powerful public figure. He holds a stubborn admiration for German culture but is deeply wary of Adolf Hitler, believing Britain is in decay and will drag the U.S. into another war. FDR attempts to co-opt Lindbergh into his administration, but Lindbergh fiercely guards his independence. He takes to the national radio to advocate for strict American neutrality, deeply mistrusting FDR's step-by-step interventionist approach. (1)