Dorothy Thompson and the Interview That Foreshadowed a Dictatorship In 1931, American journalist Dorothy Thompson secured a rare interview with Adolf Hitler at Berlin’s Kaiserhof Hotel, at a moment when the Nazi Party was still rising to power. Thompson asked a direct question: whether, once in office, he would abolish the constitution of the German Republic. Hitler replied that he intended to gain power legally, dissolve parliament, abolish the Weimar Constitution, and establish an authoritaria

Journalist Dorothy Thompson made a name for herself in the 1930s and 40s by speaking out against fascism in Europe—and at home. Tune in tonight at 9/8c for an encore presentation of NAZI TOWN, USA (check local listings) or stream anytime on YouTube and the PBS App. | American Experience | PBS