S8 Ep1008: H.W. Brands describes how in April 1939, Charles Lindbergh returned to the United States as a world-famous celebrity, greeted by "a football team of flashbulbs popping" as he disembarked a transatlantic steamer. Lindbergh had remained in the global spotli
In April 1939, Charles Lindbergh returned to the U.S. as a global celebrity, greeted by a storm of flashbulbs so intense it felt like walking on broken glass—a moment that encapsulated both his fame and the public’s obsession with him. Yet behind the spectacle was a man deeply troubled by the unraveling of Europe’s order. H.W. Brands, in his new book *America First*, reveals how Lindbergh—once hailed as a hero for his 1927 solo Atlantic flight—had become a reluctant prophet of isolationism, haunted by the trauma of his son’s kidnapping and disillusioned by the moral failures of post-WWI diplomacy. His return coincided with rising tensions in Europe, and his observations of Nazi Germany, Britain’s complacency, and France’s fragility led him to conclude that the U.S. should avoid entanglement in another European war. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt summoned him to Washington, it wasn’t just to consult on aviation technology—it was a strategic move to co-opt Lindbergh’s influence. But Lindbergh, fiercely protective of his independence, declined to join the administration, refusing to be drawn into a political machine that might force him to betray his convictions. His resistance became a defining act of moral clarity in an era of growing pressure to intervene.
Lindbergh’s 1927 Atlantic flight made him a global icon, comparable to Apollo astronauts in the 1960s, symbolizing technological daring and national pride.
The 1932 kidnapping and murder of Lindbergh’s son turned him into a national tragedy figure, fueling relentless media scrutiny and public fascination.
Lindbergh’s 1939 return to the U.S. was marked by a sensory overload of flashbulbs, which he described as walking on broken glass, symbolizing both fame and psychological burden.
Lindbergh viewed Nazi Germany with a mix of admiration for its order and horror at its political direction, especially after witnessing Kristallnacht.
He believed Britain and France were morally and strategically bankrupt, having failed to enforce the Treaty of Versailles and now making empty promises to Poland.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Lindbergh’s Return and the Flashbulb Storm
“the bulbs were popping so fast and they were smashing to the ground that it was like walking across glass”
The Legacy of the 1927 Atlantic Flight
Lindbergh’s fame in 1939 stemmed from his 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic, a feat likened to the moon landing in its cultural impact and technological significance.
The Crime of the Century and the Paparazzi
The kidnapping and murder of Lindbergh’s son in 1932 transformed him into a national tragedy figure, marking the rise of modern media obsession and the birth of the paparazzi era.
Lindbergh’s View of Europe’s Decline
Lindbergh arrived back in America deeply troubled by the political deterioration in Europe, especially Germany’s turn toward Nazism and Britain’s complacency.
FDR’s Strategy to Co-opt Lindbergh
FDR invited Lindbergh to Washington not just for his aviation expertise but to bring him into the political fold, hoping to neutralize his isolationist influence.
“the bulbs were popping so fast and they were smashing to the ground that it was like walking across glass”
“And Lindbergh was, to the 1920s and early 1930s, what astronauts were in the 1960s and early 1970s.”
“So it was as though the British thought that they could continue to cruise on the momentum that their empire had in the 19th century.”
Host
Guest
charles lindbergh
person
h.w. brands
person
franklin d. roosevelt
person
kristallnacht
other
spirit of st. louis
other
joseph kennedy
person
hap arnold
person
george marshall
person
william woodring
person
paris peace conference 1919
other
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13m • 6/15/2026
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11m • 6/15/2026
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