Selig Adler

An examination of the foreign policy of the United States between World War I and World War II. This is a moderately old (early 1960s) account, and thus predates some of the revelations that have occurred since then regarding the breaking of the Japanese and German military and diplomatic codes. The author is relentlessly critical of the Republicans; in particular, he is dismissive to the point of insulting regarding Calvin Coolidge. (Read Amity Shales for an antidote to this -- contrary to Adler, Coolidge was actually well-read.) One good point Adler makes is that the "America First" movement of the 1940-1941 period was an agglomeration of various groups, not all of whom were going in the same direction -- something important when you see Internet memes showing Dr. Seuss editorial cartoons on the subject. Generally recommended, though use caution, based on the age of the analysis.… (mais)