In the Garden of Beasts
Larson’s report on the experiences and actions of the Dodd family in the years during which Hitler rose to power is a depressing thing to read today. It is frankly impossible not to draw straight lines from rhetorical style, evasions, and populist manipulations from Hitler to Trump. See page 159: “The Chancellor’s assurances were so satisfying and so unexpected that I think they are on the whole too good to be true,” Messersmith wrote. “We must keep in mind, I believe, that when Hitler says anything he for the moment convinces himself that it is true. He is basically sincere; but he is at the same time a fanatic.” Emphasis added. Is this not the behavior that we tend to witness from current American leadership? ...