A Brief History
On June 11, 1939, a picnic at which hot dogs were served helped re-establish the political closeness between the United States and Great Britain and introduced the traditionally American food to an international public.
Digging Deeper
With the threat of war and invasion looming, the British monarch, George VI of “The King’s Speech” fame and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, later known as the Queen Mother, or affectionately as Queen Mum, embarked on a tour to visit their dominion of Canada, the first time a reigning British monarch had visited the North American continent.
Upon hearing of the intended trip, American President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, extended an invitation to the royal couple to stop by at his private residence in Hyde Park, New York. His goal was to soften relations between the two countries which had often been tense since the Revolutionary War when the American colonies had declared independence from Great Britain. With Europe on the brink of war, FDR, not one to continue the American policy of isolationism, realized he needed to forge alliances with the leading European democracies. And so, wishing to dispel anti-British sentiment, he decided to entertain the King at a casual American-style picnic to ensure that the King would win the sympathy of the American people.
At the picnic hot dogs were served. The royal couple was a little bit perplexed, with the Queen whispering to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, “How do you eat this?” The question is somewhat funny if you consider that she came from the country that invented the sandwich after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, had asked for a way to be able eat his meat at the card table without silverware. This, by the way, has been deemed Britain’s biggest contribution to gastronomy. The Queen, however, ended up deciding to eat her hot dog with a fork and knife (she probably didn’t want to soil her gloves), but the King ate his by hand and even had seconds!
The next day, the picnic made the front page of the New York Times, with the headline reading, “KING TRIES HOTDOG AND ASKS FOR MORE”. The simplicity of the event endeared the King and Queen to the American public who now saw them as regular people capable of casual dining rather than as evil colonial rulers. And sure enough, when Great Britain and its Dominions declared war on Germany in September of 1939, Roosevelt was able to convince Congress, and the American people, to support the British both diplomatically and financially, while maintaining American neutrality.
So, just how typically American are hot dogs? Well, just like George VI, hot dogs have their origins in Germany. They are derived from Frankfurters, also known as Wiener Wuerstchen, and were brought over to the United States by German immigrants. Initially eaten with mustard, potato salad or in soups in the Old World, in the New World, they become popular as vendor food and were placed in buns to allow for easier and less messy eating. Legend has it that one such vendor initially named them Dachshund Sandwiches after the long, German dogs they resemble, but that that name was too hard too pronounce, so it was shortened to Hot Dog.
At any rate, a variant of the hot dog should have been familiar to George VI, as he was ethnically German. His last name was originally Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, but his father, George V, changed it to Windsor during World War I to distance the family from their German roots. His wife, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, on the other hand, was descended from Scottish nobility, so she gets a pass.
At any rate, the picnic and the importance of the hot dog as a turning point in Anglo-American relations are so great that the film, “Hyde Park on Hudson,” starring Bill Murray as FDR, was made on the topic and released in 2013, almost 75 years after the actual event. Let no one ever underestimate and trivialize the hot dog as common stadium food ever again! It is one of the most diplomatically significant foods in culinary history, and nowadays hot dogs can be found just about anywhere.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Kraig, Bruce. Hot Dog: A Global History (Edible). Reaktion Books, 2009.
Smith, Elwood and Adrienne Sylver. Hot Diggity Dog: The History of the Hot Dog. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2010.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2575 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=2575">146 Comments
This was a very interesting article! I like how President Roosevelt wanted to soften relations between America and Great Britain through the use of a casual American-style picnic. I can only imagine the reactions of the King and Queen to the foreign idea of finger-food. The simple picnic showed the royals in a different light to the American people, decreasing anti-British sentiment. This article will make me think a little more the next time I get a hot dog at the ballpark.
I found this article extremely interesting. It never really tried to understand the history of the hot dog. Now that I have I will be able to share how hot dogs, a food that is consumed every day, was such a big part of history. I also though it was funny to see how the Queen did not know how to eat the hot dog and decided to eat it with a fork and a knife, where the king devoured his hot dog by hand in seconds.
This article presented some very interesting points and details behind America and Great Britain’s relationship. I disagree with the article a bit when it refers to the seemingly strained relationship between the two powers before the start of WWII. The two nations fought as allies in WWI, so I do not believe the relationship was as strained as the article makes it appear. That being said, the queen eating the hot dog with silverware was a bit comical to me, and left me wondering what the current British monarch, Elizabeth II, would eat a hot dog with silverware today! Hoping someone has something to add, either agreeing or disagreeing, with my opinion regarding the state of America and Britain’s relationship before the outbreak of WWII.
Thanks for your comment Paul! You are welcome to disagree with the article. I, myself, am no expert on this time in history, but I do have the following quote from someone who is: ‘At that time, U.S. foreign policy was isolationist. Relations with our cousins across the pond were cold and distant at best. “There was still much anti-British sentiment and anger at dragging us into World War I,” says Dr. David B. Woolner, associate professor of history at Marist College and a senior fellow and resident historian at the Roosevelt Institute.’ I hope this helps!
I found this article to be very interesting and also knowledgeable. I also was unaware of the history of the hot dog. After reading this article I found it entertaining and interesting to know that our relationship was strengthened with another country through a hot dog meal.
Well what do you know, someone other than my mom eats hot dogs with a fork and knife. I always thought that was strange but now I can tell her Queen Elizabeth did it too. It is very interesting to learn the background as to really where all our foods come from and are founded. Hot dogs have become one of the higest sold street and vendor foods in the world and might I say, quite tasty. So now next time I have a frank ill be able to share a story along with it.
I found this article interesting, however, I agree with Paul about the relationship between Great Britain and the United States prior to World War II. I do not think the article accurately portrays the relationship between the two countries, who were allies in the first world war as Paul had pointed out. I think it is an interesting article and I had never really thought about the history of hot dogs in the U.S. I always thought they became popular simultaneously with baseball during the gilded age/progressive era.
Dear Mo, Thank you for your comment. I had already responded to Paul’s with a quote from an expert regarding US/UK relations pre-WW2. And here is a short excerpt from Wikipedia (I know, not always the best source): “Prior to their collaboration during World War II Anglo-American relations had been somewhat frosty.” One must not forget that during the entire 19th century, the US and UK did not see eye to eye, e.g. the War of 1812, where the Brits went so far as to set fire to the White House; the Civil War in which the Brits (or at least the Gov’t) basically (politically) supported the South, etc. Yes, relations began to improve at the start of WW1, but by the beginning of WW2 they were still not yet where they are now. In fact the term “Special Relationship” which describes the close relations between the US and the UK was only first coined in 1946 (by Winston Churchill).
This is a funny and very interesting article. From just a “civilian” standpoint, it showed that the British monarchs were more than just cold, uptight figures who drank tea with their pinkey’s up. The action of eating a plain old hot dog was comincal. It gave them character and a certain likeableness which would have resonated strongly with the American people. Most importantly, on an international level, it helped to reaffirm the allied bond and friendship between the two nations during WWII.
I thought this article was interesting because I never thought about the origins of a hot dog. They are typically thought to be American with thoughts of cookouts and grillings at Memorial Day and other picnic events. Lots of American eat hot dogs, and they are served at a lot of different food vendors. I would never have thought that hot dogs would have come from Germany, although it would make sense given the fact that they are similar to Frankfurters as the article mentioned. While I personally do not eat hot dogs, I know a lot of people who love them so thanks to Germany for their introduction of the hot dog!
This was defintely one very interesting article. I never knew how big of an impact the hot dog had on relations between America and Great Britain. Also I never knew that the relations were as bad as they were during this time period. I will defintely think of this article wheneevr I eat a hot dog.
Dear Matt, Thank you for reading my article! Relations between the US and the UK were not bad per say during this time, but for deeper explanation, please refer to my responses to Paul and MO.
Interesting article! I was surprised to read about how eating hot dogs brought the U.S. and Great Britain’s relationship a little closer. Not to mention where the name for the popular food came from.
Yes, hot dogs really were named for dogs 😉
It is so strange how this simple food item became a popular food among Americans. It’s also very interesting that the hot dog was used to bring us closer to Great Britain.
I believe it was very clever for FDR to serve such casual food. I think it’s a good idea to relate with someone and be agreeable in a more comfortable atmosphere rather than a full on strict business atmosphere.
FDR had some interesting tactics but this is strange, yet somewhat genius?
Honestly didn’t know the actual birth place of the hot dog. We as a family love hot dogs especially in the summer over the fire. Interesting that the Queen ate hers with silverware.
I love hot dogs, especially when they come off the grill. I think it’s cute that the queen ate hers with silverware. 🙂
How corny that a simple snack that we have a BBQs and family events could of altered our history so much if it had not gone well.
Who knew hot dogs served such an important diplomatic purpose? I find it fascinating that something as nominal as a hot dog picnic could change the perception of the American people, it was a pretty brilliant plan by FDR!
This article was very interesting to read because whenever I see or eat hot dog, I can now think of something very historical with this delicious food.
I cannot picture the Queen of England eating a hot dog.
I just learned more about hotdogs than I ever thought I would
Wow! I did not realize how important hot dog picnics were. I just thought that hot dogs were just a convenient good and delicious food to eat off the grill. Instead it is used for political picnics instead.
Never knew the hot dog had political power. Neat!
I never knew that hot dogs played an important role in our political history. — DAVID WARDLE
never knew hotdogs played that important of a role. Especially to the Queen of England.
Interest how important hot dogs were
Had no idea what an important rule hot dogs played !
I am so happy that hot dogs are a part of our culture because I love hot dogs
One would expect something much more exquisite to be served at a meeting like this- or at least steak. Funny to see hot dogs could make such a difference..maybe
Can’t believe hot dogs were a binding factor between us all haha
As I am reading this they are giving away hot dogs for free in my dorm. Weird timing
“Let no one ever underestimate and trivialize the hot dog as common stadium food ever again!”
I shall work to this end, for Hot Dogs are the poor man’s steak.
This was so interesting! I think it serves a good reminder that simple ideas are sometimes the best ideas. Politically, I think it was a very clever move for FDR. He gained more trust from Britain while allowing the American citizens to see the royals as “normal” human beings. It would be interesting to see what would have happened if FDR held a more “sophisticated” event compared to the picnic.
It’s not a picnic without a hotdog. I think it’s great that President Roosevelt extend the invitation to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to ease the tension on the relationship between U.S. and Great Britain. This also makes me wonder if U.S. involvement in World War II would have been different if President Roosevelt didn’t have this picnic.
i had no idea that food that i think this pretty gross has such a history! i find it kinda cute how unfamiliar but open the king a queen were to the new food! its also interesting how the simplest of things can bring people together.
That is awesome that hotdogs reunited Great Britian and The United States
I can’t believe that such food had such a big impact on history.
It’s strange that our countries made amends over a hot dog picnic.
Well, I’m super hungry now thanks to this article! But it is really nice to see that Britain and America could become friendly again over something so simply. I think it speaks to old friendships that fell apart. They can indeed be mended again, through the smallest of things.
Hot dogs being two countries together, who knew.
I find it interesting that hot dogs were the food of choice for this occasion.
I find it really strange that this was the first time a member of the royal family visited Canada. For the time was is common for someone to technically be in charge of somewhere they had never been?
Eat a hot dog! Interesting tactic to help soften relations between countries to say the least. In present day, I don’t believe one would look upon a visit from royalty and decide to serve such casual cuisine, but, looking at past, perhaps they should.
They went all out for this little lunch. Really hot dogs come on now I think they could of done a little bit better than that. I think hot dogs are so nasty. They could of at least got steak or something. Way ot go cheap though. But the history behind the dog is interesting.
This article was interesting. I never thought about the history of hot dogs because I do not eat them.
Why did FDR choose the hot dog as the choice of food?
I think it is funny that the front page of the New York Times was “King tries hot dog and asks for more”
Aren’t there any other foods besides hot dogs that are American? What about the good ole’ apple pie!
This article is very intriguing especially since its about hot dogs now i know more about hot dogs then i knew before and i think it was really interesting tried to soften relations between america and england.
I enjoyed the video of the dachshund in a hotdog costume, it was very enjoyable.
Who knew hot dogs could be so good at bringing people together
Who would have guessed the importance of the hot dog? You have to love FDR for his approach!
I’ll never look at hot dogs the same way ever again after reading this.
Hot Dogs are such a classic lol
I was unaware that the hot dog had such a big part in history. Its also funny because no one eats hot dogs with a knife and fork
It is funny trying to picture a Queen or King eating a hot dog.
Hot Dogs as FDRs food? why? americas food?
The look on their faces must of been priceless when they brought hot-dogs to think royalty eat ballpark foods is funny to me .
Pretty funny to make such a big deal over food but i guess it makes them relatable
This is funny that it made the newspaper. It must of been a big deal back then.
It’s strange that hot dogs were the chosen food.
I never realized how big of an impact hot dogs had on history. It’s comical to think that the Queen was unsure of how to eat the hot dog or how to go about it. I guess that’s just a part of our country’s past that makes America so great!
Hot dogs are amazing. I am glad that the U.S. has hot dogs
Who knew hot dogs could be so influential in bringing two divided nations back together while the looming threat of war was upon both sides.
This article was interesting and humorous. I had not heard this story before. Enjoyed learning a little about America and Great Britain’s fresh beginnings.
Hot dogs are a picnic staple, but a very odd choice to serve royalty.
I really liked this article. It is amazing to see that something as simple as a hot dog lunch could help bring two countries back together.
I actually found this article quite humorous. What a site to see the Queen not know how to eat hotdog so she ate it with a knife and fork. It is amazing to see the cultural food differences between American in which hot dogs are ate religiously by many to Great Britain, where not many know what one even is.
I think it is interesting how FDR served the royal couple hot dogs, because today they would be served a feast that would be catered with the best food. Hot dogs now are not a very highly regarded food and I could not see a President serving them to a King and Queen. It was a good tactic to gain alliance with Great Britain.
I found this article interesting because I did not know the history of hot dogs. I did not know that there used to be another name for it. I think President’s Roosevelt’s idea of having the king and queen over for a picnic was a neat idea because it was breaking tradition of a formal dinner.
It’s kinda crazy how such a simple thing, such as a hot dog, and bring people together.
This was very interesting, I will look at hot dogs differently now! It is rather ironic that they originally came from German immigrants but later the great American food, celebrated at ball parks across the U.S. We then fought against Germany in WWll.
I think this article may be the answer to the question that people have been asking forever, “is the hotdog a sandwich?” Since the Queen who came from the country where the sandwich was invented did not know how to eat a hotdog, I would say it is not a sandwich.
Who would have thought that a hot dog would be known to help mend relations with Britain and the U.S. This article was a bit humorous, especially when Queen Elizabeth had to ask how to eat a hot dog. I wonder if the King and Queen went back to Britain and wished for more hot dogs. The King seemed to like them!
I think that it is pretty funny that hot dogs helped reestablish the relations between the United States and Great Britain. I had two hot dogs today for lunch and they did not help reestablish relations with anybody in my family.
I found it interesting to hear about the main course of this meeting being a hot dog. Obviously this was not the most important part of this meeting but it gives the stress, and weight of a heavy subject some lightness.
So interesting to see how the “All-American” hot dog tradition got its roots!
For hot dogs being our first national food to serve to national allies is amazing. We never really had a national past of food that doesn’t derive from other countries
I actually find hot dogs quite disgusting, but seeing how they can bring our entire country together and provide so much happiness and unity is simply incredible! Who would have known that the hot dog had so much history behind it!
This article is interesting. I have never heard before that hot dog as a kind of food played an important role in international relations.
It is interesting to see how people recorded thing in period, never imagine that hot dog was so important in that period.
I had never heard of this prior to reading the article. It is interesting how it was able to re-establish political standings with international groups.
I thought this was an interesting article. I had never heard about this until I read this article.
I personally don’t like hotdogs, but it’s cool to know it was our first national food and it brought people together.
I feel as if I told this story every time I ate a hot dog, someone would punch me. Interesting article!
This article had some really interesting points, outlining the details behind America and England’s relationship. I did not like how the article refers to the two having a strained relationship before the start of WW II. These two great nations fought together as allies in the war.
Amazing how even then hotdogs had the capability to bring people together! Murica!
I think it’s so funny to think of the queen eating a hot dog with a fork and knife. What different cultures!
Eating a hot dog is so natural to American’s so I can only imagine what it would have been like to witness the queen, someone so proper and elegant, eating a hot dog. I would expect nothing less than for her to use a fork and knife!
Thats very uhm interesting i guess, eating hot dogs with forks is out of our time , haha and the word picnic has a history to the meaning behind it to.
I think this was a nice yet simple way to help the relationship between the two countries and their people.
I feel as if there is no food that originated from America besides maybe fast food, and we probably didn’t even invent that. Haha. I also find it interesting how we got the idea of silverware.
Well, the hotdog probably the most American food there is.
It would definitely be a sight to see the queen eat a hot dog. I could not imagine the queen eating without silverware ever.
Its funny how different things are here then in great Britain.
I think its very interesting that hot dogs have always been around
Hot dogs have been bringing people together at events since the 1930’s apparently.
You usually just eat a hot dog at a picnic or at a stadium game of some type. I had no clue that it was a big significant food at one point!
I think it is extremely interesting that such a simple gesture opened the public’s eye and convinced Americans that the royals were simple humans as well.
I think that this article does a nice job of setting the example that “higher-ups in leadership roles are merely humans too.” Very interesting piece!
It is funny to read about how a simple get-together changed public sentiment so much.
I couldn’t believe the queen has never had a hot dog. I thought it was funny hat she wanted more of the hotdogs. Just like kids can’t get enough of hotdogs.
How weird it was for her to not have eaten a hotdog. That is a true American meal at a picnic or even ballparks.
I never thought Id be reading the history of a hot dog.
Must have been interesting for people at the time to view the Queen as someone who would eat a hot dog. I am sure it humanized her for the world.
This was a great example of how two different cultures come together and have differences. Here we don’t think twice about picking up a hot dog and eating it, but in Great Britain they don’t do that.
This makes perfect sense. Hot Dogs are an American past time at we share during large events. If they could be used to bring countries closer, we should ship some to North Korea.
Im impressed the King ate with his hands. For such royalty I would expect them to maintain their class.
Great article because I never heard of the incident and the fact President Roosevelt came up of with the idea about having a picnic, to make the British King & Queen more appealing to Americans was ingenious.
Who would have thought a simple meal such as hot dogs would have been such a hit for the Royal family. Whats a picnic without hot dogs though?
I love that the Queen ended up eating her hot dog with a fork! I think that showing the British people a piece of American culture was a smart move when trying to get on better terms with the British people. It has been said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and this is a perfect example of that fact!
Picnics have always been a great social event to bring people closer together. I think the hot dog played a roll in bringing the U.S. closer to Great Britain due to its almost goofy unique nature. It helped lighten the mood brining humor and relaxation when it was much needed for us to secure Britain as an ally. Thanks to this event our friendship with Britain helped make us great partners in WWII.
I’m going to have to watch “Hyde Park on Hudson”, as it sounds like an interesting movie. I had no idea that the hotdog came about with such significance. I can see it now, people eating hot dogs with a fork and a knife for the first time.
It is so interesting to read about the history of the hot dog. Who knew that royalty were some of the first people to eat hot dogs. Thankfully they did, because I can’t have a picnic without hot dogs there. They are my favorite summer time food.
This article was pretty neat for the history of the hotdog and the relationship between America and Great Britain.
This was a smart political move of Franklin Roosevelt’s behalf. He made royalty look like common people. The American public was able to relate to English royalty. I also thought it was interesting that this picnic was at his home instead of the White House.
This is a great example of how food can bring people together and make connections. Something as simple as a hotdog can break the tension and set an example of countries reconnecting.
I love hot dogs!! It is one of the most diplomatically significant foods in culinary history.
I never heard this story before. It’s amazing how a certain food can bring countries together and have relations with one another. I suppose hot dogs are the reason America and Great Britain became stronger Allies before World War 2.
It is so funny that a hotdog was what it took to show the American people that the King and Queen were just normal people too.
The two most interesting things in this article were that on June 11, 1939, a picnic at which hot dogs were served helped re-establish the political closeness between the United States and Great Britain and introduced the traditionally American food to an international public. Also, that they are derived from Frankfurters, also known as Wiener Wuerstchen, and were brought over to the United States by German immigrants. Initially eaten with mustard, potato salad or in soups in the Old World, in the New World, they become popular as vendor food and were placed in buns to allow for easier and less messy eating. Hot dogs are one of favorite foods to eat!
This was a neat article it is funny that the Queen had no idea how to eat the hot dog, but then again I bet she would not eat anything with her hands.
This article just goes to show you that something so simple can bring about good things. Who would have thought that a picnic where hot dogs were served would create such a memorable event in history.
Interesting fact to know that Britian and the United States relationship was not as close and I had believed it to be in 1939. I assumed by this period of time we would have built a stronger relation. Also, funny to think the King who was German himself had not ate a hot dog!
This story is awesome. It is so cool how an American symbol, a hot dog, brought together two nations. Obviously, there was more to it, but I was unaware of this meeting. Very cool.
Amazing how something so simple as a hot dog can make such a huge difference. I am guessing the invite offered to the British couple also made a huge difference as well.
As someone who loves hot dogs and history, I never knew both were intertwined with each other. It’s interesting that FDR thought that the way to thaw the frosty relationship between the U.S. and Great Britain was to invite the royal couple to New York for a picnic lunch.Hot dogs are often trivialized as being just stadium food. Who knew the significance they have in American history?
Interesting history to the Hot Dog. Something I have never heard about!
I never knew that this picnic ever happened. Let alone someone not knowing how to eat a hotdog! Very interesting!
i am a big fan of hot dogs. As nutrition goes, they are probably one of the worst things you can eat. But for taste memory and nostalgia, they earn my highest grade.
This article was interesting to me because as a kid hot dogs were were my favorite food and i still enjoy them today. Nonetheless, I did not know how much history was them.
Given the depressing nature of the past few articles I have read on History and Headlines about this era, it was great to read something a bit more positive! It is interesting to read about how the hot dog came to be recognized as an American dish despite being invented in Germany. Given Germany’s role in the war at the time, one might think that FDR would steer clear of serving anything with origins from a country that was part of the Axis powers, but it’s hard to think of an entree that is any more “Americana” that might have been chosen otherwise.
I did not know that Franklin D. Roosevelt invited the King and Queen to his house for a picnic. I think it’s funny that the Queen whispered to the First Lady and asked her how to eat the hot dog.
So I must say, I love hotdogs! I have to have one every time we go to ball games. I never realized there was a picnic with the queen and king of England to share the hotdog.
My three year old won’t eat a hot dog on a bun, he prefers a fork and a (butter knife) knife. I think its weird!
That’s awesome!!!! I never knew anything about this picnic. I find it funny that the Queen asked how to eat it. Interesting article altogether
I found this article interesting, this is not something I had heard of before.
Dachshund sandwiches sound pretty vile, not stating that “hot dog” sounds any better. Interesting history, but gross food.
I will always love a burnt, grilled hotdog. That’s my favorite!
Very interesting. I did not know the hot dog was originally named after the dachshund.
I never heard of that hot dog name was called dachshund. I know hot dog are famous food at America nowadays.
American and England had the amazing relationship in the history, this article made me have new learning about their relationship. may i say it’s really interesting, hot dog could get wonderful and powerful relationship.
I would have never known the large history with hotdogs without reading this article. We make them a few different ways in our house and coincidentally they help keep the peace when the little’s don’t know what they want to eat.