Benedict Arnold

The fate of you who are listening, of nations of the world, is often hung upon accident or upon decisions that made the other way would have substantially altered the course of human events. Suppose by a stroke of fate the attempt to assassinate Archduke, Ferdinand of Austria had failed.

Would there have been a World War I? Suppose fate had decreed that Chamberlain refused to appease Hitler at Munich. Would there have been a World War II? Yes, much depends upon a stroke of fate, and tonight we rewrite history as we present a dramatic conception of what might have happened if by a stroke of fate Benedict Arnold's plot

to betray America had succeeded. In 1780 Major General Benedict Arnold in command of the vital post at West Point, conspired to turn over that post to the British. As you know, he actually failed. In tonight's story by a stroke of fate, he succeeds. Our story is only historically true up to our stroke

of fate, a decision that tonight makes Arnold's treason successful. Perhaps you'll recognize that fateful decision. It will be explained for you at the end of the program. If Arnold's The stretchy had succeeded in its aim.

This is how it might have come about. Good evening. My name is John Andre. The monument above my bones in Westminster Abbey bears my name and rank and the date of my death. But I'm quite sure all of you now listening know me better as Major Andre, once called a spy.

You may recall that I was adjutant to Lieutenant-General Sahindri Clinton at New York, and the negotiate of a Sahindri with one General Benedict Arnold in a matter of treason long ago. Let me tell you of my first meeting with General Arnold.