Book Details
- Author: Lynne Olson
- Publisher: Random House
- Year of Publication: 2013
- Page Count: 528 pages
Detailed Summary
Those Angry Days is a gripping narrative history that captures the intense and often bitter national debate in the United States regarding intervention in World War II before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Olson focuses on the central conflict between the interventionists, led by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the isolationists, whose most prominent and popular spokesman was the aviator Charles Lindbergh.
The book reveals how the ‘Great Debate’ permeated every aspect of American society, from Hollywood and the media to congressional chambers. It portrays a nation that was paralyzed by division, where families and friendships were fractured by the fundamental question of America’s role in a world engulfed by war. Olson masterfully details the covert activities of both sides, including FBI wiretaps authorized by Roosevelt and British intelligence operations seeking to influence American public opinion.
Chapter Breakdown
- The Gathering Storm: Introduces the figures and the looming shadow of war.
- A Modern Galahad: Chronicles Charles Lindbergh’s rise and his early isolationist stance.
- You Haven’t Got the Votes: Details FDR’s political constraints and the hesitancy of the American public.
- I Am Almost Literally Walking on Eggs: Describes FDR’s cautious navigation of isolationist politics.
- The Art of Manipulation: Examines the propaganda efforts used by both sides.
- The Yanks Are Not Coming: Explores the strength of the isolationist movement and the promise to keep America out of Europe.
- Der Fuhrer Thanks You for Your Loyalty: Analyzes the friction between Nazi-sympathizing rhetoric and patriotic isolationism.
- Let’s Lick Hell Out of Them: Concludes with the dramatic shift in sentiment immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack.
Reviews & Excerpts
Scholarly Reviews
- The New York Times: ‘A vivid, fast-moving narrative… Olson demonstrates how polarized the country was, and how difficult it was for Roosevelt to move public opinion.’
- Washington Post: ‘A masterpiece of narrative history… Olson captures the visceral fear and fury of an era where America’s soul was at stake.’
Excerpts
- ‘The United States in 1940 was a country divided against itself, not just by geography or class, but by a fundamental disagreement over who it was and what its place in the world should be.’
- ‘Roosevelt was not a man of impulsive action. He was a master of political patience, and he knew that to lead the nation into the fight, he had to let the nation find the door itself.’