I watched his interview on Crossfire, and got the impression he was saying a bit more than you describe. I also find appalling the characterization of FDR as "determined to throw bodies in there", as if he had no sense of the gravity of the situation. I continue to wonder at the usefulness of such an exercise, when it cannot help but to be highly speculative and riddled with hindsight that was not afforded the actors at the time....
On Yalta, it is known that FDR was very ill already, and that may have affected his performance. However, the facts on the ground would have precluded our getting a much better deal. As it is, the Communists violated the agreements they had made at Yalta at the first opportunity....
As I said, I am in no position to verify the charges against Coughlin, and will not even try. I have seen blatantly anti- semitic quotes from him in the past, and, as I recall, he did more than insinuate that Roosevelt was a Jew, but I cannot recover the sources with any ease, and do not care enough to sweat it....
If Pat wants to engage in revisionism, that is fine. But he cannot expect a free ride, and when large issues are at stake, the arguments may grow heated. If some have been unfair to him, I am sorry. On the other hand, he is not shy about going on the attack himself.... |
