i think syria is a vast humanitarian crisis and i think president obama will be in for a lot of criticism just like franklin roosevelt has been for not acting early enough, at least in some ways to try to stem the bloodshed and stem the violence there. on roosevelt, though, the ultimate judgment we came up with is this. roosevelt did not do everything that was perfect for the jews, but he was far better for the jews than his isolationist political opposition at home. it s always easier to be a political opponent. and he was better for the jews than any other world leader including winston churchill who spoke big and did little. and he was better mostly than subsequent presidents. that s the bottom line. fascinating stuff. alan, thank you. my pleasure. up next, the boy scouts change i policy on gay scouts. capehart s commentary on that talker and what it says about how far we have and haven t come, next. [ female announcer ] doctors trust calcium plus vitamin d
controversial compromises when it came to world war ii. compromises that have shaped his legacy good and bad. his defenders praise him for crushing nazi germany but others accused him of turning his back on the jews of hitler s europe. could both sides be right? or are both sides wrong? joining us now, the u.s. presidential historian and professor at american university. he is co-author of the new book, fdr and the jews. first, describe for me fdr s complicated history with the jews and why you felt compelled to write this book? well, you said it in part. both sides are wrong. fdr was neither a bystander or worse to the persecution and slaughter of jews. nor was he the savior of jews. you ve got to understand fdr was a humane but ultimately pragmatic politician. he wouldn t have gotten elected
ever reached his desk. it was decided by a lower level officials whose standard line was we will not divert any resources from the goal of winning the war as quickly as possible, and that is the best way of saving the jews. alan, let me ask you. am i wrong in thinking that ever since president roosevelt, american presidents have lived in fear of the harsh judgment that he has faced vis-a-vis his actions or inactions during world war ii and saving or not saving the jews? yeah. it s become, you know, a very political issue. you know, strong advocates for israel want to hold up fdr as an example of what happens when you don t put aiding the jews very high on your priority list. the sad truth is, look at subsequent presidents who had the lessons of the holocaust before them, who had vastly more power than fdr. our army was smaller than belgium s during most of the 1930s.
politician four time had he not been. so the real story of fdr and the news which is an epic story is how did this president weave his way through competing priorities at a time of the world s worst depression, the crisis i of the 1930s, and this bloody war. it is a complicated story and an awesome story. and one of the specific issues that the critics of fdr cite, they say he could have blown up the rail lines to auschwitz in order to save a lot of jewish people there. what did you find in that regard? well, we found a lot of things. number one this issue of bombing the rail lines or even the crematoriums themselves in auschwitz was a nonissue at the time. it wasn t being pressed by any main stream jewish leaders, the jewish press. there were big ral business didn t mention it. it only came into play decades
accreditation of these military schools which hurts the kids trying to get into college. thank you for writing the book. we appreciate you coming on. thank you so much. all right. and i want to send out a quick congratulations to my friend lorenzo santos who is among those graduating today from the naval academy class of 2013. up next, a look back at world war ii and the leadership of fdr. [ female announcer ] from more efficient payments. to more efficient pick-ups. wireless is limitless.