The Plot Against America

A 2004 novel by Philip Roth.

As almost every American high school student knows, FDR was first elected as President of the United States in 1932 and enacted a New Deal that helped to end the Great Depression. He was was elected to his third term in 1940, riding on his popularity as well as a promise to the American people that he would not get the United States involved in the Second World War raging in Europe, defeating Wendell Willkie. America did not get involved in World War II until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

The Plot Against America, however, diverges from actual history starting with the Republican National Convention that met concerning the 1940 election, where Charles Lindbergh instead of Wendell Willkie is named as the Republican nominee for President. Jewish people across America spontaneously and loudly protest this as soon as they hear the news. Why? Charles Lindbergh is a Nazi sympathizer and a proud recipient of the Order of the German Eagle who even refused to return it after Kristallnacht, saying that it would constitute an "unnecessary insult" to the Third Reich. However, Charles Lindbergh is able to use his popularity as a famous aviator as well as his isolationism to defeat FDR in the 1940 election. Thereafter, he signs "understandings" with both the Third Reich and Japan, making nice with both governments. Thus, the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as America's 1942 entrance into World War II are averted. Anti-Semitism increases in popularity as an alliance between the American and Nazi government strengthens.

Meanwhile, Philip Roth is a preteen Jewish boy who must cope with the ever-growing anti-Semitism in America. His mother has started saving money in a Canadian bank in case things get so desperate that the Roths must leave the country. Phil's Aunt Evelyn grows closer to the Republican politicians and the visiting Nazi dignitaries. Phil's brother Sandy is turned against the Jewish culture and his cousin Alvin comes back home wounded after fighting in World War II for the Canadian army. It gets worse.


 * All Gays Are Pedophiles: Phil and a friend of his are implored by an older man to come into his house. They say, "Oh no, he's a fairy!" and run away.
 * Aluminum Christmas Trees: With the present historical narrative of America as generally supportive of the Allies, but unable to get personally involved in World War II until the Germans, sorry, Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the idea that at any point in history an American could not only express positive views about the Nazis and still be able to show his face in polite society but also receive a medal from Adolf Hitler himself without being ostracized can seem very far-fetched indeed without deeper historical knowledge.
 * Joisey: One good way to tell whether or not a person has actually read this book is to ask them where it takes place. Since Phil's pride in being a New Jerseyan is repeated almost every other paragraph but the New Jersey setting is overshadowed by the Alternate History element of Charles Lindbergh's presidency in reviews and such about the book, you can tell if a person has actually read this if they answer any question about the setting with an unhesitating "New Jersey."
 * A Nazi by Any Other Name: Subverted while it seems for much of the book that Lindbergh is a Nazi, a member of the protagonist's family who worked in the Lindbergh administration claims that Lindbergh were being forced to govern by the Nazi's, who had kidnapped his son. Note however this is never proved.
 * Historical Villain Upgrade: The portrayal of Charles Lindbergh as a A Nazi by Any Other Name, as rooted in truth as it is, can come off as this, especially at first, to readers who didn't know that Charles Lindbergh held such views and mainly knew about him as a celebrity pilot.
 * Putting on the Reich: Strangely, it's more subtle than one would expect. When Charles Lindbergh is elected as President, he enacts some Nazi-lite policies specifically targeted at Jewish people, such as the relocation of Jewish families, forcing Jewish boys of a certain age to live with a Gentile family for the summer so that they will be turned against Jewish customs such as keeping kosher. Charles Lindbergh never goes nearly as far as Hitler ever did, but Jewish people are still clearly facing persecution.
 * Self-Insert Fic: A literal example, as the main character is Philip Roth himself as a preteen.
 * Unfortunate Implications: In this book, being against America's entrance into World War II is automatically conflated with anti-Semitism and collaboration/sympathy with the Nazi government. To further emphasize this point, Phil's cousin Alvin runs off to join the Canadian army and receives unquestionable sympathy for his "sacrifice" and loss of his leg. In fact, there were many who opposed the war out of pacifism and actively worked for nonviolent solutions to the many problems in World War II. For example, the Society of Friends was against America's entrance into World War II but many members were willing to come to agreements with the Nazis about transporting Jewish people out of the realms of the Third Reich.
 * The Un-Reveal: It is never revealed who sabotaged Lindbergh's plane which lead to his death. The British, desperate for American assistance? The Nazis, because Lindbergh wasn't pushing ahead with the anti-semitism policies they wanted? Or members of the FBI and the armed forces who feared he would join the war on Germany's side?
 * Wiki Walk: At times, the narration feels like one of these, what with the amount of information that Phil, the narrator gives. It sometimes gets to the point where the reader could conceivably forget what was going on plot-wise before the load of information given in the narration before it goes back to the events of the plot.