Question

Read this passage:

And now we knew, we learned, we discovered that the
Pentagon knew, the State Department knew. And the
illustrious occupant of the White House then, who was a
great leader and I say it with some anguish and pain,
because, today is exactly 54 years marking his death -
Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April the 12th, 1945. So
he is very much present to me and to us. No doubt, he was
a great leader. He mobilized the American people and the
world, going into battle, bringing hundreds and thousands
of valiant and brave soldiers in America to fight fascism, to
fight dictatorship, to fight Hitler. And so many of the young
people fell in battle. And, nevertheless, his image in Jewish
history - I must say it his image in Jewish history is
flawed.
-
-Elie Wiesel, "The Perils of Indifference, 1999
How does Wiesel soften his criticism of the United States in this passage?

Answer 1

Wiesel softens his criticism of the United States by acknowledging Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a great leader who mobilized American people and the world to fight against fascism, dictatorship, and Hitler. He also expresses pain and anguish while mentioning Roosevelt's death and admits that the image of the former President in Jewish history is flawed. He does not directly blame the United States or its government for any wrongdoing but mentions that the Pentagon and the State Department knew about something and that he had discovered it.

Step-by-step explanation: