ACWA Presents: Charles Peters on Wendell Willkie, 10-Year Resident of Akron, Oh.

Charles Peters is the author of "Five Days in Philadelphia: The Amazing 'We Want Willkie!' Convention of 1940 and How It Freed FDR to Save the Western World"

Wendell Willkie lived 10 years in Akron, Ohio, where he contributed significantly to local politics and community relations and laid the groundwork for his eventual entry into national politics. Willkie—a former Democrat—ran against Franklin Roosevelt as the Republican candidate for president in 1940.

Charles Peters’ book is the rousing, fascinating story of the rowdy political convention that produced the unlikeliest of candidates and thereby had the unanticipated result of saving the world from fascism.

In 1919, Wendell Willkie came to Akron to work for The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company for $175 a month. Willkie immediately worked to acquaint himself with Akron and its leaders. He established an American Legion post that is still active in our city: American Legion Wendell Willkie Post No. 19. He became active in politics and spoke to Rotary, Kiwanis and other clubs.

In little more than a year, Willkie was invited to join the law firm of Mather and Nesbitt where he established himself as a skilled trial lawyer. In 1924 Willkie was elected president of the Akron Bar Association. He remained in Akron until 1929 when he went to New York as counsel for Commonworth and Southern, a utility company.

Join us for an evening that explores Willkie’s personality and attributes and how he became a major factor in U.S. politics at one of the most critical junctures in our history.

The story of how this happened — and how essential Willkie’s nomination would prove in allowing FDR to save Britain and prepare this country for entry into World War II — is the subject of Charles Peters' book and his presentation to the ACWA. He will also be pleased to share further anecdotes about Willkie’s Akron experiences.

Charles Peters, one of the great editors in American history, has now given us a great work of history. Lucid, insightful and powerfully relevant to our new century, Five Days in Philadelphia tells an important, largely forgotten story with passion and warmth.

Five Days in Philadelphia is a wonderful evocation of a romantic age when Americans still loved politics, and politicians were just like human beings, and presidential elections were great fun and deadly serious.

We invite you to join us for this ACWA presentation by Charles Peters on Thursday, May 18, at:

Hilton Akron/Fairlawn | map
3180 West Market Street - Fairlawn
330-867-5000
(Across from Summit Mall — Ghent Road Exit from I-77)

6:00 p.m. Registration/Cash Bar
6:45 p.m. Dinner
7:15 p.m. Program, followed by Question & Answer period

Registration

Registration has been extended until 6:00 p.m., Tues., May 16

Please advise ACWA of your attendance by e-mail to info@akronworldaffairs.org. Download the registration form and return with a check payable to:

ACWA - P.O.Box 5300 - Akron, OH 44334

• ACWA Members & Guests: Dinner/Program $35
• Non-Members: Dinner/Program $45

Learn how to join ACWA

For more information, please call Jane Walker Snider, Executive Director, 330-867-6412.