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[narrator] His Republican opponent
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World War II: Race to Victory

His Republican opponent, businessman Wendell Willkie, played on the public's fear of war,...

[narrator] His Republican opponent, businessman Wendell Willkie, played on the public's fear of war, arguing that a Roosevelt victory would mean wooden crosses for American boys. The polls swung against FDR, and he was forced to insist there would be "no foreign wars," carefully chosen words that, crucially, did not preclude responding to an attack on American territory. Roosevelt had to make
a famous promise at Boston days before the election, that he would not let
American boys fight in a foreign war, and he did not add
the usual condition "unless we are attacked first." [narrator] To keep voters happy, America needed to remain neutral. But when war broke out in Europe, Roosevelt's speech to the nation revealed his personal beliefs. This nation will remain
a neutral nation

Full Transcript

00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:02.075
[narrator] His Republican opponent,
00:00:02.075 --> 00:00:04.029
businessman Wendell Willkie,
00:00:04.029 --> 00:00:06.088
played on the public's fear of war,
00:00:06.088 --> 00:00:09.000
arguing that a Roosevelt victory would mean
00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.001
wooden crosses for American boys.
00:00:11.996 --> 00:00:15.001
The polls swung against FDR, and he was forced to insist
00:00:15.001 --> 00:00:18.000
there would be "no foreign wars,"
00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:20.002
carefully chosen words that, crucially,
00:00:20.002 --> 00:00:23.999
did not preclude responding to an attack
00:00:23.999 --> 00:00:25.000
on American territory.
00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.998
Roosevelt had to make a famous promise at Boston
00:00:28.998 --> 00:00:30.002
days before the election,
00:00:30.002 --> 00:00:35.998
that he would not let American boys
00:00:35.998 --> 00:00:37.999
fight in a foreign war,
00:00:37.999 --> 00:00:40.978
and he did not add the usual condition
00:00:40.978 --> 00:00:42.997
"unless we are attacked first."
00:00:42.997 --> 00:00:44.058
[narrator] To keep voters happy,
00:00:44.058 --> 00:00:46.001
America needed to remain neutral.
00:00:46.001 --> 00:00:48.003
But when war broke out in Europe,
00:00:48.003 --> 00:00:52.996
Roosevelt's speech to the nation revealed his personal beliefs.
00:00:52.996 --> 00:00:56.067
This nation will remain a neutral nation.
Duration
56 seconds
Views
30
Timestamp in Movie
00:06:46
Uploaded
Jun 04, 2025
Season
1
Episode
2
Genres
history
Production
Ulrike Oettinger Filmproduktion,Pia Frankenberg Filmproduktion, Hamburg,ZDF

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Movie Summary

The six-part documentary series reveals how and why the central alliance between Great Britain, the United States and The Soviet Union was formed leading into World War II. The series paints an in-depth picture of the race to ulti...
S01 • E04 [Jonathan] It ended up being a strategic defeat - World War II: Race to Victory 00:14
[Jonathan] It ended up being a strategic defeat
S01 • E03 It looks like the meeting's going to completely collapse. - World War II: Race to Victory 00:04
It looks like the meeting's going to completely collaps...
S01 • E01 So it was not just a European episode, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:15
So it was not just a European episode,
S01 • E03 When Churchill goes for his final meeting with Stalin, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:05
When Churchill goes for his final meeting with Stalin,
S01 • E04 [narrator] As the Battle of Kursk ground to a halt, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:42
[narrator] As the Battle of Kursk ground to a halt,
S01 • E03 After they've chatted for a bit, Stalin says to Churchill: - World War II: Race to Victory 00:18
After they've chatted for a bit, Stalin says to Churchi...
S01 • E01 [narrator] In late September 1938, - World War II: Race to Victory 01:01
[narrator] In late September 1938,
S01 • E05 He wants to run for a final term. - World War II: Race to Victory 00:05
He wants to run for a final term.
S01 • E05 And he needs to show momentum. He needs to show success. - World War II: Race to Victory 00:05
And he needs to show momentum. He needs to show success.
S01 • E03 They sit there talking about - World War II: Race to Victory 00:04
They sit there talking about
S01 • E05 So for both of them, I think, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:08
So for both of them, I think,
S01 • E03 Stalin's daughter comes in and brings them some food - World War II: Race to Victory 00:11
Stalin's daughter comes in and brings them some food
S01 • E05 Of course, it was very tough, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:05
Of course, it was very tough,
S01 • E02 But I cannot ask that every American - World War II: Race to Victory 00:08
But I cannot ask that every American
S01 • E03 And after the end of five hours, - World War II: Race to Victory 00:09
And after the end of five hours,
S01 • E04 You wouldn't really think of invading Italy - World War II: Race to Victory 00:10
You wouldn't really think of invading Italy
S01 • E06 He was also keenly aware - World War II: Race to Victory 00:05
He was also keenly aware
S01 • E02 Even a neutral has a right to take account of facts. - World War II: Race to Victory 00:06
Even a neutral has a right to take account of facts.
S01 • E04 Sicily was a stepping stone - World War II: Race to Victory 00:07
Sicily was a stepping stone
S01 • E02 Even a neutral cannot be asked - World War II: Race to Victory 00:09
Even a neutral cannot be asked