Overview

Students of mid-twentieth-century American political and diplomatic history remember Breckinridge Long as a well-connected and influential force, particularly during the Roosevelt years. Those with a particular concern for the tragically inadequate American efforts to rescue victims of the Holocaust point to Long as a central figure in resisting and obstructing those efforts. He has been characterized as an anti-Semite, a xenophobe, and alternatively as an anti-communist who opposed immigration out of fear of communist infiltration. Interesting historical figures are, regretfully, often reduced to single dimensions, and the complexity of their lives and motivations are lost. In this erudite, thoughtful and well-written biography, Neil Rolde has fleshed out a multidimensional portrait of this gifted, influential and flawed public figure, traced his extraordinary career, and explored a range of theories as to Long's motivations. In so doing, Rolde has provided a wealth of information not only about Long but also about this critical and troubled chapter in modern American political and diplomatic history. -David M. Gordis, PhD, President Emeritus, Hebrew College

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9781882190133

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"""The extent of Breckinridge Long's insidious efforts to impede immigration to safe harbor in the USA for Jews and gentiles alike is painted with deft strokes and brought out into the light of day in this detailed and intriguing account."" -Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall, grandson of Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, 1933 - 45 ""This [is an] erudite, thoughtful, and well-written biography."" -David M. Gordis, PhD, President Emeritus, Hebrew College ""This book will fill a large, gaping hole in the field of Holocaust studies. It provides a window into Washington and into FDR's White House (not to mention the State Department) and Democratic Party politics that is marvelous."" -Chris Breiseth, Fmr. Director, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library, NY"

Author Information

In addition to his many publications, Neil Rolde (1931-2017) was a long-time public servant, philanthropist, Renaissance man, and gentleman. The renowned Maine historian grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts. He earned a BA at Yale and a master's in journalism at Columbia University. He worked as a film scriptwriter before moving to Maine with his wife, Carlotta Florsheim, to raise their family. In York they brought up four children and enjoyed family visits with their eight grandchildren.The author won book awards from the Maine Historical Society, the Maine Humanities Council, and the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance. Most of Neil Rolde's books involve the history of his beloved Maine and its people. With a wealth of historical knowledge about politics, the author turned his skill and wit to blogging current political incidents in a historical context.Rolde's public service included six years as assistant to Maine's Governor Kenneth M. Curtis and sixteen years as representative in the Maine State Legislature. He was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 1990. The author served on many state boards and commissions, including the Maine Health Care Reform Commission, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, the Maine Humanities Council, and the Maine Arts Commission.

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