WHAT IF... CHARLES LINDBERGH HAD RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

This article explores the possibility of Charles Lindbergh, a famous aviator and national hero, running for president of the United States in 1940 and winning. Lindbergh's political views were influenced by his association with eugenicist Dr. Alexis Carrel and his admiration for Hitler's Germany. He believed that the United States should stay out of the war in Europe, except for joining Germany against the Russians and Japanese. Lindbergh's campaign would have been nationalistic and focused on policies that favored white America, such as stopping immigration, building a wall, and implementing eugenics. If Lindbergh had become president, it is likely that America would have stayed out of the war in Europe and formed a trade alliance with Germany. Lindbergh would have implemented policies to restrict the press and suppress protests, inspired by the efficiency and discipline he admired in Nazi Germany. The impact of a Lindbergh presidency would have been significant, with Britain losing the war and fascism taking hold in the United States. However, it is unclear how Lindbergh would have treated American Jews, as he blamed them for causing problems but did not agree with the Nazis' approach. Overall, Lindbergh's popularity and celebrity status could have made him a formidable opponent in the 1940 presidential election, and his policies would have drastically changed the course of history. [Extracted from the article]