Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:36:53-1:38:21

Why Roosevelt sent Joseph Kennedy to London

Kennedy's prestigious ambassadorship also moved a powerful political figure away from Washington, but his defeatist public comments eventually made the posting untenable.

American AmbassadorsBattle Of BritainDiplomatic HistoryFranklin D. RooseveltJoseph P. Kennedy Sr.
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Question

Why did Roosevelt appoint Joseph Kennedy as ambassador to the United Kingdom?

Short answer

The prestigious post helped move a powerful political fixer out of Washington, but Kennedy's defeatist views eventually ended his tenure.

Notes

Roosevelt used the prestigious London ambassadorship to move Joseph Kennedy out of domestic politics. Kennedy served from March 1938 until late 1940. During the Battle of Britain he publicly argued that democracy was finished in Britain and might also fail in the United States. Those comments exposed how far his outlook diverged from Roosevelt's developing support for Britain and preceded his resignation.