Is Tomorrow Hitler's? 200 Questions on the Battle of MankindKnickerbocker, H. R. (Hubert Renfro)
History
Is Tomorrow Hitler's? 200 Questions on the Battle of Mankind
Knickerbocker, H. R. (Hubert Renfro)
Europe -- Politics and government -- 1918-1945; World War, 1939-1945; World War, 1939-1945 -- United States
A. Yes, what is it that has happened to Lindbergh to cause such a
radical change? In 1927 Coolidge called him “noble”; in 1941 Roosevelt
said he was “not wanted.” What a contrast! I have just finished reading
for the first time Lindbergh’s book called _We_, as he referred to
himself and his airplane, the _Spirit of St. Louis_, containing
the story of his life and flight. It moves one to sadness to look
back and remember the way that world of long ago reacted to the
twenty-five-year-old American’s feat. Many of us have forgotten that
the flight itself became secondary to the world’s intoxication over the
event.
Lindbergh received a more spectacular ovation, attended by more
persons, who were more excited, in France, Belgium, England, and the
United States than had ever been given any human being in the history
of the world by any of the multitudes which have welcomed conquerors
and kings.
Consider the terms used by President Coolidge in referring to
Lindbergh; “this sincere and genuine exemplar of fine and noble
virtues”; “illustrious citizen”; “this genial, modest American youth
with the naturalness, the simplicity and the poise of true greatness”;
“this wholesome, earnest, fearless, courageous product of America.” And
as if this were not enough, Coolidge read off a list of “some of his
qualities noted by the Army officers who examined him for promotion,
as shown by reports in the files of the Militia Bureau of the War
Department:
“‘Intelligent,’ ‘industrious,’ ‘energetic,’ ‘dependable,’ ‘purposeful,’
‘alert,’ ‘quick of reaction,’ ‘serious,’ ‘deliberate,’ ‘stable,’
‘efficient,’ ‘frank,’ ‘modest,’ ‘congenial,’ ‘a man of good moral
habits and regular in all his business transactions.’”
And then President Coolidge went on to say that “One of his officers
expressed his belief that the young man ‘would successfully complete
everything he undertakes.’ This reads like a prophecy.”
Heaven protect the American people if Lindbergh succeeds in his present
undertaking, because he has undertaken now to keep America from meeting
her peril before it becomes overwhelming. He wants us to wait until the
only allies left in the world for us are stricken down and we stand
by ourselves to face a combination of powers stronger than we and
unappeasably resolved to destroy us.
He has undertaken this task apparently as a sort of crusade. We are
assured that his father before him, Charles Lindbergh, Congressman
from Minnesota, also possessed the Lindbergh sincerity as he declaimed
throughout the last war against American participation. We recognize
sincerity, persistence, and courage as admirable qualities when linked
with a just cause, but the possession of them only makes the matter
worse when they are associated with a disastrous and cynical policy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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