The podcast highlights the coordinated effort to subvert American democracy, involving high-profile Americans.
The report by John Roggi reveals the business ties between Nazi Germany and major American corporations, as well as Nazi interference in the 1940 presidential election.
The history of American fascism teaches us the importance of collective efforts and multi-faceted approaches to confront and extinguish such threats.
Deep dives
John Roggi reveals evidence of Nazi efforts to undermine American democracy
John Roggi, the former head of the criminal division at Main Justice, was fired after prosecuting a sedition trial that had descended into chaos. During the trial, Roggi received a tip from an army captain about evidence in Germany concerning the Nazi effort to undermine American democracy. Roggi and his team spent 11 weeks in Europe, interviewing Nazis and reviewing secret government files. Roggi believed the evidence exposed an ongoing national security threat, but the report he prepared was classified and suppressed by the Attorney General and President Truman. Roggi decided to go public with the information, believing it was too important to keep quiet. He was subsequently fired and faced questioning on Meet the Press.
Exploring Nazi ties to American corporations and politicians
Roggi's report on his findings from Germany revealed the business ties between Nazi Germany and major American corporations. The report also exposed Nazi efforts to interfere in the 1940 presidential election and identified 24 members of Congress who had some form of involvement with the Nazis. The report highlighted American groups receiving support from the Nazis, businessmen continuing business relationships with the Nazis during the war, and politicians who had collaborated with a senior Nazi propaganda agent. Despite the explosive nature of the report, it was classified and suppressed by the Attorney General and President Truman.
Attempts to suppress the report and John Roggi's decision to go public
The Attorney General and President Truman kept Roggi's report classified and suppressed its publication. Roggi was ultimately fired when he went against their decision and spoke out, believing the fascist threat to be a real and ongoing danger. He argued that the American people needed to know the truth in order to defend democracy. Roggi also expressed concern about the limitations of legal remedies in countering the threat posed by ultra-right movements. Despite the consequences, Roggi believed it was his duty to make the facts public and ensure that Americans were aware of the dangers they faced.
Legacy and lessons learned from confronting American fascism
The history of American fascism and the efforts to confront it in the 1940s provide lessons for the present day. The fight against fascism required a multi-faceted approach involving journalism, activism, legal action, electoral accountability, and public awareness. It was the collective effort of individuals like journalists Dillard Stokes and Henry Hoke, undercover investigator Arthur Derounian, prosecutor William Maloney, citizen activists like Frances Sweeney and Leon Lewis, and countless others that exposed and challenged fascist forces in America. Understanding this history is essential in order to protect and defend democracy from recurring threats.
The importance of public awareness and accountability in combating fascism
The threat of fascism persists throughout history, and it requires the collective efforts of citizens, journalists, activists, and the justice system to confront and extinguish it. While legal remedies play a crucial role, they are not sufficient on their own. Public awareness, media exposés, electoral accountability, and other forms of activism are also necessary to combat fascist movements. Learning from the past and understanding the intricate web of connections between corporations, politicians, and fascist groups is crucial in addressing the present-day dangers and ensuring the endurance of democracy.
In the wake of the sedition trial's collapse, Justice Department prosecutor John Rogge travels overseas and uncovers a bombshell. He finds evidence of a coordinated effort to subvert American democracy… as well as the names of high-profile Americans involved. Rogge then returns to America... and goes rogue. Risking his career as a prosecutor, he makes public what he's discovered about the fascist threat and the Americans who supported it. And he offers a prescient warning about an American criminal justice system that is ill-equipped to defend democracy from those who seek to destroy it.
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