LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS



LESSER-KNOWN FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS

Or PRESIDENTIAL PARAGRAPHS - #32 Part 3 of 3

Mort Fox

The previous article included much of the domestic agenda of FDR’s administration during the 1930’s. Two of the most significant foreign policy matters, of that period, involved the recognition of the Soviet Union and the Good Neighbor Policy.

Since the time of the Russian Revolution of 1917, there had been no formal diplomatic relations between the Soviets and the United States. In 1933, the U. S. would agree to recognize the Kremlin government in exchange for an agreement to stop many of their undesirable practices. They said “da”, Russian for yes, but in reality their performance of these activities was “nyet”, translation, no. They continued to deny religious freedom in Russia and their satellite countries. They also continued their subversive and propaganda agenda in this country. So much for them keeping their word.

Among the displays of the Good Neighbor Policy to Latin America was the removal of U. S. troops from Haiti and an increase in the payments made to Panama for the use of the Panama Canal. In 1936 Roosevelt attended the Pan-American conference in Buenos Aires to stress our cooperation in hemispheric defense. This foreign policy stance would prove to be fortuitous in light of the world war to come.

Throughout his presidency he continued his radio talks, referred to as “fireside chats”, which he began when he was governor of New York. It has been said that his eloquence had a familiar tone; one felt they were being spoken to on an individual basis. I was born in 1938 and although I clearly remember the day he died (we were let out of school), I can’t say I recall the radio chats. However, my parents listened intently to every one.

German forces invaded Poland in 1939. That marked the beginning of the greatest conflagration in the history of the world. In reality it began when Adolph Hitler, the German dictator, decided to adopt the neighboring country of Austria in March of 1938. And in August of 1939 the Germans signed a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union. Fortunately for the Allied powers, Germany’s word was as bad, if not worse than, the Russian’s. They attacked the USSR (Russia) in June of 1941. This action would by default make the Soviet Union part of the Allied powers. Ultimately the Allies would consist of the United States, Great Britain and all the Commonwealth countries, Free French, China, Brazil and most of the rest of Latin America and the Soviet Union.

"Peace in our time". This was the totally appeasing statement attributed to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September of 1938. The Anglo-German agreement gave Hitler the Sudetenland, part of Czechoslovakia, as a gift. In 1940 FDR announced the Lend-Lease Act. Under its terms we would supply Great Britain with 50 World War I destroyers in exchange for U. S. military bases. Our “neutrality” was finally showing signs of appropriate actions. The president had to contend with a public that believed we were isolated from the war by our protective oceans on both sides.

When the Germans marched into France and started air attacks on England (the Battle of Britain), most Americans realized that neither ocean was wide enough to insulate our country from the conflict. Nor could we ignore the plight of our friends. Roosevelt knew he had to step lightly in his desire to support the Allies.

In August of 1941, President Roosevelt met with the British Prime Minister and created the Atlantic Charter. It stated that they looked forward to “the final destruction of Nazi Germany.” Churchill was holding Great Britain together with “bailing wire, string and great leadership.” Roosevelt and the Prime Minister were indeed partners in the preservation of the world as we know it.

December 7, 1941, “a date that will live in infamy”, quoting FDR, witnessed the “dastardly and unprovoked” attack on the Hawaiian Islands by the Japanese. We were now in the war, all the way. When the surprise attack was ended, 2,300 Americans were dead, 1,200 were wounded and much of the naval fleet in the harbor was decimated. Fortunately, our aircraft carriers were not in port. Admiral Nagumo, the commander on the scene realized they missed their primary targets (the carriers) and broke off the action after the second aerial wave did its destruction.

It is interesting to note, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, commander of the combined fleet, had spent several years in the United States as a naval attaché. He was opposed to the surprise attack. He knew that it would “awaken the sleeping giant”, but he also was aware of the fact that the only way the Japanese could be victorious was to destroy the entire U. S. Pacific Naval Fleet. He stated that “we must win in six months or else.”

It was decided early that the European Theater War should be settled before undertaking the task of defeating the Japanese in the Pacific Theater. This, of course, was to the dismay of our troops in the Philippines and other allies in the Pacific area.

The war on all fronts was not going well, until June of 1942 when we were able to decipher enough of the Japanese code to determine their intention was to attack the Midway Islands. When the smoke cleared, we had destroyed the majority of their carrier force. They were no longer the all powerful, unbeatable foe as many initially saw them. The British began to turn the tide in North Africa.

At the Casablanca Conference in January of 1943, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed that the only terms that would be acceptable were the “unconditional surrender of Germany.” This would apply to the rest of the axis powers, Italy, Japan and those countries that Germany had dragged into the conflict. Also in that year British and American forces took over Sicily. They then started their march up the “boot” of Italy (the shape of the country). And in Italy Benito Mussolini (Hitler’s pal) was deposed and hanged by his feet for all to see. Also in ’43, the Soviet Union was able to break the hold of the Nazis of Leningrad.

As events in the Pacific continued to evolve from island to island in 1944, in Europe the greatest invasion in world history was about to take place. Then on D-Day, June 6, 1944, we hit the beaches, along with the British, Canadians and other allied forces. The German defenses of Normandy were put to the test. We suffered heavy causalities but managed to obtain a toehold and begin our push inland. By August 25th of 1944 Paris was liberated. The Battle of the Bulge was a vain attempt by the Nazis to stop our drive to the “fatherland”, but it only slowed us down temporarily.

At the Democratic National Convention in July of 1944, there was no question as to who the presidential nominee was going to be. In 1940, he had been reelected for an unprecedented third term; and now in 1944 to run for a fourth term was of even greater magnitude. However, FDR would be the man in the top spot.

Now the real interest was who was going to run for the vice-presidential nomination. Henry Wallace had been v-p but his socialistic leanings were beginning to adversely affect his desirability in the eyes of many of the Democratic Party’s power players. Harry Truman was one of three possible choices. But Harry was not intrigued with the prospect of that position. The president said, “Tell him if he wants to break up the Democratic Party in the middle of the war, that’s his responsibility.” Truman relented. Those close to the president, and who knew his health issues, were convinced Harry Truman would inherit the presidency.

There were a total of three vice presidents who served with Franklin Roosevelt. John Nance Garner served in the first two terms, and Henry Wallace was elected with FDR in 1940, and of course Harry Truman.

In February 1945, Dictator (Soviet Premier) Joseph Stalin joined FDR and Winston Churchill at the Yalta Conference to discuss post war plans. For a promise by Stalin (ha, ha) to join the allied fight in the Pacific after the liquidation of the Germans, he was given concessions (bad idea) in Europe and Asia. The bottom line, we didn’t need the Russians in the Pacific and Stalin came away smelling like a Communist rose. (This laid early ground work for the Cold War.)

Roosevelt won his fourth election, in January of 1945 and died in Warm Springs, Georgia on April 12, 1945. He didn’t get to witness the end of the Second World War. His health had been in obvious decline for some time prior. The office would claim his life; he was only 63 years of age.

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