The Marshall Plan: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy

There is universal agreement that the major reason for World War II were the crippling reparations on Germany imposed at the close of World War I.  These reparations not only brought Germany down, but the financial aftermath of the war plunged the world into The Great Depression.  After the defeat of Germany, the world did not want to plant seeds for World War III.  General George Marshall came up with a plan to rebuild Germany so that it would be an economic force and not a drain to the world.  His proposal was known as The Marshall Plan.

Today Germany is the most solvent and solid of EU countries.  Mercy was shown to Germany by the world, especially The United States.  No matter the political stripes of Americans, there is a great pride that we have in The Marshall Plan.  We answered evil with justice and mercy.  The Nuremberg trials brought the guilty to justice.  The Marshall Plan brought mercy.

There was no similar plan for Japan.  As a result, Japan did not become an economic power until the 1970s.  Now, we are drowning in Japanese cars and electronics.  Their economy is booming and our manufacturing jobs are gone.  If we had had a Marshall Plan for Japan, the 1950s would not have been so prosperous, but we would not have had the bubbles and bursts that have plagued us either.  With a world that had been rebuilt earlier, it is quite possible that alternative energy sources would be discovered and replacing oil at this point.  When mercy is extended, the people we ultimately save are ourselves.  Kindness coats the world in balance and peace.

We linked General George Marshall to John Paul II in a previous post.  The three degrees are...

General George Marshall to FDR to Pope Pius XII to Pope John Paul II

Kate Middleton

Congratulations!  

Click here to see a replay of the big event!

Kate Middleton will soon be married to Prince William of England.  She is currently 3 degrees from Pope John Paul II, but in two days, she will be 2 degrees away.

Prince William (top) with his mother, Princess Diana
and brother, Prince Harry

Princess Diana met the Holy Father several times during her reign

Prince William's mother was married by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The current Archbishop of Canterbury,
the officiant at Kate and William's wedding,
 and
Pope John Paul II

Kate is now two degrees from John Paul II!

Here is part of Queen Elizabeth's wedding in November of 1947.

And here is the Queen Mum's wedding in 1923.  It's silent film.  Enjoy!

A word about the abdication, divorce, and the Anglicans.  

"I do believe you'll be queen over Churchill's dead body.
This is my fondest wish, Wallis."  

Edward VIII abdicated the throne because of his relationship with Wallis Simpson, a woman who had previous marriages.  The traditional story is that, as a divorcee, Ms Simpson was unsuitable to be queen of England.  This was not the actual reason for absolutely and entirely rejecting her.  Ms Simpson was a Nazi!  She was friends with Adolf Hitler, a Eugenist, and general white supremacist.  In the 1930s, many countries toyed with the ideas which became Naziism.  Indeed, the concepts of Eugenics, superiority of the white race, were born in The United States.  England and America could have easily turned to the right.  Instead, we elected FDR, and England forced the abdication of Edward VIII and had King George VI consecrated as their king.

The abdication happened when the then Princess Elizabeth was barely 10 years old.  It must have made quite an impression upon her.  The government serves at the pleasure of the king and queen, but the king and queen ultimately serve at the pleasure of their people.  It is Elizabeth's integrity, love of country, and love of personal and societal freedom, that have kept the monarchy strong during her reign.  While I don't understand the need for the royal family, I respect the British institution and understand that Britain's need for the royal family goes very deep and bears much fruit.  I wish them well and pray earnestly that their church will reconcile with their Roman brothers and sisters soon.

I am just itching to read this book.  It is a highly acclaimed novel imagining what the world would have been like if Charles Linberg had defeated FDR in 1938.  I heard it recommended on NPR and read a review in The New York Times Book Review Section. Check it out!

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

My mother was born on this date during the presidency of FDR.  I am therefore writing about Franklin Delano Roosevelt today.

2 Degrees

As detailed in the post on Chairman Mao, FDR exchanged letters with Pope Pius XII during World War II.  I don't have anything to add about the relationship between FDR and Pius XII, but here are some videos that might interest you.

Watch the full episode. See more American Experience.

I strongly urge you to visit the FDR presidential library in Hyde Park, New York if you get a chance.  He had 4 terms, there is loads of information to sift through and wonderful displays there.  Click here to visit their site.

George Washington

George Washington in bucolic scene with chattel etc.

7 Degrees

Seventh Degree: George Washington freed his slaves upon his death as part of a pact with the Marquis de Lafayette.
Oney Judge, a slave on Washington's Mount Vernon Plantation, was not owned by George, but by his wife, Martha.  She kept most of her slaves and bequeethed Oney Judge to her granddaughter, Eliza Custis.  Oney was not excited about the prospect of being owned by yet another person (and perhaps Ms Custis wasn't a nice lady either.)  Oney Judge escaped!
Full story and interview here.

Sixth Degree: John Langdon
Oney made her way to New Hampshire where she was given sanctuary by Senator John Langdon (future Governor of New Hampshire).  Mr. Langdon was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.   click here for a full list of delegates.  


Fifth Degree: Gabriel Duvall of Maryland (Named because it was the colony for Papists, those devoted to "Mary", it was their "land") was also a delegate to that convention.  After the United States of America was created, Mr. Duvall became Justice Duvall.  He served in the US Supreme Court for over 20 years with Chief Justice John Marshall .


Fourth Degree: John  Marshall
Just a few branches down the family tree of John Marshall, we come to
Third Degree: General George Marshall (of The Marshall Plan fame).

Second Degree: FDR
George Marshall served under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  For The History Channel's history of George Marshall, click here.  "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," The Marshall Plan embodies this phrase and is something that Americans are proud of.  Like all people, George Marshall was flawed, but he was great.



First Degree: Pope Pius XII
FDR wrote many letters to Pope Pius XII.  Myron Taylor, ambassedor to the Vatican, presented the letter to Pius XII in person.

A Word About Pius XII
Hated by Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin, Pope Pius XII stood up for the faith and was hailed as a brave hero by Jews and Christians alike.  Communist propaganda painted him as an enemy and and anti-Semite in the 1950s and 1960s.  This image persists today. Go to one of the Holocaust museums around the world, read newspaper stories and encyclicals from the wartime, read the recent NY Daily News story defending the Pius XII.  Don't believe the hype!  Go to the source.

In December 2008 there was a symposium on the papacy of Pius XII.  This symposium was part of an ongoing effort by The Vatican and Jewish leaders to maintain healthy and truthful interfaith dialogue.  Click on the name of a participant to see their video of reaction to the symposium.

• Journalist Michael Hesemann
• Law Professor, Writer, Jurist, Political Commentator Ronald Rychlak
• Rabbi Abie Ingber

John Adams

This post was originally part of a series of presidents for the month of February, but it took a turn that made it appropriate for Pearl Harbor Day.  I strongly suggest you see all the videos from the BBC that begin with one toward the bottom of this post.  King Tut #3 is coming on the 8th.

John Adams

John Adams was President of the United States (POTUS) from 1797-1801.  Most think of him as the second president, but it depends on your reckoning.  He was the second president under the constitution of 1787, but #12 if you consider the country from the moment it became united.  This video is really interesting.

Fasten your seatbelt, this is a ride of 9 degrees that covers 5 presidents

and 2 Japanese emperors!

9th Degree: President John Adams (portrait above)

8th Degree: President John Quincy Adams,
author of The Monroe Doctrine

7th Degree: President James Monroe
The Monroe Doctrine stated that, while the United States will not interfere with nor
deny the legitimacy of any existing colonies of European nations in the Western Hemisphere,
it would see the formation of any new colonies or expansion of existing colonies as acts of
war against the United States and therefore require US retaliation.   

6th Degree: President Teddy Roosevelt
In 1905, Teddy Roosevelt modified the Monroe Doctrine.
In that same year he also encouraged Japan to expand onto the
Asian continent.  This was NOT his finest act.

5th Degree: Emperor Meiji Mutsuhito expanded Japan onto the Asian
continent, setting the course for WWII in Asia.

Fourth Degree: Emperor Showa Hirohito
invaded Manchuria in 1933, the first of his invasions that
lead to the Asian theater of WWII.

Third Degree: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)

Declares war on Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Second Degree: President Harry S. Truman and Emperor Showa Hirohito

After the European side of WWII ended, as concentration camps were being liberated and other atrocities were coming to light, the Asian war burned hot with no end in sight.  President Harry Truman decided to drop the first atomic bombs on Japan.  Here is audio of him discussing this decision.  

This video is the gateway to an excellent BBC documentary about the bomb. 

1st Degree: Pope Pius XII

Harry Truman and his predecessor, FDR, exchanged letters with Pius XII.  

Chairman Mao

Mao and Dubois

6 Degrees

Sixth Degree: WEB Dubois.  

In 1959, Chairman Mao met WEB Dubois, an American writer and thinker who was born in Western Massachusetts.  Dubois was African-American and not accepted by American intelligentsia.  Like many frustrated black intellectuals, he was attracted to the communist ideals and the acceptance that he could enjoy in communist countries.  Writing of his friend, Paul Robeson, he said “In America he was a ‘nigger’; in Britain he was tolerated; in France he was cheered; in the Soviet Union he was loved for the great artist that he is.” These words could easily be about Dubois himself. To read the entire book W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century, 1919-1963

 By David Levering Lewis click here.

Fifth Degree: Paul Robeson 

Robeson toasting Marian Anderson

WEB Dubois was friends with Paul Robeson, the great American Bass.  Paul Robeson has one of the most recognizable singing voices in the history of song.  Most will know his as the voice of "Ol' Man River."  He was frustrated with his status in the United States as "that colored singer," and he wished to be known as simply a great artist.  He sang in the Soviet Union.  There he was not simply a caricature of a singer, but a performer of lieder.  Here is a recording from his Soviet concerts.  

Roosevelt's resignation
from DAR, click to enlarge

Fourth Degree: Marian Anderson
Paul Robeson gave a toast at a dinner given in honor of Marian Anderson.  A great lady of American song, Ms Anderson lead the way for other Divas-of-Color like Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman, Kathleen Battle, and Denyce Graves.

Third Degree, Eleanor Roosevelt:
She was acquainted with First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who invited her to sing for the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  Miss Anderson excepted, but the DAR refused to allow a "colored singer" to perform for them.  Outraged, Mrs. Roosevelt wrote a letter of resignation from the DAR and scheduled a concert for Miss Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial.  That famous concert is reported as a newsreel in the video click here.  I was unable to embed that video, but this one with Leopold Stokowski of the Ave Maria is below.  
To read more about Eleanor's relationship to Marian Anderson here is a link to the FDR library.  I saw these documents myself when I visited there.  Mrs. Roosevelt was an amazing woman.

Myron Taylor and Pius XII

Second Degree: President Franklin Deleno Roosevelt
FDR and Pope Pius XII exchanged many letters through FDR's envoy to the Pope, Myron Taylor.  To read all of the wartime correspondence between FDR and Pius XII  go here.  I believe you can also buy the book at that link as well.

Second (still)  Degree: Myron Taylor, Personal Envoy of FDR to Pius XII

FDR wanted his letters to the pope to be “the channel of communication for any views You and I might wish to exchange in the interest of concord among the peoples of the world.”  The pope deemed their letters to be successful in that endeavor.  He saw the US aide that flowed to be of great relief to the “misery begotten of the war” and praised secretary Myron Taylor to be the go-between at this pre-air-travel time. Click the above link to read Pius' words.

Now, I consider the letters to be direct correspondence even though they were delivered through Myron Taylor.  Therefore,


First  Degree: Pope Pius XII. Pius XII was pope #261 and John Paul #265.  Just as I'm considering bloodlines to be one degree of separation, I'm counting the papal succession as one degree as well.
Not so fun Catholic fact: Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you need to be against both sides of a conflict.  That was the case in World War II with Pius XII.  He was against the Fascist dictators on the basis of Fascist opposition to belief in God.  Fascism requires undivided loyalty of each citizen to the state, in such a state, true Christianity is anathema.  Pius was also against the Communist forces of the Allies.  Communism is by definition atheist.  For these reasons, Pius is one of the most vilified popes in history. Taking a stand for what is right will rarely render one to be popular.  Christ knew that always, most pointedly on the cross.