The Sphinx: Franklin Roosevelt, the Isolationists, and the Road to World War II

by Nicholas Wapshott

Before Pearl Harbor, before the Nazi invasion of Poland, America teetered between the desire for isolation and the threat of world war.

May 1938. Franklin Delano Roosevelt—recently reelected to a second term as president—sat in the Oval Office and contemplated two the rule of fascism overseas, and a third term.

With Hitler's reach extending into Austria, and with the atrocities of World War I still fresh in the American memory, Roosevelt faced the question that would prove one of the most defining in American whether to once again go to war in Europe.

In The Sphinx, Nicholas Wapshott recounts how an ambitious and resilient Roosevelt—nicknamed "the Sphinx" for his cunning, cryptic rapport with the press—devised and doggedly pursued a strategy to sway the American people to abandon isolationism and take up the mantle of the world's most powerful nation.

Chief among Roosevelt’s antagonists was his friend Joseph P. Kennedy, a stock market magnate and the patriarch of what was to become one of the nation's most storied dynasties. Kennedy's financial, political, and personal interests aligned him with a war-weary American public, and he counted among his isolationist allies no less than Walt Disney, William Randolph Hearst, and Henry Ford—prominent businessmen who believed America had no business in conflicts across the Atlantic.

The ensuing battle—waged with fiery rhetoric, agile diplomacy, media sabotage, and petty political antics—would land US troops in Europe within three years, secure Roosevelt's legacy, and set a standard for American military strategy for years to come.

With millions of lives—and a future paradigm of foreign intervention—hanging in the balance, The Sphinx captures a political giant at the height of his powers and an American identity crisis that continues to this day.

Genres: History, Biography, American History, Politics, Nonfiction, World War II, Presidents

465 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 10, 2014

About the author

Nicholas Wapshott is a journalist and the author of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher: A Political Marriage. A former senior editor at The Times of London and the New York Sun, he lives in New York.

Reviews

[Bill Baar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great narrative on the stories of FDR, Joe Kennedy, and Charles Lindbergh. I didn't realize how much contact Kennedy had with FDR or Kennedy's Presidential aspirations. The isolationists of the 30s and 40s largely forgotten and this book really brings it back to life using the lives of Kennedy and Lindbergh to show how popular and pervasive it was in the US, and how it's really the default attitude among Americans through out our History.

[Mackay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book attempts to focus on one portion of FDR's long tenure as president - the years between Hitler's rearming and America's entry into the Second World War, and how FDR moved an isolationist nation that had spurned the League of Nations to an anti-Fascist stance. It's a compelling enough story, and Wapshott enlivens it by casting it as a personal struggle among FDR, Joseph P. Kennedy, and Charles Lindbergh, which works to keep the narrative going but isn't at all time persuasive as history, particularly given some errors which I choose to assign to the copy editor and not Mr. Wapshott, though he started his career writing lightweight bios of Hollywood... Anyway, a useful study if you haven't read anything better.

Alas, no photos! No maps! A good index but not many useful notes.

[Greg Guma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fresh and timely exploration of the run up to World War II reveals the roots and pitfalls of American isolationism, debunking myths on both sides of the debate. Especially chilling are revelations about the roles played by Joseph Kennedy, as British ambassador, 1940 presidential aspirant and advocate of German appeasement until 1941, and Charles Lindberg, the famous flyer who turned defeatist, ignored Nazi atrocities, and briefly led the anti-war campaign known as America First.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the beat goes on.

[Viktoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read, highly recommended.

[Karl Schaeffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in an almost gossipy style, this book covers the period of time from the later half of FDR’s second term thru the declaration war war by the US in late 1942. The book focuses on FDR’s decision to run for a 3rd term, his concern about the world dominating intent of the “dictators” and the adroit maneuvering to sway the American public away an isolationist, non interventionist position to accepting the idea that the US must enter into the conflict on the side of Great Britain. While the book centers on Roosevelt, there are two major supporting players in this story, Charles Lindbergh and Joseph Kennedy Sr. Both isolationists. Lindbergh is an admirer of Hitler and an anti Semite, along with, among others, Henry Ford and Walt Disney. Kennedy’s motives are more tinged with seeking personal gain as a result of staying out of the war in Europe. While I knew Joe Sr had great political aspirations for his eldest son Joe Jr, I never knew that Joe Sr has presidential aspirations for the 1940 election. FDR, in order to outmaneuver Kennedy, got him out of the country by naming him ambassador to Great Britain. Kennedy falls in with the Clivden crowd and finds a common cause with Chamberlain and the appeasers. Lindbergh’s inaccurate assessment of Germany’s military prowess and his lack of regard for Great Britain and France’s military capacity serves to color the thinking of both Germany and Great Britain to both their advantage and detriment. Not a dusty tome. A very enjoyable read about a pivotable time in our nation’s and the world’s history.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fascinating book because, at least for me, looking back into our history, it seems that we were, as a nation, eager and positive to fight the Nazis and hold back their evil fascism, buuuuuut not so. This book does a great job of showing the isolationists/non-interventionists (and racists and anti-Semites and communists and fascists) that worked to keep America out of World War Two, even (to some small extent) after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It also shows the masterful deception and trickery and "chess-playing" that FDR used to be ready when the moment for intervention came. Also, though, FDR comes out, in many cases, as a real jerk -- a real son of a gun -- but, ultimately, he did what he must to prepare us for war. I'm left exceedingly impressed with his prescience, his intelligence, and his capability, even if his morals and tactics often left me cold. He deserves enormous credit and regard for his work.

The book itself is excellently done, but might be tedious for some. It is so thorough and detailed that I felt like we went month-by-month from the 1930s until December 1941. I loved it, but could be dry for some.

This would be interesting for anyone interested in World War 2 history, but also for anyone interested in American domestic politics. The looks at how FDR managed his cabinet and the electorate are fascinating and informative.

The author artfully addresses the current state of American politics in a final few paragraphs and that is fine. This is a historical book and not a screed; it was appropriate and useful.

[Richard Marney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in a detailed historical survey of the build-up and playing out of the Second World War, the book fails to define itself. The stated purpose - the struggle between FDR and the isolationists (marquee names: Kennedy Sr., Lindbergh, et.al.) - is handled superficially as a “who did what when”, without delving deeply enough into the “why”. FDR’s motivations are clear enough, but a pathway to a better understanding of those of the chief protagonists of the America First and their supporters, beyond hints of anti-semitism, residual bitterness from WW I, etc. is absent. This failure limits the value of the author’s attempt to help us translate the lessons to our current day, something the book tries to do in its last pages.

I am an admirer of Mr. Wapshott’s work. This effort was disappointing.

However, I would suggest you read the book and decide for yourself.

😀

[Callan Brinckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read. It’s not the kind of book that blows you out of the water, but offers an interesting, new narrative previously slept on. Portrays Roosevelt differently to how other books might. Not so much focused on Roosevelt as the war-time president, but rather as a genius political operative fighting an uphill battle against American isolationists. It does a great job of portraying Lindbergh as an antagonist and Kennedy as an annoyance, but doesn’t necessarily ignore the important WW2 events that shaped America’s eventual involvement in the war. The relationship between Roosevelt and Churchill is explored thoroughly here, but is made unique by the addition of Kennedy here. It’s well-written and well-researched, and doesn’t feel like a stock-standard history book. It’s unique and different, and that’s what makes it so good.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am very interested in this era of history, but this book lost me about halfway through. It really started to bog down with a lot of detail, even for a historian to write about. I had to slog to finish it so the library could have it back (I have once I start I must finish the book syndrome).

Only read if you're working on a PhD on this topic.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War 2 Story

An excellent book, this one explains the philosophy of the isolationists. The author also teaches us about the characters of these men and quotes Borah, Kennedy, and Lindbergh .

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roosevelt vs the odd collection of isolationists, non-interventionists, etc., who opposed US involvement in WWII in the late 30s and early 40s until Pearl Harbor. In my opinion the author spends too much time on Charles Lindberg and Joseph Kennedy, but I suppose celebrities sell books.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading for the excellent account of FDR, his administration, and their isolationist opponents, especially Joseph Kennedy, Charles Lindbergh, and Herbert Hoover. Much sketchier on internationalist Republicans other than Wendell Willkie You could almost get the impression that Willkie was nominated by accident, though Thomas Dewey--also internationalist--got the most votes on the first ballot and was the Republican nominee in the next two elections. Also largely ignores anti-interventionist Socialists and, until Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Communists.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot of padding in this book, info on Joe Kennedy and others we don't need. There are better books on the subject.