A revealing examination of the making of America's most famous anti-Semite.
How and why did this quintessential American folk-hero and pioneering industrialist become one of the most obsessive anti-Semites of our time-a man who devoted his immense financial resources to publishing a pernicious forgery, The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion? Once Henry Ford's virulent media campaign against the Jews took off during the "anxious decade" following World War I, how did America's splintered Jewish community attempt to cope with the relentless tirade conducted for ninety-one consecutive weeks in the automobile manufacturer's personal newspaper, The Dearborn Independent? What were the repercussions of Ford's Jew-hatred extending deeply into the 1930s? Drawing upon previously-uncited oral history transcripts, archival correspondence, and family memoirs, Neil Baldwin answers these and other questions, examining the conservative biases of the men at the inner circle of the Ford Motor Company and disentangling painful ideological struggles among an elite Jewish leadership reluctantly pitted against the clout and popularity of "The Flivver King."
Henry Ford was not only one of America's great industrialists, he was also one of America's great haters. With "his rambling mouth" and his "volatile passions and budgetless financial resources," Ford became famous around the country and the world for his rabid anti-Semitism. "He did not like the Jews because he believed they were warmongering, manipulative, and alien," writes Neil Baldwin. A pacifist, Ford blamed the First World War on "German-Jewish bankers." In the 1920s, he published The Dearborn Independent, which featured notorious articles such as "The International Jew: The World's Problem." In 1938, he became the first American recipient of a Nazi award bestowed upon non-Germans. Baldwin details Ford's views and activities and also describes the phenomenon of anti-Semitism in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. Henry Ford once declared, infamously, "History is more or less the bunk." His descendents seem to disagree. "Beginning with Henry Ford II," writes Baldwin, "succeeding generations of Fords have sought to put an end to Henry Ford's dark legacy" by supporting Israel and Jewish charities. Their actions bear out what one Jewish newspaper said in response to Ford in 1920: "We are firm in our belief that stupidity cannot triumph." --John Miller
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Important Part of American History:
I found Niel Baldwin's research very credible, educational and revealing. Once I picked up the book, I found it highly interesting and it was very hard to put down. In the US deregulated laissez faire economy of the early 20th century, wealth was concentrated into the hands of the few large manufacturers like Ford. And they became the role models for millions of people around the world. People listened to them. Unfortunately, it didn't take wisdom, sharp intellect, insight, or moral judgment to... more info
What is Truth in this world.:
The reason this book is rated 1 star is the reader was not swept away by information as it was "new". This was well known by informed people and it was well known that most national leaders previous to Mr. Ford to the founding fathers had the same leanings which are attacked here.
Readers must understand what they are reading which is being lost. Mr. Ford seems to have believed he was of the lost Israelite peoples so he was a Semite.
Without having any intent on defending someone of another era,... more info
History isn't bunk...:
This book enlightened me about many historical connections, above all, about Henry Ford's strong influence on Hitler, and his acceptance of honors from him. The author offers very fine understanding of the American scene that fostered Ford's views, and also the reaction to Ford's publications of major antisemetic works. Unfortunately, the American scene has recently showed uncomfortable parallels with Ford's views. The antisemetic campaign about the "war on Christmas" makes "Henry Ford and the Jews"... more info
The Last To Know.....:
I think I was the last person in the United States to become aware of Henry Ford's anti-semitism.
I make it a practice to study one person a month and I decided as a business builder, Henry Ford was worthy of my attention and study.
I found this particular biography and thought, "OK, this has a completely different approach, let's try it on."
I found Baldwin's passion and zealousness for his topic and his particular slant to be very powerful. As is frequent in such writing, it also became a barrier... more info
