Short Synopsis
Susan Dunn presents a dramatic account of the turbulent presidential election of 1940.

Full Synopsis
In 1940, against the explosive backdrop of the Nazi onslaught in Europe, two farsighted candidates for the U.S. presidency—Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, running for an unprecedented third term, and talented Republican businessman Wendell Willkie—found themselves on the defensive against American isolationists and their charismatic spokesman Charles Lindbergh, who called for surrender to Hitler's demands. In this dramatic account of that turbulent and consequential election, historian Susan Dunn brings to life the debates, the high-powered players, and the dawning awareness of the Nazi threat as the presidential candidates engaged in their own battle for supremacy.

1940 not only explores the contest between FDR and Willkie but also examines the key preparations for war that went forward, even in the midst of that divisive election season. The book tells an inspiring story of the triumph of American democracy in a world reeling from fascist barbarism, and it offers a compelling alternative scenario to today's hyperpartisan political arena, where common ground seems unattainable.

"A brilliant portrait of an America in transition. . . . Captivating. . . . Few years turn out to be as perilous as 1940, or as portentous." ---David M. Shribman, Wall Street Journal


"Susan Dunn, a prolific and outstanding historian, has crafted a fast-paced, serious, and extraordinarily well-researched book about the events surrounding the pivotal 1940 election. Her main characters---FDR, Wendell Willkie, Lindbergh, Hitler---come brilliantly to life." ---James T. Patterson, author of Grand Expectations

"Susan Dunn's gripping book shows us that the further we get from 1940, the more obvious it is that this moment was a turning point for Western civilization. With fresh research and original insights, Dunn allows us to watch and assess such figures as FDR, Hitler and Churchill, Charles Lindbergh, Wendell Willkie, Henry Wallace, Joseph Kennedy and others as they play out their roles, large and small, in the horrifying, onrushing drama." ---Michael Beschloss, author of Presidential Courage

"When one listens to Corey Snow's narration of this engrossing history of the 1940 presidential election, its special importance becomes clear. . . . His cadence fits well with the story, speeding up slightly as dramatic events unfold and bringing the players' emotions to life." ---AudioFile

"A sympathetic, entertaining portrayal of two presidential opponents and ultimate colleagues." ---Kirkus

"[A] gripping narrative that both scholars and presidential history buffs will enjoy." ---Library Journal

"Dunn superbly depicts the 1940 election between Roosevelt, who was seeking an unprecedented third term, and his internationalist Republican opponent, Wendell Willkie." ---Jacob Heilbrunn, New York Times Book Review

"Snow's reading is solid, never
overwhelming the narrative and briskly carrying along a story that runs the gamut of early twentieth-century political and intellectual icons. Snow's talent for narration is definitely up to the task of conveying to the captivated listener Dunn's most fascinating account." ---Booklist Audio Review