Аннотация: The Story about the visiting of the libraries by President Franklin Roosevelt
The Story about the visiting of the libraries by President Franklin Roosevelt
An adviser told President Roosevelt that the attendance of Washington libraries had increased dramatically. Visitors from Europe have arrived. For example, from the UK, France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Spain and other countries.
The President has decided to visit one of the most serious Washington libraries.
There many books have been collected, on various topics. For example, here is a book about the first Russian circumnavigation, - in the era of Emperor Alexander I, - with a visit to Alaska. And here is a book about the sale of Alaska to America by Russia. Memoirs of Witte describing the history of the conclusion of the peace Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905...
"It is necessary to discuss the novel by Leo Tolstoy "War and peace" with the Generalissimus Stalin", - the President has thought.
In one of rooms the TV has been turned on: a broadcast of a report about the performance of Hitler at some event. "The historical fact, that he wrote a book. But historians, seem, don't mention his interest in books, libraries ...", - the President Roosevelt noted.
A correspondent of one of newspapers has approached:
- Mr. President! What are your motives? Some historians write about your commitment to democracy. But the opinion with a slightly different emphasis: "...Roosevelt ... always assumed that America is obliged to shorten the European-Japanese influence in the world. He had to lead a long positional war with Congress, with the public opinion of his country, with the predominant detachment of the ruling class, which was not confident in the possibility for the United States to successfully establish itself in new world positions. Roosevelt was waiting for his chance, he was waiting for the historical opportunity, which promised the division of European forces into two coalitions." What motives were directing your policy?
"The question is not so simple," - said President Roosevelt. - 'We will give historians an opportunity to consider this item'.
The library staff explained to the President that the library has organized a number of reader's discussions on topical issues. Under each discussion a separate room is allocated. On the door of each a plate was placed. For example: "Diplomatic activity. The establishment of the foreign associations", "Relations with Congress", "Planning of production of arms and of materials for delivery to allies", "The rearmament of the Army, Navy and Air Force", "Military cooperation", "Lend-lease", "Military planning", etc. Roosevelt with interest has listened to explanations.
Then someone from the library staff added: at the suggestion of one of the readers is also scheduled to discuss the conceptual theme: "The thinking of the global strategist against the thinking of the infantryman". President Roosevelt smiled.
An assistant has brought the message: "The generalissimus Stalin is interested in literature and offers a meeting".
There was a pause.
"The Prime Minister Churchill agrees to participate", - the assistant has added.
The President thanked the library staff and ordered to go to the airport.
Leaving the library, he saw several people in an old Dutch dresses, which were playing at nine-pins. When they saw the President, they stopped for a moment and benevolently looked at him.
"That it was affirmed that the great Hendrick Hudson, the first discoverer of the river and country, kept a kind of vigil there every twenty years, with his crew of the Half-moon, being permitted in this way to revisit the scenes of his enterprise and keep a guardian eye upon the river and the great city called by his name", - the President has remembered the short story by Washington Irving.
Roosevelt's meeting with Stalin and Churchill was positive.
From the theme of Leo Tolstoy's philosophy, the conversation turned to the literary work of Mahatma Gandhi. President Roosevelt informed on the preparation of the Atlantic Charter. Both Stalin and Churchill supported the Charter
"May be, taking advantage of the situation, to visit the Gorky's cafe-library?" - President Roosevelt thought.
It turned out that the organization of such a visit is not difficult.
And here's the President in the cafe-library.
One of visitors with great feeling was speaking to another: "German tanks were built in large series. So the Germans thought - and how, Pz-III was produced 5.700 copies, Pz-IV-almost 9.500, Pz-V - about 6.000. It is colossal!
So, the German tanks were built (by American standards) some microscopic, almost experimental series - because Americans only M4 Sherman built 49234 copies! And except them Americans produced many thousands of other types (for example, one only M10 Wolverine, "росомаха" in Russian - nine thousand units), armoured personnel carriers, light tanks and tanks for reconnaissance (only M3 Stuart - 22743 copies) ..."
In reply questions sounded: "What has occurred on June 22, 1941?", "Who has launched World War II?", "Who has induced to attack (incited) Hitler on the USSR?".
The president has slightly smiled: "What horizons of thinking?", "What is the breadth of the worldview?", "The mindset of the infantryman or the thinking of the global strategist?"
With interest the president Roosevelt has seen on tables of readers the biographies, for example: "Franklin Roosevelt. Person and politician", "Franklin Roosevelt" ... Someone read books "Franklin Roosevelt's Diplomacy", "Swastika and Eagle".
"As He Saw It" ... "Fireside chats" ...
The President was waited by numerous challenges, and he has gone to airport.
August 1, 2018 10:49
Translation from Russian into English: August 2, 2018 00:11.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Рассказ о посещении библиотек президентом Франклином Рузвельтом'.