Best of || H.W. Brands: America First — Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh and the Fight for America’s Role in the World

About this episode

Corey interviews historian H.W. Brands about the moral and political tensions in America's role during World War II.

Originally aired in January, back by popular demand. Two minutes. Real impact. Leave a review: lovethepodcast.com/politicsandreligion What happens when a nation debates whether it has a moral obligation to intervene in the suffering of others — and who gets to decide? Corey is joined by Pulitzer Prize–finalist historian and bestselling author H.W. Brands, Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, to explore the moral, political, and human tensions behind one of the most consequential debates in American history. The conversation centers on Professor Brands’ latest book, America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War, which examines the clash between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh as the United States wrestled with whether to enter World War II — and what role America should play in the world. Professor Brands unpacks how personal biography shapes public history, introducing his framework of “big history” and “little history” — the intersection between sweeping geopolitical forces and the intimate human decisions that quietly steer them. From Lindbergh’s unlikely rise as a celebrity political figure to Roosevelt’s…

People in this episode

Host: Corey

Guest: H.W. Brands

Topics covered

• American history
• World War II
• moral obligation
• political debate
• leadership ethics

Keywords

• H.W. Brands
• Roosevelt
• Lindbergh
• America First
• World War II
• moral obligation
• political history

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Texas at Austin

Books & works: America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War

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