Ep 1. Hitler's US Election Plot

In season 2 of America's Hidden Stories, the first episode titled "Hitler's US Election Plot" delves into a little-known conspiracy theory that suggests Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party wanted to interfere with the 1936 U.S. Presidential election in favor of their preferred candidate.

The episode begins with a brief history of pre-World War II Europe, detailing how Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party rose to power and began their campaign of terror and genocide. The narrative then shifts towards the United States and explores the political climate of the time. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and his New Deal policies were being implemented, which many people believed were helping to pull America out of the Great Depression. However, not everyone was satisfied with FDR's leadership, and there were those who were actively looking for ways to remove him from power.

At this point, the episode introduces the conspiracy theory that Hitler and the Nazis wanted to interfere with the 1936 U.S. Presidential election to replace Roosevelt with someone who would be more willing to cooperate with their fascist agenda. The narrative then focuses on the evidence that supports this theory, including documents from the time and interviews with historians.

One significant piece of evidence cited was a memo from the FBI's archives that alleged a German diplomat had a plan to inundate ten thousand homes in Ohio with Nazi propaganda leading up to the election. The memo did not provide any details on the plan or the diplomat involved, raising suspicions of its validity. The episode explores this memo in detail, raising the question of whether this was an actual plan by the Nazis or just a propaganda piece by the FBI.

The narrative also discusses the activities of William Randolph Hearst and his newspapers, who were known for their isolationist views and anti-FDR stance. The episode explains how Hearst's newspapers helped create a climate of fear and isolationism in America, which the Nazis could have capitalized on to influence the election.

The episode also explores the activities of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., the father of President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time and had a close relationship with the British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Kennedy was known for his anti-Semitic views, and he also advocated for a more pro-German stance in U.S. foreign policy. The episode discusses how Kennedy's views and actions could have been used by the Nazis to their advantage.

Throughout the episode, historians and experts provide their insights and analysis, discussing the plausibility of the theory and the evidence that supports it. The narrative brings together disparate pieces of information and presents them in a cohesive way to make a compelling argument in support of the conspiracy theory.

Overall, "Hitler's US Election Plot" is a fascinating episode that sheds light on a little-known chapter in American history. Through its well-researched narrative, the episode raises important questions about the role of propaganda, foreign interference, and political corruption in elections and democracy. Its exploration of the motivations and actions of key figures at the time reveals the complexities of political power and the impact of personal and ideological beliefs on decision-making.