clock … watching time, the only true currency

Perhaps you can’t judge a book by its cover.

But the title of this demure black hardcover distinguished itself enough that I plucked it off the shelf and kept it in the pile of things I might read someday. That was several years ago.

Last month, I finally read You Can’t Do Business With Hitler (Google Book Search link). The author, Douglas Miller, spent 15 years as commercial attaché at the American Embassy in Berlin, resigning in 1939. As I turned each page of this June, 1941 propaganda piece, I wondered about its origin and timing. The United States was preparing to enter the war, but wasn’t yet there, officially. According to this review of a different history book, Miller’s book was endorsed by President Roosevelt before Pearl Harbor.

The book made the top ten list for non-fiction in 1941 and was the spark for a series of radio shows produced by the U.S. government. I’m downloading the files now, for a brief curious listen, but you can listen to a sample here. They are “based on the experiences of Douglas Milller,” who was probably thrilled to have his no-bones-about-it title re-used, selling more books and spreading his very clear message far and wide.

The book itself? Very clear, direct language and Miller uses business logic to make his case. There is mention of the moral aspects of Hitler’s methods, and some mild recognition of the atrocities going on. But repeated specific examples of German political intervention in the business arena, to the detriment of all outside nations and firms, are the heart of this blistering attack on Hitler’s system and its effect on American business. There are no hidden agendas in this book. From the preface:

A great deal has been and is being written and spoken about fighting the Nazis or dealing with them. But there is one group in America which has not been adequately brought face to face with the facts. I mean American business men. …I believe that which affects the American business man cannot help but affect every American.

Speaking the language of commerce to sway American opinion. Smart choice.

Interesting to read a non-fiction account which makes no bones about its purpose or bias. America must enter the war, and fight all the way to the finish because the Nazi system isn’t one to allow compromise.

With hindsight, too, You Can’t Do Business With Hitler was both accurate and on the winning side. Douglas Miller went into the OSS, but not sure what happened to him thereafter.