[GSlob]

Given that no love was lost between Charles Lindbergh and FDR, this part of the story is less than plausible.

[rcocean]

This is August 1939, Lindberg didn't start making anti-war speeches until September 1939. Szilard didn't know about the personal dislike FDR had for Lindberg.

Other people that Szilard considered as alternatives:

1) C.T. Compton (then President of MIT)
2) Bernard Baruch (Wall Street Financier and sometime FDR adviser on business matters)

[rcocean]

It surprised me too.

But Richard Rhodes has it all sourced.