FDR

It took me an epic amount of time to read this epic biography – not because it was boring, but because it contained so much information. There were hundreds of footnotes for every chapter, and because they often contained additional information beyond the source, I felt compelled to keep a bookmark in the back and read all that was there, slowing down my progress considerably. This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy FDR, quite the contrary. It’s just not a book you read between the covers when falling asleep at night. You need to be on your toes to keep track of who is who and of the timeline of events. I’m almost tempted to go back to the start and read it all over again, now that I’ve done all the heavy lifting. If you want to understand how FDR came to be president, what his views were, and what made him such an effective leader, this book is for you. You’ll also get a glimpse of the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, though if you’re really interested in her, then her memoirs are probably a better start. The same goes for Winston Churchill, who by necessity gets quite a bit of coverage during the war years, and who for FDR was not only the head of an allied state but also a friend. For further reading about the relationship between the two, I recommend Meacham’s Franklin and Winston. I’m not a historian so can’t attest whether you’ll gain new insights from the pages of this book or not, but that’s precisely why I enjoyed it so much. It’s easy enough for a layman to read, but I don’t doubt that it would also be a great resource for scholarly research. While the war years are certainly described in detail, I found Roosevelt’s early years even more fascinating, because they are not as much written about. His time as secretary of the navy, as governor, even the domestic policy years of his presidency – those all gave great insight into his thinking while making him more human. It’s easy to forget that with all his successes and political savviness, he made his fair share of mistakes. The court stacking scheme during his first term comes to mind. But what made FDR such an exceptional leader and person is that he was able to learn from his mistakes, swallow his pride, and move on. I also was never quite aware of just how much FDR worked himself to death in the pursuit of what he felt was his duty. Whatever you think of his politics, there is no doubt that he sacrificed his health, and ultimate his life, to the American people.

I forget why I chose Jean Edward Smith's biography over the Pulitzer finalist by H. R. Brands. But I did and I was not dissatisfied. Over the last few years I have read David McCullough's JOHN ADAMS, Ron Chernow's WASHINGTON, Martin Gilbert's CHURCHILL, and John Toland's ADOLF HITLER. To my reading accomplishments, I can now add Smith's FDR. They were all easy, informative reads about prominent historical persons. The prose in those books is never stilted or pedantic, or even scholarly. But you should have some college under your belt before you tackle them. Or you should have been at least a good English student in high school. A veteran reader of history will have no trouble. With a degree in political science and a minor in history, I did not have any difficulty. They were not quick reads, but they levitated my plateau of experience. Indeed I look forward to similar books, like Brands's TR and Smith's GRANT. From FDR I learned that after 1916, Eleanor and Franklin were for practical purposes not married. After discovering Franklin's liaison with Lucy Rutherford, Eleanor was ready to say good-by. After all, she bore the proud surname "Roosevelt" even before she married (she was a niece of Theodore). But after negotiations and thinking, she decided to remain legally married. She was liberal minded, she was kind, and she did not want Franklin's political career ruined by a scandal of divorce. In short, FDR's remarkable qualities are its easy prose, its extraordinary tidbits of information, and its avoidance of boring commentary. Photos are plentiful, footnotes and bibliography are more than plentiful, and the index is excellent. Maps are missing. Recently I have been discouraged by fiction. Though I keep trying it. Too many authors are flippant, breezy, lazy, and unconvincing to the point of exasperation. Fortunately there is good nonfiction to fall back on. Like this one.

I did not think l would like this book as l had little interest in the man or the era. But l was at once absorbed into this fascinating story of a man who rode his luck and connections. But he was also a great politician, a smart operator on many levels and a great reader of others. His relationship with Churchill is particularly well drawn and gives a real insight into the power-broking which went on around these great men and Stalin. If l have a criticism it is that it all seems a bit rushed at the end, as if his decline and death were almost an afterthought. No do you get much, if any, of what went on with Truman - maybe the answer is, as with many VPs, not much! Well written, well paced and well researched l would recommend anyone, even those with passing interest to dip into this life of the only man to be elected President three times.

A great book about a great President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a fascinating life. "I'm pledged to no man, I'm influenced by no special interests." --FDR

Very enjoyable and interesting read on a president whose importance can hardly be overestimated.

The most interesting fact about Jean Edward Smith's FDR is the thorough and complete picture made of a complex individual. Born with such wealth he didn't have to work a day in his life, he nonetheless choose to become a politician. This politician whom everything had come so easily, who had so much in commun with the upper class nevertheless was the savior of the farmers, workers, and middle-class people of America during the depression. The New Deal saved millions from hunger, despair. Single handedly, by sheer force of will and the upmost confidence in himself, he took innovative and risky steps to help the US recover. Electrification of rural regions, education and sound banking policies were the basis of FDR plan. You'll also benefit of the author view about what went on before Pearl Harbor. What did the administration knew? Did FDR deliberately let it happen? Those questions finds answer in the book. However, the only drawback, if you can even call it that is that the relations between FRD, Churchill and "Uncle Joe" Stalin should have been deepen, As the book ended, I wish I had more.

An Amazing book. You can almost see FDR and live through the pages. Highly recommended