Q: Candance Fleming - Charles Lindbergh - INTRO

A:

• Wrote books for young people

• Masters in American History

• Started with Lindbergh kidnaping

• Research led to full biography on Lindbergh

Q: What were Lindbergh’s early influences?

A: 

• As a child was constantly told the story of his grandfather

• Grandfather Lindbergh came to Minnesota from Sweden

• He lost his left arm in a mill accident

• Everyone thought he would die

• He survived, buried his arm & went back to farming

Q: What was Lindbergh's personality?

A:

• Personality stayed constant over the years

• Loved machines more than people

• Emotionally cold

• Compartmentalized

• Very exacting

• No long-term friendships

Q: Why was Lindbergh's solo flight so historic?

A:

• The solo flight was huge

• People were searching

• Lindbergh was the underdog, out of nowhere, hero

• Showcased American excellence

• International response, bringing the world together as one

Q: Did Lindbergh influence US Aviation Industry?

A:

• Hugely influential

• Brought instant attention to aviation

• Showed a new way to travel and move things

• Toured the country to demonstrate that air travel was safe

• Involved in new airlines including Pan Am

Q: What is the Lindbergh Law?

A:

• Lindbergh baby kidnapping Summer 1932

• US Congress passed law

• Kidnapping now a federal offense – across state lines

• New section in Department of Justice

• Snatch racket was prevalent during depression

Q: How did the kidnaping impact Charles & Anne Lindbergh?

A:

• Deeply affected them

• Charles blamed the media

• Soured on USA & democracy

• Charles remained silent on matter

• Anne was devastated & it created a wedge in the marriage

Q: Was Lindbergh A Nazi sympathizer?

A:

• Visited Germany a number of times

• Impressed by Hitler

• Lindbergh was a fascist

• Wanted to move to Berlin

• Even after war remained entrenched in fascist beliefs

• Anne Lindbergh write Wave of Future

• Advocate an American brand of fascism

Q: Was Lindbergh a racist?

A:

• Views were similar to those of Nazi Germany

• Advocated eugenics even after World War II

• Believed in supremacy of white Christians

• Picked a wife based on specific traits / lineage

• OK with war against Japan but not with white Germany

Q: What was Lindbergh's relationship with Henry Ford?

A:

• Not close friends

• Lindbergh on tour took Ford for a plane ride

• During WW2, army & aviation sector rejected Lindbergh

• Henry Ford hired Lindbergh for factory plane production

• Worked together on America First

Q: What was Lindbergh's 1941 Des Moines Iowa speech?

A:

• September 1941 speech for America Frist

• Realized public opinion shifting away from isolationism

• Called Jews the “others”

• Blamed Jews for pushing war

• Claimed war would spark widespread anti-Semitism

• Strong, negative reaction across the board

Q: Did Lindbergh ever apologize for his anti-Semitic, pro Nazi, opinions?

A:

• Do not see any retraction or apology

• Attempt to clean up his record

• Blamed science & technology

• Strong anti-United Nations speeches

Q: Why study Lindbergh's life?

A:

• Cautionary tale for all of us

• Echoes of past found in 21st century

• Important  for young people, even if it’s ugly

• Memory, history, resonates today