Hitler congratulated Jesse Owens, FDR snubbed him.

[Fiannan]

On the first day, Hitler shook hands only with the German victors and then left the stadium (some claimed this was to avoid having to shake hands with Cornelius Johnson, who was African-American, while a Nazi spokesman claimed that Hitler's exit had been pre-scheduled because of a previous appointment). Olympic committee officials then insisted Hitler greet each and every medalist or none at all. Hitler opted for the latter and skipped all further medal presentations.[4][5] On reports that Hitler had deliberately avoided acknowledging his victories, and had refused to shake his hand, Owens recounted:[6]

Jesse Owens on the podium after winning the long jump at the 1936 Summer Olympics

“When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad taste in criticizing the man of the hour in Germany.”

He also stated:[7]

“Hitler didn't snub me—it was FDR who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram.”

Jesse Owens was never invited to the White House nor bestowed any honors by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) or Harry S. Truman during their terms. In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower acknowledged Owens' accomplishments, naming him an "Ambassador of Sports."

Owens was cheered enthusiastically by 110,000 people in Berlin's Olympic Stadium and later ordinary Germans sought his autograph when they saw him in the streets. Owens was allowed to travel with and stay in the same hotels as whites, an irony at the time given that blacks in the United States were denied equal rights. After a New York ticker-tape parade in his honor, Owens had to ride the freight elevator to attend his own reception at the Waldorf-Astoria.[8]

Jesse Owens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A bit of Olympic history seeing that the history of the Olympics is so much in the public eye today. Strange though, one wonders if more blacks would have a more favorable view towards the Republican Party if history were told the way it really happened in school textbooks.

[Hemidakota]

I have personal reservation with FDR presidency and amount of damage it caused for decades after.

[Guest User-Removed]

3. Personal attacks, name calling, flaming, and judgments against other members will not be tolerated. ~ Canuck

[Canuck Mormon]

Let's stop with the insults. If you have nothing to add to the discussion, don't add anything.

[JcDean78]

I have personal reservation with FDR presidency and amount of damage it caused for decades after.

Thats putting it nice compared to what the man really did and tried to do. The man was the WORST president of the USA ever and has done untold damage to our Republic and it continues to this day. In fact many of the largest issues we face today are products of the FDR Presidency. I guess that would be for another topic though.

As for the snub, I really do not know a lot about that... there were a lot bigger issues going on in those days than FDR snubbing an athlete.

[Hemidakota]

Jesse Owens deserve a presidential treatment. Sad he never receive it.

[EruditioSalvatus]

One of Hitler's aides also remarked that Hitler wasn't surprised that Owens won. "They shouldn't let animals compete with humans," he supposedly said because it was, "unfair."

Could be urban legend

[DigitalShadow]

.... Wow, I've never seen a thread Godwin out in the title. I think that may be a new record.

[john doe]

Is there a point to this thread?

[Fiannan]

Is there a point to this thread?

A) With China's hosting of the Olympics there have been many news broadcastes featuring the 1936 Munich games.

B) There is a misconception that Hitler had a great deal of anamosity towards Owens beating German runners (it could be true after all) but he did not snub Owens as many reports innacurately indicate.

C) There is a misconception that the Democratic Party is the party of black people and if a black runs as a Republican then they are some sort of "Uncle Toms". Yet it was Lincoln, a Republican, who freed the slaves and from what I have read elsewhere FDR did not want to be featured with Owens for fear of losing white support. Woodrow Wilson premiered "Birth of a Nation" in the White House and commented how historically accurate it was. I have no idea about Truman (who got his start in the KKK) but isn't it ironic that Eisenhower was the one who honored Owens?

[JcDean78]

Yes, the DNC has historically and currently disciminates against minorities yet continue to get their support.

[prisonchaplain]

A) With China's hosting of the Olympics there have been many news broadcastes featuring the 1936 Munich games.

B) There is a misconception that Hitler had a great deal of anamosity towards Owens beating German runners (it could be true after all) but he did not snub Owens as many reports innacurately indicate.

IMHO, these two points are unrelated. Further, the jury of scholarly historical opinion likely remains that Hitler did indeed snub Owens.

Recordnet.com: New book only adds to Owens' legend

C) There is a misconception that the Democratic Party is the party of black people and if a black runs as a Republican then they are some sort of "Uncle Toms". Yet it was Lincoln, a Republican, who freed the slaves and from what I have read elsewhere FDR did not want to be featured with Owens for fear of losing white support. Woodrow Wilson premiered "Birth of a Nation" in the White House and commented how historically accurate it was. I have no idea about Truman (who got his start in the KKK) but isn't it ironic that Eisenhower was the one who honored Owens?

However right or wrong you may be, I doubt that you (or I) are in a position to enlighten the vast majority of African-Americans, who do choose to vote Democrat (often over 90%, I believe). I doubt that there is a more loyal voting bloc.

[NeuroTypical]

I doubt that there is a more loyal voting bloc.

Try mormons. In one of the elections Perot was in, Clinton came in third in Utah.

[Guest User-Removed]

A) With China's hosting of the Olympics there have been many news broadcastes featuring the 1936 Munich games.

B) There is a misconception that Hitler had a great deal of anamosity towards Owens beating German runners (it could be true after all) but he did not snub Owens as many reports innacurately indicate.

QUOTE]

Two things come to mind...One, you are severely challenged when it comes to history. After Der Feuhrer refused to shakes hands with Owens, Olympic Officials informed him that he either greeted all victors accordingly..or none at all. He chose none at all.

The point of featuring the 1936 Olympics, has it's history in this was the first Olympics where the Torch start in Greece and I believe made its way around the world to "BERLIN"...the games in Munich didn't occur until 1972.

With the level of controversy over the protesters of the Bejing Games surrounding the Torches movement...they're considering (so I've read) that this might be the last torch run?

[Guest User-Removed]

Is there a point to this thread?

I'm thinking maybe it's this...

Broadband Connection + Too much time on someones hands = the purpose for this thread?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA:roll::roflmbo:

[Guest User-Removed]

C) There is a misconception that the Democratic Party is the party of black people and if a black runs as a Republican then they are some sort of "Uncle Toms". Yet it was Lincoln, a Republican, who freed the slaves and from what I have read elsewhere FDR did not want to be featured with Owens for fear of losing white support. Woodrow Wilson premiered "Birth of a Nation" in the White House and commented how historically accurate it was. I have no idea about Truman (who got his start in the KKK) but isn't it ironic that Eisenhower was the one who honored Owens?

Fiannan...you might want to, if nothing else go through wikipedia before you post.

Yes, Lincoln was the Great Emancipator...yet, he didn't "Free" the slaves until almost the end of the conflict...and only then to curry favor with the Northern Abolistionist in the Government who were tired of what they perceived to be his pathetic execution of the war.

You are correct, FDR was quite obsessed by his image in the South, since most of the Northern Business Interests were wary of the New Deal from jump street. He and Eleanor fought constantly over his views on race...up to the point where she's was known as Franklin's little &^%$#$ lover in some Southern circles.

As a side note...I remember a joke I heard in some WWII movie that went like this...

Soldiers were pinned down in a fire fight on some pacific island...suddenly, to locate the sniper...an American Soldier yell out (BLANK) Hirohito...the sniper appeared and they shot him. They tried it again....(BLANK) Hirohito.....wam bam...another sniper appeared and bam...bam..bam, they got him too. Well these soldiers thought they were onto something...When suddenly a japanese soldier jumps up and hollers...(BLANK) Roosevelt...the american soldier who'd killed the other two just looked and smirked. His commanding officer...quited perturbed dressed him down for not killing the insolent enemy soldier....The American soldier in his defense said...but Captain, I just couldn't bring myself to kill a fellow Republican.....

Now...back at the Ranch....

Harry S. Truman didn't get his start in the Klan...politically speaking...he got his start working for the Pendergast Gang...think KCMO's version of the Sopranos.

Truman had a Jewish Partner in his failed habadashery(sp?)...He went on to integrate the Military in I believe his full term

Now...one thing is for sure...there have been more Klansmen in the Democratic Caucus than ever in the GOP....

which leads me to this memory...back in the 60's when the Federales were infiltrating the local Klans...paranoia ran high at cross burnings...much like ATF agents at local gun shows, no one knew if the fella under the sheet next to you...was an undercover FBI agent. Someone finally figured it out...FBI infiltraters always paid their dues on time.....

................Do I hear a drum roll.......

[Hemidakota]

Something I had noticed also...though, when I vote, I simply stop voting for the party but the person [lesser evil].

[Canuck Mormon]

Let's try and remember the site rules please:

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They haven't been broken yet, but we still need to stay clear please. We've let this thread continue, but we will close it if this rule is broken.

[Guest User-Removed]

Let's try and remember the site rules please:

They haven't been broken yet, but we still need to stay clear please. We've let this thread continue, but we will close it if this rule is broken.

Hmmmmm...........Someone, please remind me is it in the BoM...or was it the Prophet Joseph who commented on what happens when people get a little bit of power?????

[Canuck Mormon]

Hmmmmm...........Someone, please remind me is it in the BoM...or was it the Prophet Joseph who commented on what happens when people get a little bit of power?????

Just a reminder.

[Moksha]

So is the moral of this story that the Der Fuhrer was friendlier to Blacks than our American Presidents?

[Fiannan]

Fiannan...you might want to, if nothing else go through wikipedia before you post.

Yes, Lincoln was the Great Emancipator...yet, he didn't "Free" the slaves until almost the end of the conflict...and only then to curry favor with the Northern Abolistionist in the Government who were tired of what they perceived to be his pathetic execution of the war.

Perhaps true but he did free the slaves. The reason he did not do this sooner was due to the fact that it could have pushed border states into the Confederate alliance. A side note, Grant did not free his slaves until he absolutely had to.

You are correct, FDR was quite obsessed by his image in the South, since most of the Northern Business Interests were wary of the New Deal from jump street. He and Eleanor fought constantly over his views on race...up to the point where she's was known as Franklin's little &^%$#$ lover in some Southern circles.

Correct.

As a side note...I remember a joke I heard in some WWII movie that went like this...

Soldiers were pinned down in a fire fight on some pacific island...suddenly, to locate the sniper...an American Soldier yell out (BLANK) Hirohito...the sniper appeared and they shot him. They tried it again....(BLANK) Hirohito.....wam bam...another sniper appeared and bam...bam..bam, they got him too. Well these soldiers thought they were onto something...When suddenly a japanese soldier jumps up and hollers...(BLANK) Roosevelt...the american soldier who'd killed the other two just looked and smirked. His commanding officer...quited perturbed dressed him down for not killing the insolent enemy soldier....The American soldier in his defense said...but Captain, I just couldn't bring myself to kill a fellow Republican.....

Funny.

Harry S. Truman didn't get his start in the Klan...politically speaking...he got his start working for the Pendergast Gang...think KCMO's version of the Sopranos.

I believe he was a member of the KKK prior to working for Pendergast.

Truman had a Jewish Partner in his failed habadashery(sp?)...He went on to integrate the Military in I believe his full term

That is true. However, on the original point, why did Owens have to wait until Eisenhower was elected to get the recognition he deserved?

Now...one thing is for sure...there have been more Klansmen in the Democratic Caucus than ever in the GOP....

Probably true. By the way, yes, you are correct that the games featuring Owens were in Berlin. However, the article indicates that Hitler decided not to shake hands with athletes prior to Owens' victory.

And Moksha, nobody said that Hitler was all nice to blacks. However, there is great irony when Owens was ignored by FDR yet history generally ignores this. Kinda like when history books chastize the US government for putting Japanese in concentration camps (they put a lot of German and Italians away too but that gets little mention) but fail to give the credit to FDR. One can see where hero worship can taint the way history is presented.

[MorningStar]

So is the moral of this story that the Der Fuhrer was friendlier to Blacks than our American Presidents?

I can't figure it out. It sounds like either, "Hitler wasn't so bad after all" or "FDR was even worse than Hitler."

Being snubbed is really not that upsetting compared to the horrible stuff Hitler did.

[Fiannan]

I can't figure it out. It sounds like either, "Hitler wasn't so bad after all" or "FDR was even worse than Hitler."

Being snubbed is really not that upsetting compared to the horrible stuff Hitler did.

Again, nobody catches the point? Our history is told in such a way that it distorts reality. Let's just look at the points made in the Wikipedia article. When you think of segregation you think of the south yet Owens had to get to his own reception in a fancy hotel in New York through the service elevator. As another poster made clear, FDR was no big fan of blacks yet the Democratic Party makes a big deal of it's symbolic master FDR. To be sure, Roosevelt was a master at coalition building and propaganda since he could get blacks to leave the Republican fold but also get whites who disliked blacks to also join that fold. Roosevelt imprisoned thousands of people based on their race or ethnicity. Does he get critisized for this or is it generally just stated that the government in WW2 did it?

[Hemidakota]

I can't figure it out. It sounds like either, "Hitler wasn't so bad after all" or "FDR was even worse than Hitler."

Being snubbed is really not that upsetting compared to the horrible stuff Hitler did.

Stalin was far worse and murder more people than Hitler.