patrick.net

The writers at the City Journal are first rate.

This gives some background to how well received El Duce was in the US in the 30s and how ironic this symbol's use has been.

There is no irony here. It looks like a subversive and symbolic way to promote and support the third reich from America without ever having to publicly announce it.

The fact that Americans don't react to to the fasces is because of their ignorance of symbolism. Americans usually think only of the swastika as a symbol of nazism and fascism.

Indiana Jones says

It looks like a subversive and symbolic way to promote and support the third reich from America without ever having to publicly announce it.

I don't think so because the fasces symbol was around long before Nazi Germany. And as stated in the article the symbol was embraced by the founders and on buildings that were built in the 30s before Nazi Germany. Mussolini promoted the idea but it was through benign methods. He was liked by FDR and the architect of many of the DC buildings and Mellon and Will Rodgers. It doesn't seem like this was some subversive plot?