In acute, stylish prose, Jenkins tackles all of the nuances and intricacies of FDRUs character--a masterly work by the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Churchill" and "Gladstone."
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In acute, stylish prose, Jenkins tackles all of the nuances and intricacies of FDRUs character--a masterly work by the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Churchill" and "Gladstone."
Read Less
Add this copy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt to cart. $3.68, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Thorndike Press.
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Over the years, I have learned a great deal about American history and about the presidency from the American Presidents Series. Founded by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., the series currently includes short, accessible biographies of each former American president with the exception of Barack Obama. The series will teach readers about less-familiar American presidents and about great, well-known leaders. Roy Jenkins' short 2003 book about Franklin D. Roosevelt falls in the latter category. The 32nd president, Roosevelt (1882 -- 1945), was elected to four terms between 1933 and 1945 and led the United States through the Great Depression and through WW II. The British statesman and historian Roy Jenkins died shortly before completing this book; his friend Richard Neustadt of Harvard University wrote the work's last few pages.
Roosevelt was a larger-than-life-figure, and any single short biography can do little more than skim the surface. Still, Jenkins' simply and eloquently written book shows the breadth and nature of Roosevelt's accomplishment and of his importance to history. The book allows the reader to see a difficult, complex individual who led the United States and the world through critical times. The book gives a view of Roosevelt's many warts as well as of his skills as a leader.
The first third of the book covers Roosevelt's pre-presidential life. It begins with a lengthy, insightful comparison of FDR's life and accomplishment with those of his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt, like FDR born to a life of privilege. This is followed by a discussion of Roosevelt's marriage to Eleanor and its impact on his personal and political life. The book discusses Roosevelt's service as Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Wilson presidency and the lasting impact of this service on Roosevelt's view of international affairs. Jenkins emphasizes Roosevelt's courageous overcoming of polio which he contracted at 39 and which threatened to end his career. Roosevelt's courageous response and effort to overcome this disease was crucial to the indomitable optimistic spirit that was central to his presidency. He discusses Roosevelt's tenure as governor of New York and its role in leading to his presidential nomination.
The discussion of Roosevelt's presidency begins with his domestic program to combat the Depression and to the heady, experimental character of many of the programs during the first term. As soon as his landslide re-election for the second term, some of Roosevelt's magic began to fade with his plan to "pack" the Supreme Court with additional Justices. The Court had been declaring several of Roosevelt's early programs unconstitutional. The latter part of the book shifts to the entry into WW II and to the War effort. Jenkins describes well the consideration Roosevelt gave to seeking an unprecedented third term as president and the long-range impact of his decision to do so. There is a good, if brief discussion of Roosevelt's and his aide Harry Hopkins relationship to Winston Churchill and to their partnership in pursuing the War. The final section of the book discusses Roosevelt's failing health and his selection of Harry Truman as his fourth-term running mate. The final pages of the book, written by Neustadt, consider the consequences of FDR's death on the post-WW II world.
I enjoyed revisiting and learning more about Roosevelt in this book. I was left with an impression of a United States of a different time on a heroic scale with a mission and sense of itself, willing to do whatever it took to combat the Depression at home and to win a necessary War abroad.
