A Letter about Meeting Adolf Hitler

Focusing on Details: Spotlight

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

In 1935, Mr. C.H. Sherrill, former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and member of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Executive Board, met with Adolf Hitler to explore whether Germany intended to prevent Jewish athletes from participating in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Upon his return to his home in France, Sherrill wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's secretary Marguerite LeHand about the meeting.

Look closely at this letter and answer the questions below. As you read, consider the overall tone of the letter and the author's word choice.

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Worksheet

A Letter about Meeting Adolf Hitler

Focusing on Details: Spotlight

Examine the documents included in this activity and write your response in the space provided.

Click on "View Entire Document" to see the entire letter. Answer the following:

What is Charles H. Sherrill's purpose for writing this letter? Pay particular attention to the handwritten section at the end. What new information is included there about the 1936 Olympic Games?
Briefly summarize Sherrill's overall opinion of Adolf Hitler. What evidence does Sherrill provide to support his opinions about Hitler?
List details that reveal the creator's perspective. What clues can you find about their background or point of view?

Your Response

Activity Element

Letter from C.H. Sherrill to Marguerite LeHand about Adolf Hitler meeting

Page 1

Conclusion

A Letter about Meeting Adolf Hitler

Focusing on Details: Spotlight

This is one piece of a larger story. What questions do you have that this primary source doesn't answer?
What evidence does Sherrill present that you should "fact check" (i.e. verify as true)?
This primary source shows one perspective on this topic. What other perspectives should you get?

Your Response

Document

Letter from C.H. Sherrill to Marguerite LeHand about Adolf Hitler meeting

9/10/1935

This primary source comes from the Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration).

National Archives Identifier: 16618463

Full Citation: Letter from C.H. Sherrill to Marguerite LeHand about Adolf Hitler meeting; 9/10/1935; Germany, 1933-1938; Diplomatic Correspondence, 1933–1945; Collection FDR-FDRPSF: President's Secretary's File (Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration), ; Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/sherrill-lehand-hitler-meeting, March 27, 2025]