BOOKSHELF - President Roosevelt Modifies Neutrality Laws - H-W-BRANDS-AMERICA-FIRST PART 2

1939 NYSEPresident Roosevelt Modifies Neutrality LawsH. W. Brands, Part Two: Following the September 1939 German invasion of Poland, the debate over American neutrality intensified between President Roosevelt and Charles Lindbergh. Roosevelt sought to modify congressional neutrality laws to allow Cash and Carry assistance to Britain and France, while Lindbergh argued that European democracies were launching a war they could not win. Conscious of public opposition, Roosevelt carefully shaped public opinion rather than overreaching. After the fall of France and the evacuation at Dunkirk, Roosevelt pushed aid further by orchestrating the destroyers-for-bases deal with Winston Churchill, while Lindbergh continued his national campaign warning against executive overreach. (2)