Fdr And Pearl Harbor Essay, Research Paper

Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor

In the book Roosevelt and Pearl Harbor , Baker attempts to seek the answers that many have asked since the event: (1) Could Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) have done more or less to prevent the devastation of the Pearl Harbor, (2) Did FDR provoke the war, because he could not prepare for one, (3) Was FDR primarily interested in extending his personal power, and lastly, Was FDR in engaged in a rescue mission for Winston Churchill. To answer the unknowns of FDR s knowledge and involvement, Baker was forced into several areas of politics and its resulting impact.

The book was well organized and brilliantly shifted the reader between the actions that were transitioning and contributing to FDR s decisions, and answering the questions that Baker intended to answer. For example, in the beginning of the book, Baker purposely illustrated FDR s seriousness to the armed forces. At the inauguration ceremony, FDR instituted a historical change by eliminating the traditional parade of high school bands, floats with pretty girls atop, and back dropping sounds of drums and bugle corps. The festive approach was replaced with men in khaki uniforms, big military trucks, tanks with guns, and the sounds of military aircraft in the sky. One would wonder if FDR s change occurred because of his vision of what was to come. This might have been symbolic of FDR s intent on building his military s strength to prepare for a war that later proved to be inevitable.

Baker used a vast array of resources in achieving his point. The resources he used included many other readings from authors and historians with different viewpoints. Such authors referred to were Herbert Feis, Basil Rauch, Robert J. C. Butow, Robertta Wohlstetter and David Kahn. However, Baker felt neither of the mentioned authors dealt with FDR s Pearl Harbor involvement deep enough, and thus left unanswered questions for Baker.

Baker not only relied on other readings, but it is evident that he used diary s, personal notes, formal released documents and interviews in achieving his information. Baker consciously looked at the accusations, and assumptions launched at FDR to see how they were derived and what resources they came from to sort out the facts. Throughout the book, Baker pointed out issues that could not be substantiated as facts.

For example, let s take the American First pressure group. At one point in the book, FDR is constantly being asked by Winton Churchill for the U.S. to become more involved in Great Britain s plight against the Germans. All along, the U.S. is not making any gains toward peace with Japan, who is intent on war. In addition to those strains, the labor unions are struggling in their mission with big businesses, resulting in walkouts and strikes. During this time, the U.S. was building their weaponry to strengthen their forces. The labor strikes were affecting FDR and his administration s plans for completion. Simultaneously, Japan was effectively planning and staging their attack in the Pacific. The American First was a non-interventionist group whose mere effort was to keep the U.S. out of war. The American First group s leader, Charles Lindbergh was at full speed speaking all around America attacking FDR for his support of building up the armed forces weaponry and supporting Great Britain. The American First, sitting on the outside of the White House, continually making accusations that FDR was pushing them into a war, was not factual, nor was it correct. Baker revealed what the American First did not know. FDR was doing everything possible to keep America from war. The result would prove itself in the end, and it would be fatal. Japan was not changing their position of war.

Baker effectively shows the different areas of politics that impacted the U.S, FDR and his decisions. Such areas included the isolationists, the men of the industry, the labor leaders, and the American people. Each one of the aforementioned politically had impact and had to be dealt with accordingly.

The isolationists were considered powerful and influential people of business and society. They could effectively persuade the American people, which in turn could influence their congressman, and impact decisions made on Capitol Hill.

The men of industry were persuaded to accept the governments defense contracts, turning away from the profits of the consumers was difficult at times. This too impacted FDR because of the military s need for more defense equipment.