Roosevelt understood that the political costs of any public condemnation of Nazi persecution or any obvious effort to ease the entry of Jews into America were likely to be immense, because American political discourse had framed the Jewish problem as an immigration problem.
In Erik Larson's book "In the Garden of Beasts," the narrative explores the complex political landscape during the rise of Nazi Germany. President Roosevelt faced significant challenges regarding how to address the persecution of Jews, as public condemnation could have led to severe political repercussions. The discourse of the time framed Jewish suffering primarily as an immigration issue, complicating any potential governmental response.
This framing made it difficult for Roosevelt to advocate for Jewish refugees or publicly denounce Nazi policies, given the potential backlash from constituents who were resistant to changes in immigration laws. Consequently, the fear of political fallout influenced the government's stance towards helping those fleeing tyranny, highlighting the interplay between political pragmatism and moral responsibility during a critical historical moment.
