Screening of Historical Documentary: Wendell Willkie in China

Richard C. Rudolph East Asian Library Presents: Historical Documentary Screening and Panel

In 1942, FDR sent Willkie, whom he had defeated in the 1940 Presidential election, on a 49 day goodwill and fact finding mission around the world. He flew in a converted B-24 Liberator aircraft, and left New York on August 26th. In China, he traveled to Chongqing, Lanzhou, Xi'an and Chengdu. At a time when the Chinese people were exhausted after their resistance to the Japanese invasion for over ten years and their belief that the United States did not fully understand their plight, the visit was timely, to say the least. When he returned to the US, he wrote of his travels in "One World," which became a huge best seller. He sold the film rights to Darryl Zanuck and 20th Century-Fox. Six months before his trip, Willkie spoke for 20 minutes as a special invited guest at the 14th Academy Awards on February 26, 1942. He came on after the Documentary Awards presentation and before the Short Subject Awards.

Screening Panelists:

Ed Carter and Teresa Sun

Light lunch reception served.

Wendell Willkie in China