In a laudatory review of Roosevelt’s 1933 book Looking Forward, Mussolini wrote, “Reminiscent of Fascism is the principle that the state no longer leaves the economy to its own devices. … Without question, the mood accompanying this sea change resembles that of Fascism.”
. . . .
Mauro relates the visit of Grover Whalen, New York’s police commissioner and president of the World’s Fair Corporation, to Rome to persuade Mussolini to authorize an Italian pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair. The conversation, Mauro says (as summarized by Cahalan), began like this:
“I understand you served as Police Commissioner of New York,” he said. “How did my people behave?”
“Some good, some bad,” Whalen responded.
“The bad ones — from Sicily?”
Mussolini first balked at participating in the Fair.
“What, Italy compete with Wall Street?” the dictator said. “What, for example, would it accomplish?”
“The American people would like to know what fascism is,” Whalen responded.
“You want to know what fascism is like? It is like your New Deal!”
