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Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles and the occasional radio broadcast delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread.

When I realized I had over 2 ½ hours of audio to review for this post I steeled myself for tedium but was happily surprised to find that this is interesting listening, to say the least. We missed the day-1 excitement, where a credentials fight among the Texas delegation almost resulted fisticuffs between the pro- and anti-FDR contenders. That issue will be settled today. The other big convention news is the Vice-Presidential selection (V.P. Wallace, Sen. Truman and Sen. Barkley are the contenders), and how the racial equality plank will play with the southern Democrats.

The only non-convention news included in these recordings is periodic updates on the assassination attempt on Hitler. By the end of the night the name of Count von Stauffenberg is identified with the plot.

Ben Grauer anchors the broadcast. Commentators include Robert St. John, H.V. Kaltenborn, Richard Harkness, and Morgan Beatty. Senator Samuel D. Jackson of Indiana delivers a speech in segment A in which he blames all the nation’s problems on former Republican presidents and asks the audience, “How many battleships would a Democratic defeat be worth to Hirohito?” On segment B the Texas delegation finishes their fight, House Speaker John MacCormack reads the Democratic platform and the roll-call of the states is called to officially declare FDR the Presidential candidate. (The Territory of Alaska gets 6 votes but 1 was lost in the mail.) On segment C Roosevelt delivers an ominous acceptance speech from a remote location. Get ready for the new Progressive order, America. The broadcast ends with a raucous demonstration by Wallace supporters who think they have the numbers to get their guy into the VP slot and want to force a vote tonight. Chairman Jackson doesn’t go for it. Reporters get Henry Wallace to make a comment on the proceedings.

Click on the links below to hear the business in Chicago.