America Looks Abroad
Step back to the turning point of the 20th century with America Looks Abroad, a vital 15-minute radio series that aired from January 1940 into 1941. As the Nazis swept across Europe and the world edged toward global conflict, the Foreign Policy Association (FPA) partnered with NBC to help everyday Americans make sense of the volatile and fast-changing diplomatic landscape. With 47 recordings spanning nearly 11 hours and 32 minutes, this collection captures news analysis and commentary from the late 1930s and early 1940s, offering an authentic glimpse into how the nation grappled with issues of neutrality, war, and America's role abroad. Each episode ended with a memorable tagline: "Foreign affairs are your affairs."
Collection Highlights
- Front-row seat to history: Hear episodes recorded as events unfolded—such as "Sinking of Graf Spee," "Germany Strikes At Britain," and "Inside Germany"—providing a real-time perspective on the war in Europe, the Battle of France, and the Siege of Britain.
- In-depth analysis from the FPA: Each program features talks or discussions by experts from the Foreign Policy Association, founded in 1918 to encourage Americans to learn more about the world. Topics range from "America's Economic Defense" to "Japans Plans In Indochina" and "Russian Role World Conflict."
- A unique window on American neutrality: Explore episodes like "Can America Defend Neutrality," "America Weighs Her Course," and "American Aid To Britain," which capture the intense debate over isolationism versus intervention as the Axis powers advanced.
- Rich collection for enthusiasts: With 47 episodes, this digital audio set allows you to trace the full arc of the conflict from early 1940 through the close of 1941, including insights on Scandinavia, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, and the Far East.
Track Listing
Show all 94 tracks (11 hours, 32 min)
- America Looks Abroad 400107 08 World Was Very Interested
- America Looks Abroad 400114 09 Food Rationing Has Begun
- America Looks Abroad 400121 10 Analysis Of Coming Expiration
- America Looks Abroad 400128 11 Can America Defend Neutrality
- America Looks Abroad 400204 12 Tug Of War In Balkans
- America Looks Abroad 400211 13 Is Europe Ready For Roosevelt
- America Looks Abroad 400218 14 Sinking Of Graf Spee
- America Looks Abroad 400303 16 Scandinavia On Firing Line
- America Looks Abroad 400310 17 Europe After Moscow Peace
- America Looks Abroad 400324 19 Can Germany Dictate Peace
- America Looks Abroad 400331 20 Britains Home Front
- America Looks Abroad 400414 22 Germanys War Aims Scandinavia
- America Looks Abroad 400421 23 War Spreads In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400428 24 American Republics Face War
- America Looks Abroad 400505 25 Norwegian Cmpgn Lesson Effect
- America Looks Abroad 400512 26 Germany Has Invaded Holland
- America Looks Abroad 400519 27 American And European Crisis
- America Looks Abroad 400526 28 Hitler Does Not Shrink
- America Looks Abroad 400602 29 UK Prepares For Invasion
- America Looks Abroad 400609 30 Italy Girds Itself For War
- America Looks Abroad 400616 31 Battle Of France In Usa
- America Looks Abroad 400623 32 Plight Of Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400630 33 What Next In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400707 34 Fate Of British Dominion
- America Looks Abroad 400714 35 New Order In France
- America Looks Abroad 400721 36 Enonomic Defense Of America
- America Looks Abroad 400728 37 Interamerican Conference
- America Looks Abroad 400804 38 Germany Strikes At Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400811 39 Italys Invasion Of Africa
- America Looks Abroad 400818 40 Americas Choice In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400825 41 Seige Of Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400915 44 America Weighs Her Course
- America Looks Abroad 400922 45 Europe Under Nazi Rule
- America Looks Abroad 400929 46 Japans Plans In Indochina
- America Looks Abroad 401006 47 British Empire Under Fire
- America Looks Abroad 401013 48 Conscription And Our Defenses
- America Looks Abroad 401020 49 Washington Anwrs Axis Powers
- America Looks Abroad 401027 50 Americas Economic Defense
- America Looks Abroad 401103 51 Struggle Eastern Mediterranan
- America Looks Abroad 401110 52 New Bases American Defense
- America Looks Abroad 401117 53 Outlook In Far East
- America Looks Abroad 401124 54 Russias Role World Conflict
- America Looks Abroad 401201 55 American Aid To Britain
- America Looks Abroad 401208 56 Axis Prospects In Balkans
- America Looks Abroad 401215 57 Inside Germany
- America Looks Abroad 401222 58 Inside England
- America Looks Abroad 401229 59 War And Peace Prospects 1941
- America Looks Abroad 400107 08 World Was Very Interested
- America Looks Abroad 400114 09 Food Rationing Has Begun
- America Looks Abroad 400121 10 Analysis Of Coming Expiration
- America Looks Abroad 400128 11 Can America Defend Neutrality
- America Looks Abroad 400204 12 Tug Of War In Balkans
- America Looks Abroad 400211 13 Is Europe Ready For Roosevelt
- America Looks Abroad 400218 14 Sinking Of Graf Spee
- America Looks Abroad 400303 16 Scandinavia On Firing Line
- America Looks Abroad 400310 17 Europe After Moscow Peace
- America Looks Abroad 400324 19 Can Germany Dictate Peace
- America Looks Abroad 400331 20 Britains Home Front
- America Looks Abroad 400414 22 Germanys War Aims Scandinavia
- America Looks Abroad 400421 23 War Spreads In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400428 24 American Republics Face War
- America Looks Abroad 400505 25 Norwegian Cmpgn Lesson Effect
- America Looks Abroad 400512 26 Germany Has Invaded Holland
- America Looks Abroad 400519 27 American And European Crisis
- America Looks Abroad 400526 28 Hitler Does Not Shrink
- America Looks Abroad 400602 29 UK Prepares For Invasion
- America Looks Abroad 400609 30 Italy Girds Itself For War
- America Looks Abroad 400616 31 Battle Of France In Usa
- America Looks Abroad 400623 32 Plight Of Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400630 33 What Next In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400707 34 Fate Of British Dominion
- America Looks Abroad 400714 35 New Order In France
- America Looks Abroad 400721 36 Enonomic Defense Of America
- America Looks Abroad 400728 37 Interamerican Conference
- America Looks Abroad 400804 38 Germany Strikes At Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400811 39 Italys Invasion Of Africa
- America Looks Abroad 400818 40 Americas Choice In Europe
- America Looks Abroad 400825 41 Seige Of Britain
- America Looks Abroad 400915 44 America Weighs Her Course
- America Looks Abroad 400922 45 Europe Under Nazi Rule
- America Looks Abroad 400929 46 Japans Plans In Indochina
- America Looks Abroad 401006 47 British Empire Under Fire
- America Looks Abroad 401013 48 Conscription And Our Defenses
- America Looks Abroad 401020 49 Washington Anwrs Axis Powers
- America Looks Abroad 401027 50 Americas Economic Defense
- America Looks Abroad 401103 51 Struggle Eastern Mediterranan
- America Looks Abroad 401110 52 New Bases American Defense
- America Looks Abroad 401117 53 Outlook In Far East
- America Looks Abroad 401124 54 Russias Role World Conflict
- America Looks Abroad 401201 55 American Aid To Britain
- America Looks Abroad 401208 56 Axis Prospects In Balkans
- America Looks Abroad 401215 57 Inside Germany
- America Looks Abroad 401222 58 Inside England
- America Looks Abroad 401229 59 War And Peace Prospects 1941
