William E. Dodd

William E. Dodd was in his middle sixties and an English professor at the University of Chicago when he learned he was a candidate for US Ambassador to Germany. Dodd was on the verge of retiring from the university. He was growing tired of the red-tape that existed at a large college and was frustrated that he had never attained a higher position there. Dodd had always been interested and intrigued by the political world and, though he tried, he had never been able to obtain a diplomatic position with the government.

Considering the potentially dangerous conditions in Berlin, there was not much competition for the ambassadorship in Germany. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had just been elected and one of the most pressing matters before him was filling that position. Dodd's name came to the president's attention and after some consideration, Roosevelt offered the position to him...