Defend America First: The Antiwar Editorials of the Saturday Evening Post, 1939-1942

In 1939 much of the world was at war. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt believed America eventually would be forced to join the conflict. F.D.R. worked to rally citizens and Congress to the cause. But not everyone agreed with the president's beliefs or methods. In many respects Roosevelt's situation was very similar to problems faced by recent American presidents, including the present administration. Garet Garrett, editorial writer for the Saturday Evening Post magazine, was one of the most articulate spokesmen for the "America First" movement that argued against the nation's escalating involvement in the war in Europe. Defend America First is a collection of Garrett's editorials questioning F.D.R.'s decision to move the nation toward war. The editorials were selected by Bruce Ramsey. In his introduction, Ramsey points out that Garrett wasn't unwilling to fight Hitler. He was unwilling to pick a fight, especially when the country wasn't ready. He also questioned the constitutionality of Roosevelt's actions.