Clipper and George Hammond culture of the amenities forum which organized todays event. Im happy to welcome back a. J. Baime if we had them here you in half or so ago from the accidental president. His last book, and this time we have a virtually from his home, and were going to talk about his new book about a 1940 election. Were going back 72 years to another electionyear and you will be amazed at exactly how similar it sound in some ways. Another with a different but in some ways. Whats different is the politicians were all younger than they are today. Thats one big difference. But a. J. , take it away and tell us about the overview of the book. Just a very good read by the way. Very good read. Outstanding. I want to say a couple things first. Thank you so much for having the. The the Commonwealth Club is a wonderful place to be and you are doing this virtual. A lot of people are going to painandsuffering china for myself im just reminding why i fell in love with reading when i was s
Airplane dropped atomic bomb on hiroshima and that bomb has more power of 20,000 tons of tnt. The japanese began the war from the air at pearl harbor. They have been repaid many fold, and the end is not yet. With this bomb, we have now added a new and revolutionary increase in destruction to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form, these bombs are now in production, and even more powerful bombs are in development. It is an atomic bomb. It is a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the far east. We are now prepared to destroy more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the japanese have in any city. We shall destroy their docks, theyre factories, and their communications. Let there be no mistake, we shall completely destroy japans power to make war. It was to spare the japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of july 26th was
Theyve been repaid many fold and the end is not yet. With this mom, we have added new and revolutionary increase in discussion to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form, these bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development. Its an atomic bomb. Its a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the far east. We are now prepared to destroy more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the japanese have in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories and their communications. Let there be no mistake, we shall completely destroy japans power to make war. It was to spare the japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of july the 26th was issued at potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not accept our terms, they may expect rain from the air, the like of which has never be
Welcome to the Commonwealth Club, im george hammond, chair of the forum which organized todays events. Im happy to welcome back a. J. Baime who was here a year and half or so ago and his last book in this time we have him here virtually from his home and we will talk about his new book the 1948 election so we are going back 72 years for another Election Year and youll be amazed at exactly how similar it sounds in some ways and in other ways very different and one of the difference is the politicians were younger then so that is one big difference but a. J. , take it away and tell us about the overview of the book, a very good read by the way. Thank you. I want to say a couple of things first. Thank you so much for having me and the Commonwealth Club is a wonderful place to be and here we are going through painandsuffering and i know for myself im just reminding why i fell in love with reading when i was six years old because books can transform or transport you to another time and plac
Back to in subject. So im glad to have a chance to talk about it. I wish it was in person again in kansas city. And i wish we were able to do this facetofaceba well do the best that we can. The key thing here that i want to return to is shown by this photograph here of churchill, truman and stalin smiling and shaking hands. And the point that i want really to reiterate here is these three men and most of the advisers around them did not believe what they were doing at potsdam was laying the seeds of a cold war. We know from the scholarship of the 1960s, 70s and beyond, a lot red potsdam backwards, as start of the cold war. But these three membn came to potsdam to celebrate the end of the war with germany, figure out what the post war world was going to look like and plan for the final victory over japan in the Pacific Theater. This photograph very much reflects the spirit of potsdam which ill talk about a little bit more in just a bit. Which was happy. Which was victorious. Which was j