And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the
pentagon knew, the state department knew. and the
illustrious occupant of the white house then, who was a
great leader - and i say it with some anguish and pain,
because, today is exactly 54 years marking his death -
franklin delano roosevelt died on april the 12th, 1945. so
he is very much present to me and to us. no doubt, he was
a great leader. he mobilized the american people and the
world, going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands
of valiant and brave soldiers in america to fight fascism, to
fight dictatorship, to fight hitler. and so many of the young
people fell in battle. and, nevertheless, his image in jewish
history - i must say it - his image in jewish history is
flawed.
-elie wiesel, 'the perils of indifference, 1999
why does wiesel spend time during his speech complimenting franklin d.
roosevelt?
o
a. to the brave soldiers who freed him from the concentration
camps
o
b. to show that he understands why roosevelt refused to him
c. to soften his later attacks that the united states was indifferent to
the suffering of the jews
o
o
d. to show his appreciation at being invited to speak at the white
house