GOP Candidate Pat Buchanan

Rosensaft is justified in objecting to Buchanan’s inflammatory rhetoric. However, Rosensaft is wrong in claiming that Charles Lindbergh and the America First movement of the pre-World War II era were “pro-Fascist.” The fact is that the America First Committee, founded in the fall of 1940, was composed of and supported by a wide cross-section of the public--Republicans and Democrats alike--who were concerned about this country’s progressive march toward war. Many had the memories of World War I fresh in their minds and were hesitant to get involved in yet another bloody European conflict.

With the advent of Pearl Harbor, however, the leaders of America First encouraged members to fully support the war effort and save criticism until after the war was won. Lindbergh himself volunteered in the Pacific and shot down two Japanese fighter planes. To accuse him and America First of being pro-Fascist is akin to accusing Vietnam vets and others who opposed the Persian Gulf War of being “pro-Hussein.”

BRUNO OLSHAUSEN, Pasadena