Figure 1.--

Nye's role in munitions industry investigation earned him considerable support from pacifist and anti-war groups like the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. He also became one of the most prominent isolationists, surely the one who most upset President Roosevelt. Nye continued his isloationist views even when the NAZIs emerged as a serious military threat. After Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia (March 1939), the President wrote Hitler asking him to pledge that he would carry no further aggressions (April 1938). Nye almost sided with Hitler's mocking response when he commented, "He (the President) asked for it." It is unclear why Nye was so blind to NAZI barbaity or the danger posed. It appears it was his opposition to war. Why he could not see that America's turn would evetually come and against a German which grew stronger with every conquest is unclear. After the fall of France Nye attacked the President Roosevelt for giving the leaders of England and France "reason to believe that if they would declare war on Germany, help would be forthcoming." (August 1940). He argued that America had "sold out, by deliberate falsification, the two European nations with which we had the closest ties. We sent France to her death and have brought England perilously close to it." His reasoning was that if America had not held out the hope of support, that Britain and France would not have gone to war. The fact that German was building a huge military machine and conquering neigboring countries seems to have escaped his notice. He began speaking accross the country to oppose American aid to Britain. Nye exclaimed to a group in Pennsylvania that the European war was not "worthy of the sacrifice of one American mule, much less one American son." (April 15, 1940) He also argued that "Russia, Stalin and communist ideology" would eventually win from the War. Nye was by far the the most prominent member of the America First Committee in the Senate and the most willing to use shrill language in attacking the Administration. Nye continued to oppose the President's efforts to aid Britain during 1941. He led the Senate fight against Lend Lease. This was key because without Lend Lease, Britain could not have continued to fight. Nye helped persuade Burton K. Wheeler, Hugh Johnson, Robert LaFollette Jr., Henrik Shipstead, Homer T. Bone, James B. Clark, William Langer, and Arthur Capper, to oppose Lend Lease. The Senate passed it, however, with a vote of 60 votes to 31.

Munitions Investigation

Nye's role in munitions industry investigation earned him considerable support from pacifist and anti-war groups like the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

1938 Election

The Republicans and conservstive Democrats achied important gains in the 1938 election. President Roosevelt lost a number of loyal New Deal Democrats. This weakened his position in oposing the dictators and rearming America.

Prominant Isolationist

Senator Bye emerged as one of the most prominent isolationists, surely the one who most upset President Roosevelt.

Munich

Nye continued his isloationist views even when the NAZIs emerged as a serious military threat. Nothing Hitler did in Europe affected Nye's commitment to isolationism. One wonders just what Nye thought Hitler would do once he subjected Europe. After Hitler seized the rest of Czechoslovakia (March 1939), the President wrote Hitler asking him to pledge that he would carry no further aggressions (April 1938). Nye almost sided with Hitler's mocking response when he commented, "He (the President) asked for it."

Opposition to War

It is unclear why Nye was so blind to NAZI barbaity or the danger posed. It appears it was his opposition to war. Why he could not see that America's turn would evetually come and against a German which grew stronger with every conquest is unclear.

Rearmament

Nye’s opposed the various defense measures President Roosevelt submotted to Congress. He was pasrticularly prominent in the American First effort to block Lend Lease.

Hollywood Investigation

Fall of France

After the fall of France Nye attacked the President Roosevelt for giving the leaders of England and France "reason to believe that if they would declare war on Germany, help would be forthcoming." (August 1940). He argued that America had "sold out, by deliberate falsification, the two European nations with which we had the closest ties. We sent France to her death and have brought England perilously close to it." His reasoning was that if America had not held out the hope of support, that Britain and France would not have gone to war. The fact that German was building a huge military machine and conquering neigboring countries seems to have escaped his notice.

Aid to Britain

Nye began speaking accross the country to oppose American aid to Britain. Nye exclaimed to a group in Pennsylvania that the European war was not "worthy of the sacrifice of one American mule, much less one American son." (April 15, 1940) Nye was by far the the most prominent member of the America First Committee in the Senate and the most willing to use shrill language in attacking the Administration. Nye continued to oppose the President's efforts to aid Britain during 1941. He led the Senate fight against Lend Lease. This was key because without Lend Lease, Britain could not have continued to fight. Nye helped persuade Burton K. Wheeler, Hugh Johnson, Robert LaFollette Jr., Henrik Shipstead, Homer T. Bone, James B. Clark, William Langer, and Arthur Capper, to oppose Lend Lease. The Senate passed it, however, with a vote of 60 votes to 31.

Undeclared Naval War

President Roosevelt was accused of lieing and attempting to drag America into the War. Here a case can be made, especially for the launching of an undecalred war against German U-boats in the North atlantic. Nye seemed to jump on any charge that would make his point. Nye on the floor of the U.S. senate charged that the British and not a German U-boat had sunk the Robin Moor. He seems to have accepted NAZI propaganda at face value. He eventually had to withdraw his charge which had no factual basis..

The Soviet Union

Nye argued that "Russia, Stalin and communist ideology" would eventually win from the War.

Fascism

Nye's opposition to war can be perhaps understood. But his opposition to Roosevelt seems to have at times crossed the line and becoming almost an endorsement of Fascism. Opposition to war is one thing. Chamberlain and Dadier attempted to appease Hitler. It obviously didn't work. Nye never explained how America deal with a country committed to war. Nye arranged for a German-American Bund member to express his defeatist views before the Senate. Nye also used his congressional frank to mail copies of the speech. He also made anti-Semetic statements. And he praised the virulently anti-Semitic Gerald Smith's book The Cross and the Flag." [Carlson, p. 293.]

Sources

Carlson, John. Undercover (E.P. Dutton, 1943).

Created: 11:20 PM 11/26/2006
Last updated: 11:20 PM 11/26/2006