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Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post and NPR
“We come to see in FDR the magisterial, central figure in the greatest and richest political tapestry of our nation’s entire history” —Nigel Hamilton, Boston Globe
“Meticulously researched and authoritative” —Douglas Brinkley, The Washington Post
“A workmanlike addition to the literature on Roosevelt.” —David Nasaw, The New York Times
“Dallek offers an FDR relevant to our sharply divided nation” —Michael Kazin
“Will rank among the standard biographies of its subject” — Publishers Weekly
A one-volume biography of Roosevelt by the #1 New York Times bestselling biographer of JFK, focusing on his career as an incomparable politician, uniter, and deal maker
In an era of such great national divisiveness, there could be no more timely biography of one of our greatest presidents than one that focuses on his unparalleled political ability as a uniter and consensus maker. Robert Dallek’s Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life takes a fresh look at the many compelling questions that have attracted all his biographers: how did a man who came from so privileged a background become the greatest presidential champion of the country’s needy? How did someone who never won recognition for his intellect foster revolutionary changes in the country’s economic and social institutions? How did Roosevelt work such a profound change in the country’s foreign relations?
For FDR, politics was a far more interesting and fulfilling pursuit than the management of family fortunes or the indulgence of personal pleasure, and by the time he became president, he had commanded the love and affection of millions of people. While all Roosevelt’s biographers agree that the onset of polio at the age of thirty-nine endowed him with a much greater sense of humanity, Dallek sees the affliction as an insufficient explanation for his transformation into a masterful politician who would win an unprecedented four presidential terms, initiate landmark reforms that changed the American industrial system, and transform an isolationist country into an international superpower.
Dallek attributes FDR’s success to two remarkable political insights. First, unlike any other president, he understood that effectiveness in the American political system depended on building a national consensus and commanding stable long-term popular support. Second, he made the presidency the central, most influential institution in modern America’s political system. In addressing the country’s international and domestic problems, Roosevelt recognized the vital importance of remaining closely attentive to the full range of public sentiment around policy-making decisions—perhaps FDR’s most enduring lesson in effective leadership.
“We come to see in FDR the magisterial, central figure in the greatest and richest political tapestry of our nation’s entire history” —Nigel Hamilton, Boston Globe
“Meticulously researched and authoritative” —Douglas Brinkley, The Washington Post
“A workmanlike addition to the literature on Roosevelt.” —David Nasaw, The New York Times
“Dallek offers an FDR relevant to our sharply divided nation” —Michael Kazin
“Will rank among the standard biographies of its subject” — Publishers Weekly
A one-volume biography of Roosevelt by the #1 New York Times bestselling biographer of JFK, focusing on his career as an incomparable politician, uniter, and deal maker
In an era of such great national divisiveness, there could be no more timely biography of one of our greatest presidents than one that focuses on his unparalleled political ability as a uniter and consensus maker. Robert Dallek’s Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life takes a fresh look at the many compelling questions that have attracted all his biographers: how did a man who came from so privileged a background become the greatest presidential champion of the country’s needy? How did someone who never won recognition for his intellect foster revolutionary changes in the country’s economic and social institutions? How did Roosevelt work such a profound change in the country’s foreign relations?
For FDR, politics was a far more interesting and fulfilling pursuit than the management of family fortunes or the indulgence of personal pleasure, and by the time he became president, he had commanded the love and affection of millions of people. While all Roosevelt’s biographers agree that the onset of polio at the age of thirty-nine endowed him with a much greater sense of humanity, Dallek sees the affliction as an insufficient explanation for his transformation into a masterful politician who would win an unprecedented four presidential terms, initiate landmark reforms that changed the American industrial system, and transform an isolationist country into an international superpower.
Dallek attributes FDR’s success to two remarkable political insights. First, unlike any other president, he understood that effectiveness in the American political system depended on building a national consensus and commanding stable long-term popular support. Second, he made the presidency the central, most influential institution in modern America’s political system. In addressing the country’s international and domestic problems, Roosevelt recognized the vital importance of remaining closely attentive to the full range of public sentiment around policy-making decisions—perhaps FDR’s most enduring lesson in effective leadership.
720 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2017
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About the author
Robert Dallek
55 books171 followersRobert A. Dallek is an American historian specializing in the presidents of the United States, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard M. Nixon.
In 2004 he retired as a history professor at Boston University after previously having taught at Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Oxford University.
He won the Bancroft Prize for his 1979 book Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932–1945, as well as other awards for scholarship and teaching.
In 2004 he retired as a history professor at Boston University after previously having taught at Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Oxford University.
He won the Bancroft Prize for his 1979 book Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932–1945, as well as other awards for scholarship and teaching.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
August 16, 2025
Fourth Times a Charm
I have been thoroughly impressed with Robert Dallek’s work so far. He has a great writing style which has meant that I have been able to consume his books at a supersonic pace. As a result I couldn’t wait to read his one on the 32nd President of the United States and one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Once again Dallek hits the mark for popular and accessible history. This is a thorough and engaging biography that focuses less on FDR’s personal life and more on his extraordinary political instincts and leadership.
Rather than attempting a comprehensive cradle-to-grave account (the book could easily have been 1000 pages if he had wanted to), Dallek zeroes in on what he sees as Roosevelt’s defining trait: his unparalleled political acumen. The book offers a detailed chronicle of Roosevelt’s rise through New York politics, his transformation after contracting polio, and his unprecedented four-term presidency, emphasizing how his capacity for coalition-building, rhetorical mastery, and adaptability shaped American politics and governance during the Great Depression and World War II.
Dallek writes with fluency and confidence, drawing from a wide range of primary sources and existing scholarship. His portrayal of Roosevelt is largely sympathetic, though not uncritical. He addresses the internment of Japanese Americans, the administration’s hesitancy to aid Jewish refugees, and the compromises Roosevelt made with Southern segregationists in order to preserve the New Deal coalition. These discussions, however, are often presented as pragmatic, if regrettable, choices rather than moral failings. This is a point that may invite debate from scholars seeking a more critical evaluation of Roosevelt’s ethical and ideological consistency.
A huge strength of Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life lies in its treatment of Roosevelt’s relationship with the American people. Dallek carefully dissects how FDR cultivated public support through his fireside chats, press conferences, and personal charm. His depiction of Roosevelt’s leadership style is nuanced and persuasive: neither idealising him as a flawless leader nor reducing him to a manipulative politician, but rather portraying a man deeply committed to public service, capable of growth, and politically shrewd. Still, if you are looking for fresh archival revelations or a revisionist interpretation, then this book isn’t to you as it is largely affirmatory rather than groundbreaking. Its value lies more in its synthesis and clarity than in offering new paradigms for understanding Roosevelt.
For me Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life is a great book. It is a well crafted, well written and accessible biography that captures the strategic genius behind one of America’s most transformative leaders. Though it leans toward admiration, it remains a valuable contribution to the literature on Roosevelt, particularly for those interested in the dynamics of political leadership and presidential power.
I have been thoroughly impressed with Robert Dallek’s work so far. He has a great writing style which has meant that I have been able to consume his books at a supersonic pace. As a result I couldn’t wait to read his one on the 32nd President of the United States and one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Once again Dallek hits the mark for popular and accessible history. This is a thorough and engaging biography that focuses less on FDR’s personal life and more on his extraordinary political instincts and leadership.
Rather than attempting a comprehensive cradle-to-grave account (the book could easily have been 1000 pages if he had wanted to), Dallek zeroes in on what he sees as Roosevelt’s defining trait: his unparalleled political acumen. The book offers a detailed chronicle of Roosevelt’s rise through New York politics, his transformation after contracting polio, and his unprecedented four-term presidency, emphasizing how his capacity for coalition-building, rhetorical mastery, and adaptability shaped American politics and governance during the Great Depression and World War II.
Dallek writes with fluency and confidence, drawing from a wide range of primary sources and existing scholarship. His portrayal of Roosevelt is largely sympathetic, though not uncritical. He addresses the internment of Japanese Americans, the administration’s hesitancy to aid Jewish refugees, and the compromises Roosevelt made with Southern segregationists in order to preserve the New Deal coalition. These discussions, however, are often presented as pragmatic, if regrettable, choices rather than moral failings. This is a point that may invite debate from scholars seeking a more critical evaluation of Roosevelt’s ethical and ideological consistency.
A huge strength of Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life lies in its treatment of Roosevelt’s relationship with the American people. Dallek carefully dissects how FDR cultivated public support through his fireside chats, press conferences, and personal charm. His depiction of Roosevelt’s leadership style is nuanced and persuasive: neither idealising him as a flawless leader nor reducing him to a manipulative politician, but rather portraying a man deeply committed to public service, capable of growth, and politically shrewd. Still, if you are looking for fresh archival revelations or a revisionist interpretation, then this book isn’t to you as it is largely affirmatory rather than groundbreaking. Its value lies more in its synthesis and clarity than in offering new paradigms for understanding Roosevelt.
For me Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life is a great book. It is a well crafted, well written and accessible biography that captures the strategic genius behind one of America’s most transformative leaders. Though it leans toward admiration, it remains a valuable contribution to the literature on Roosevelt, particularly for those interested in the dynamics of political leadership and presidential power.
November 20, 2019
Having been disappointed in recent presidents (and in particular #43 and #45), I wanted to refresh my memory and learn about some of the presidents that are more or less universally recognized as being the best of breed. Luckily for me, Robert Dallek published his FDR biography in November 2017 which I immediately pre-ordered when I saw it on Amazon and read it avidly once I received it. It is well written and thoroughly enjoyable despite being very long and very detailed. One other political note before I comment on the biographical details that caught my attention: it is instructive to read about the creation of the New Deal now that the most effective attack on these principles is well underway in Congress led by the Drumpf White House. OK, rant over.
I found that FDR was quite different in many ways than the vague impressions I had formed about him. I knew he was related to Teddy Roosevelt (himself #4 or #5 on nearly every Best Presidents Ever list), but had not realized how they were similar (both wealthy patrician backgrounds who each embraced (some) progressive causes) and how they were different (Teddy was a Republican, FDR the great Democrat) and the incredible influence that Uncle Teddy had on his nephew, both personally and politically. They actually backed different people and causes but without this ever leading to a break in their relationship.
His relationship to Eleanor was FAR more complex than I had ever realized. They were cousins (I knew that), but she was awkward and far less social than Franklin when they got married (that I did not kn0w). Following an early affair which Eleanor discovered, their sexual life fizzled to near inexistence and politically they were often at odds. Franklin had many, many women friends but it is uncertain whether his infidelity went beyond flirting. Eleanor had some very close relationships with women, but there is not hard evidence that she slept with them either. So, there was this forced co-habitation for several decades spanning the Great Depression and WWII that they were forced to live within that must have been complicated.
And speaking of the differences between Eleanor and Franklin, it was sadly interesting to see that while Eleanor fervently embraced women's issues and the fight against racism and Nazism, Franklin was pretty lukewarm on both of these. He was all-in for labor issues and detested Nazi imperialism in Europe, but when it came to expanding women's rights, he was dismissive, when it came to saving Jews from the camps in the 40s, he demurred, and when it came to ending some of worst Jim Crow abuses in the south against black Americans, he was mute. This takes nothing away the enormous credit he justifiably takes for having steered America out of the morass of the Great Depression and maneuvering America into World War II in a manner that saw the United States as the world's first power immediately following the war. Well, for a few minutes anyway before being outmaneuvered by Stalin and having to share the stage with the USSR during the subsequent Cold War.
I enjoyed this informative biography and want to read more about other 20th century presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Herbert Hoover.
I found that FDR was quite different in many ways than the vague impressions I had formed about him. I knew he was related to Teddy Roosevelt (himself #4 or #5 on nearly every Best Presidents Ever list), but had not realized how they were similar (both wealthy patrician backgrounds who each embraced (some) progressive causes) and how they were different (Teddy was a Republican, FDR the great Democrat) and the incredible influence that Uncle Teddy had on his nephew, both personally and politically. They actually backed different people and causes but without this ever leading to a break in their relationship.
His relationship to Eleanor was FAR more complex than I had ever realized. They were cousins (I knew that), but she was awkward and far less social than Franklin when they got married (that I did not kn0w). Following an early affair which Eleanor discovered, their sexual life fizzled to near inexistence and politically they were often at odds. Franklin had many, many women friends but it is uncertain whether his infidelity went beyond flirting. Eleanor had some very close relationships with women, but there is not hard evidence that she slept with them either. So, there was this forced co-habitation for several decades spanning the Great Depression and WWII that they were forced to live within that must have been complicated.
And speaking of the differences between Eleanor and Franklin, it was sadly interesting to see that while Eleanor fervently embraced women's issues and the fight against racism and Nazism, Franklin was pretty lukewarm on both of these. He was all-in for labor issues and detested Nazi imperialism in Europe, but when it came to expanding women's rights, he was dismissive, when it came to saving Jews from the camps in the 40s, he demurred, and when it came to ending some of worst Jim Crow abuses in the south against black Americans, he was mute. This takes nothing away the enormous credit he justifiably takes for having steered America out of the morass of the Great Depression and maneuvering America into World War II in a manner that saw the United States as the world's first power immediately following the war. Well, for a few minutes anyway before being outmaneuvered by Stalin and having to share the stage with the USSR during the subsequent Cold War.
I enjoyed this informative biography and want to read more about other 20th century presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Herbert Hoover.
January 11, 2022
https://bestpresidentialbios.com/2022...
Given the panoply of meritorious FDR biographies it is logical to ask why Dallek felt the need to add “one more” to the pile. His answer: to remind people “what great presidential leadership looks like”. That hardly-satisfying explanation is the earliest evidence of Dallek’s high regard for his subject and his place in history.
With 627 pages of text and no shortage of historical insight, this dense presidential biography is undeniably comprehensive, detailed and fact-filled. And Dallek is extraordinarily facile with the nuances of Roosevelt and his era.
But this is not a book which draws in readers with colorful scene-setting or an engrossing bird’s-eye view of the world. Nor does it provide fresh insights into Roosevelt’s life based on new primary sources. Instead, this is essentially an articulate but disappointingly dry synthesis of previous FDR biographies infused with Dallek’s point of view (along with incremental emphasis on Roosevelt’s health issues).
One important way biographers can bring a subject to life is by exploring his or her closest personal and professional relationships. But not only does Dallek fail to meaningfully examine the individuals in whom Roosevelt placed his trust, but he also fails to fully investigate why the famously circumspect Roosevelt was able to place his faith in each. And, partly as a result, FDR never fully comes to life in this story.
In addition, Dallek assumes a significant degree of historical knowledge by his audience; he focuses surprisingly little time on the “big picture” of FDR’s time and place. There is, for example, almost no explicit emphasis on Roosevelt’s “first hundred days.” And readers lacking a familiarity with World War II will wander around FDR’s war-bubble with little appreciation for most of its major strategic thrusts.
But for readers seeking a straightforward “facts only” review of Roosevelt’s life this biography may hit the mark. And if Dallek fails to explore the nuances of FDR’s relationships or place the reader “in the scene” at Yalta, Warm Springs or the White House then it may come as some solace that the narrative is consistently thoughtful and uncommonly dispassionate.
And while the discussion of some of Roosevelt’s shortcomings and policy failures are curiously reserved for the book’s last chapter – such as the internment of Japanese Americans – this biography is surprisingly objective. In fact, Dallek highlights his subject’s flaws so well that one might wonder on what basis the author is convinced that FDR is “one of the country’s three greatest presidents”.
Overall, Robert Dallek’s 2017 “Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life” is a competent but clinical (and generally colorless) exploration of FDR’s life and legacy. Readers already familiar with Roosevelt are unlikely to find this biography revealing or compelling. And those seeking a thorough but interesting introduction to the 32nd president will probably do better to look elsewhere.
Overall Rating: 3¼ stars
Given the panoply of meritorious FDR biographies it is logical to ask why Dallek felt the need to add “one more” to the pile. His answer: to remind people “what great presidential leadership looks like”. That hardly-satisfying explanation is the earliest evidence of Dallek’s high regard for his subject and his place in history.
With 627 pages of text and no shortage of historical insight, this dense presidential biography is undeniably comprehensive, detailed and fact-filled. And Dallek is extraordinarily facile with the nuances of Roosevelt and his era.
But this is not a book which draws in readers with colorful scene-setting or an engrossing bird’s-eye view of the world. Nor does it provide fresh insights into Roosevelt’s life based on new primary sources. Instead, this is essentially an articulate but disappointingly dry synthesis of previous FDR biographies infused with Dallek’s point of view (along with incremental emphasis on Roosevelt’s health issues).
One important way biographers can bring a subject to life is by exploring his or her closest personal and professional relationships. But not only does Dallek fail to meaningfully examine the individuals in whom Roosevelt placed his trust, but he also fails to fully investigate why the famously circumspect Roosevelt was able to place his faith in each. And, partly as a result, FDR never fully comes to life in this story.
In addition, Dallek assumes a significant degree of historical knowledge by his audience; he focuses surprisingly little time on the “big picture” of FDR’s time and place. There is, for example, almost no explicit emphasis on Roosevelt’s “first hundred days.” And readers lacking a familiarity with World War II will wander around FDR’s war-bubble with little appreciation for most of its major strategic thrusts.
But for readers seeking a straightforward “facts only” review of Roosevelt’s life this biography may hit the mark. And if Dallek fails to explore the nuances of FDR’s relationships or place the reader “in the scene” at Yalta, Warm Springs or the White House then it may come as some solace that the narrative is consistently thoughtful and uncommonly dispassionate.
And while the discussion of some of Roosevelt’s shortcomings and policy failures are curiously reserved for the book’s last chapter – such as the internment of Japanese Americans – this biography is surprisingly objective. In fact, Dallek highlights his subject’s flaws so well that one might wonder on what basis the author is convinced that FDR is “one of the country’s three greatest presidents”.
Overall, Robert Dallek’s 2017 “Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life” is a competent but clinical (and generally colorless) exploration of FDR’s life and legacy. Readers already familiar with Roosevelt are unlikely to find this biography revealing or compelling. And those seeking a thorough but interesting introduction to the 32nd president will probably do better to look elsewhere.
Overall Rating: 3¼ stars
December 31, 2017
It is difficult to read a Presidential biography and not reflect on our current divisive politics. A massive tome about FDR seems to appear every ten or so years. Robert Dallek's focus is on FDR's Presidential years. Anyone requiring more on the years before 1933 must look to Kenneth Davis or Geoffrey Ward; for the Roosevelt marriage consider Blanche Cooke or Joseph Lash. Dallek's volume opens with the dismal conditions in a Depression plagued United States the March 1933 day of FDR's inauguration. There follows a fast paced overview of FDR's formative years and personal background. The meat of this book is the Presidency. Dallek is superb on FDR's fringe enemies-Huey Long (especially so) and Fr. Coughlin. In a time of financial collapse in an isolationist nation facing a threatening world order, FDR was a consensus builder against ever louder voices. And Dallek details FDR's precarious health and places its beginnings closer to 1940 and the third term run, rather than focusing on his obvious decline during the 1944 campaign. A very heavy smoker trapped in a wheelchair of his own design, Roosevelt suffered a variety of ills, with even hemorrhoids so severe he required blood transfusions. By 1944, perhaps understandably so his D-Day blood pressure was 226/118. An ironically lonely man who gradually lost his trusted disciples (Howe and Missy LeHand), Dallek continues the work of Geoffrey Ward in detailing the importance of Daisy Suckley in FDR's life. His humanity is seen when wheeled into a ward of soldiers missing arms an legs; the wheelchair bound President leaves with tears in his eyes. More has been done on the final days and death at Warm Springs; a small point: Elizabeth Shoumatoff was not working on sketches at FDR's death but actually painting the portrait which remains at Warm Springs. With a focus on Roosevelt the President, Dallek's massive volume will remain the source for viewing one of our greatest Presidents. Indeed, he cites at beginning and end The New York Times judgement at FDR's death that "Men will thank God on their knees 100 years from now, that Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the White House."
December 31, 2018
This is unquestionably the best biography I have read on FDR. 700 pages may seem like too few to write about a life as full as Roosevelt's but Dallek manages to do it. His research, as always, is thorough, his ability to get to the heart of his topic in a manner that is succinct and precise and his perspective as a historian who views his subject as a fallible human with flaws but at the same time a great leader is second to none. He gives FDR the biography he deserves. His exploration of the relationships in Roosevelts life reveal more about the people than any other historian I have read. These are the reasons that Dallek is considered probably the foremost presidential historian. I highly recommend this book. I have read many biographies of FDR and many histories of the period but none has impressed me so much.
In addition to exploring all the great things that Roosevelt did for his country and for the world, Dallek neither excuses or fails to detail the three great failures of his presidency which are fairly well known: His refusal to do more for African-Americans, his refusal to allow more immigrants, especially Jews facing torture and death into the country, and his placement of Japanese Americans in camps during the War.
His accomplishments include land mark legislation, much of which we have with us still, his ability to inspire hope and deal with the worst depression the country has ever known, and his steering the country through WWII despite his failing health, make him one of our greatest presidents, if not the greatest.
In addition to exploring all the great things that Roosevelt did for his country and for the world, Dallek neither excuses or fails to detail the three great failures of his presidency which are fairly well known: His refusal to do more for African-Americans, his refusal to allow more immigrants, especially Jews facing torture and death into the country, and his placement of Japanese Americans in camps during the War.
His accomplishments include land mark legislation, much of which we have with us still, his ability to inspire hope and deal with the worst depression the country has ever known, and his steering the country through WWII despite his failing health, make him one of our greatest presidents, if not the greatest.
December 13, 2017
One of the many jobs in my background was managing the bookstore at the FDR Memorial in DC. FDR, along with his distant cousin TR, is one of my top book subjects. Up to now Jean Smith' bio has been my favorite 1 volume bio of FDR. Dallek's bio is now on the top of my list.
Of particular interest is the attention Dallek places on FDR's health issues early on in FDR's Prsidency.
A
Of particular interest is the attention Dallek places on FDR's health issues early on in FDR's Prsidency.
A
March 29, 2021
A very detail-oriented, nuanced overview of one of our greatest presidents. The author reveals the struggles FDR had with his physical disability and his remarkable ability to rise above it to lead the country through the Great Depression and WW2. Along the way, we learn of FDR's struggles and also his triumphs. We learn just how sick he was toward the end of his presidency, and how he somehow guided the country on the path to peace. An excellent presidential biography overall and well worth the effort of reading it, despite the prodigious 600 plus page length.
December 29, 2020
A good biography for getting the general feel of FDR's life and political style. Dallek's background as a diplomatic historian really shows, as the focus is on FDR's conduct of foreign affairs, where he goes into a lot of detail, rather than New Deal policies, which are covered but not in depth. You get a nice sense of the personality of this admirable man, a humane and unstoppable optimist who pulled his country through 2 of its greatest crises all while dealing with a serious disability. I've always admired the version of America that, in an age of crude, posturing, militaristic dictators, embraced a man who couldn't walk as their leader. FDR had an inner strength that is just incalculable as well as a political acumen and style that recharged the can-do spirit of the country as well as its concern for the left out and left behind. A good bio if you want a general sense of the person, but not an essential bio like Hamilton.
July 3, 2023
It’s no secret that FDR has always ranked highly on presidential ranking charts and so it would be wrong to suggest that this book elevated him from obscurity. What is true however is that this book magnificently reinforces *why* FDR is deservedly ranked so highly. Coming in at just over 600 pages of actual content, it’s impressive that Dallek managed to actually fit his whole life in, including all 12 years in the presidency. What this book is particularly notable for in my view is:
1. Highlighting the sheer contrast between men like FDR and much of the country and how he truly had to battle immense opposition to pass his progressive agenda and put his country on a war footing.
2. Highlighting the immense physical stress of political office and how FDR essentially forced himself into an early death in the pursuit of victory (that being victory over the Axis and his own internal opponents).
In these regards, the book does remarkably well.
Now, I must talk about the parts of this book I didn’t like, or were disappointed by, and, there is quite a lot considering the 5* rating.
1. There were certainly factual inaccuracies. Two immediate examples are: the dates shown on the pictures are partially wrong and a Baltic port is described as a Balkan port. These may seem like minor inaccuracies and, in the grand scheme of things, they are, however they’re glaringly obvious and suggest a degree of sloppiness.
2. The absolute deification of FDR by the author. I want you to explain why he’s a great president, not just tell me he is without giving me examples.
3. The never-ending use of statistics and poll numbers. Honestly, it’s endless. The problem is, they’re meaningless and they’re often contradictory to what was on the page before. I do recognise the reason he’s done it though, and it is effective, id to demonstrates how frequently FDR went against the odds and came up trumps because of his skill. It’s a subtle way of reinforcing his greatness but nonetheless, it is tedious.
4. The lack of Eleanor post outbreak of war. I really appreciated the focus on Eleanor in the early to mid stages of the book, it was a nice exploration of a key political double act and of a troubled home life, brought on by Franklin’s infidelity. The absence of her after the outbreak of war then left me feeling as though a part of the book’s charm had been lost.
5. The absence of home affairs after the outbreak of war. I understand that in 1941 FDR became a president concerned with the world war however it was frustrating to lose some focus on the New Deal, a driving force of FDR’s previous 8 years in office. Flashing back to these issues a bit more was, in my view, needed.
6. The failure to really accept FDR’s flaws. I suppose this is similar to point two but I feel it deserves some more explanation. I understand why FDR was reluctant to take on issues such as the rights of women, black people, Jewish immigrants and the controversy surrounding the Japanese internment. Dallek does absolutely make it clear that for most of these issues, the appetitive simply didn’t exist in the country or political leadership and, even if it did, it would’ve damaged his other progressive reforms. HOWEVER, it is important to recognise that regardless, these were failures of his premiership. Dallek acknowledges them, but fleetingly. More time could’ve and should’ve been spent on them to give a more well rounded view of him as a president. It is hard to dispute FDR’s virtues but it is important to recognise his vices and I just wish Dallek did a bit more.
As I said, I recognise that this is a *lot* of complaints for a 5* book but the reason it gets a 5* rating is because of the way it made me feel. The arrogance of FDR comes across in this book, as does his petulance and lack of tolerance for Eleanor. In a way, this made me leave the book liking him personally less. What Dallek has done however is balance this with making you respect him more professionally. The absolute emphasis on the personal and political struggles he faced presents him in an incredibly sympathetic way- you feel sorry that he put his life on the line to get these things done. Because of this, (I recognise this will sound ridiculous) I left the book feeling almost upset that he didn’t get to see the end of the war and take up the mantle of a peace organisation he desired. I left the book feeling he deserved more than what he got and that’s an incredibly powerful thing to leave a reader with.
Despite the flaws which I’ve clearly outlined, it’s this feeling which has caused me to give this incredibly longwinded (and probably confusing review) and what has ultimately caused me to give this book a 5/5* rating.
5/5*
1. Highlighting the sheer contrast between men like FDR and much of the country and how he truly had to battle immense opposition to pass his progressive agenda and put his country on a war footing.
2. Highlighting the immense physical stress of political office and how FDR essentially forced himself into an early death in the pursuit of victory (that being victory over the Axis and his own internal opponents).
In these regards, the book does remarkably well.
Now, I must talk about the parts of this book I didn’t like, or were disappointed by, and, there is quite a lot considering the 5* rating.
1. There were certainly factual inaccuracies. Two immediate examples are: the dates shown on the pictures are partially wrong and a Baltic port is described as a Balkan port. These may seem like minor inaccuracies and, in the grand scheme of things, they are, however they’re glaringly obvious and suggest a degree of sloppiness.
2. The absolute deification of FDR by the author. I want you to explain why he’s a great president, not just tell me he is without giving me examples.
3. The never-ending use of statistics and poll numbers. Honestly, it’s endless. The problem is, they’re meaningless and they’re often contradictory to what was on the page before. I do recognise the reason he’s done it though, and it is effective, id to demonstrates how frequently FDR went against the odds and came up trumps because of his skill. It’s a subtle way of reinforcing his greatness but nonetheless, it is tedious.
4. The lack of Eleanor post outbreak of war. I really appreciated the focus on Eleanor in the early to mid stages of the book, it was a nice exploration of a key political double act and of a troubled home life, brought on by Franklin’s infidelity. The absence of her after the outbreak of war then left me feeling as though a part of the book’s charm had been lost.
5. The absence of home affairs after the outbreak of war. I understand that in 1941 FDR became a president concerned with the world war however it was frustrating to lose some focus on the New Deal, a driving force of FDR’s previous 8 years in office. Flashing back to these issues a bit more was, in my view, needed.
6. The failure to really accept FDR’s flaws. I suppose this is similar to point two but I feel it deserves some more explanation. I understand why FDR was reluctant to take on issues such as the rights of women, black people, Jewish immigrants and the controversy surrounding the Japanese internment. Dallek does absolutely make it clear that for most of these issues, the appetitive simply didn’t exist in the country or political leadership and, even if it did, it would’ve damaged his other progressive reforms. HOWEVER, it is important to recognise that regardless, these were failures of his premiership. Dallek acknowledges them, but fleetingly. More time could’ve and should’ve been spent on them to give a more well rounded view of him as a president. It is hard to dispute FDR’s virtues but it is important to recognise his vices and I just wish Dallek did a bit more.
As I said, I recognise that this is a *lot* of complaints for a 5* book but the reason it gets a 5* rating is because of the way it made me feel. The arrogance of FDR comes across in this book, as does his petulance and lack of tolerance for Eleanor. In a way, this made me leave the book liking him personally less. What Dallek has done however is balance this with making you respect him more professionally. The absolute emphasis on the personal and political struggles he faced presents him in an incredibly sympathetic way- you feel sorry that he put his life on the line to get these things done. Because of this, (I recognise this will sound ridiculous) I left the book feeling almost upset that he didn’t get to see the end of the war and take up the mantle of a peace organisation he desired. I left the book feeling he deserved more than what he got and that’s an incredibly powerful thing to leave a reader with.
Despite the flaws which I’ve clearly outlined, it’s this feeling which has caused me to give this incredibly longwinded (and probably confusing review) and what has ultimately caused me to give this book a 5/5* rating.
5/5*
March 1, 2024
This book was not a bad piece of biography, but I think its main flaw is assessing FDR so highly while presenting a man who clearly was a deeply flawed leader. FDR is introduced as an example of real presidential leadership in contrast to recent presidents, and the received wisdom is that he was one of our best , but if you zoom in and look at the details, things seem a little different.
Dallek acknowledges that FDR was mostly a political, self-interested creature who was masterful at reading what was popular, and then doing it. I'm not so sure that's a great quality, and what emerges is a man strong on charisma and rhetoric, but weak on principle. There are some striking things Roosevelt did that would class any other president as among the lower ranks.
-Illegally attempted to arrest gays in the navy by having secret agents attempt to seduce them
-Blocked legislation to ban lynching because he believed signing such a bill would hurt his standings with southerners. This was typical of his treatment of his matters involving black Americans. As Jesse Owens, the black Olympic athlete said, "it wasn't Hitler who snubbed me, it was FDR."
-Engaged in perhaps the most egregious civil rights violation in American history outside of Jim Crow by summarily imprisoning men, women, and children in internment camps for the crime of being of Japanese heritage, all while their relatives were fighting and dying for the US in Europe.
-Attempted to give himself virtually unlimited power by expanding the supreme court so that he could appoint yes-men who would approve his every move.
-Engaged in affairs with younger women in his employ, permanently alienating his wife.
-Refused to act to save Jews or admit them safe harbor in the US during the holocaust.
But didn't he solve the Depression? As the book admits, it was not the New Deal that solved the Great Depression, but the industrial mobilization of World War II. Prior to the war, FDR presided over a nation that continued to suffer just as it had under Hoover. So why do we rate FDR so much higher? The New Deal itself was a grab bag of policies, some of which were winners, many of which were losers. The Agricultural Adjustment Act ordered the killing of hundreds of thousands of farm animals and the decreased production of food, compensating by sending payments to big landowners, hurting small farmers and impoverished black sharecroppers the most. The TVA was an ecological disaster, which Roosevelt tried to implement elsewhere. Most of what FDR did during the Depression had to be rolled back by Truman and Eisenhower, as the government had become enormously wasteful, and had begun to be involved in operating random businesses, like ice cream production.
During much of the Second World War, FDR was dying from heart failure, too weak to write his own letters, often staring into space, falling asleep, or forgetting where he was, due to what is speculated to have been oxygen deprivation to his brain. He nonetheless ran for and won two terms beyond those traditionally allowed.
There are things that we remember to Roosevelt's credit. He was a great communicator who inspired hope through his confident oratory. He wouldn't let his leg paralysis get him down. He created the CCC and WPA, which, while of questionable economic value, did leave behind some great structures and helped to develop the US parks system in important ways. There are a few programs, like Social Security, that stuck around to today. There are, of course, many admiring tomes you could read about him that would laud other things that came out of his presidency. It is surprising, though, given the lesser known faults, that historians continue to rate him number 2. While this was not a bad biography, I docked it mostly for rating FDR more highly than his presidency seems to merit.
Dallek acknowledges that FDR was mostly a political, self-interested creature who was masterful at reading what was popular, and then doing it. I'm not so sure that's a great quality, and what emerges is a man strong on charisma and rhetoric, but weak on principle. There are some striking things Roosevelt did that would class any other president as among the lower ranks.
-Illegally attempted to arrest gays in the navy by having secret agents attempt to seduce them
-Blocked legislation to ban lynching because he believed signing such a bill would hurt his standings with southerners. This was typical of his treatment of his matters involving black Americans. As Jesse Owens, the black Olympic athlete said, "it wasn't Hitler who snubbed me, it was FDR."
-Engaged in perhaps the most egregious civil rights violation in American history outside of Jim Crow by summarily imprisoning men, women, and children in internment camps for the crime of being of Japanese heritage, all while their relatives were fighting and dying for the US in Europe.
-Attempted to give himself virtually unlimited power by expanding the supreme court so that he could appoint yes-men who would approve his every move.
-Engaged in affairs with younger women in his employ, permanently alienating his wife.
-Refused to act to save Jews or admit them safe harbor in the US during the holocaust.
But didn't he solve the Depression? As the book admits, it was not the New Deal that solved the Great Depression, but the industrial mobilization of World War II. Prior to the war, FDR presided over a nation that continued to suffer just as it had under Hoover. So why do we rate FDR so much higher? The New Deal itself was a grab bag of policies, some of which were winners, many of which were losers. The Agricultural Adjustment Act ordered the killing of hundreds of thousands of farm animals and the decreased production of food, compensating by sending payments to big landowners, hurting small farmers and impoverished black sharecroppers the most. The TVA was an ecological disaster, which Roosevelt tried to implement elsewhere. Most of what FDR did during the Depression had to be rolled back by Truman and Eisenhower, as the government had become enormously wasteful, and had begun to be involved in operating random businesses, like ice cream production.
During much of the Second World War, FDR was dying from heart failure, too weak to write his own letters, often staring into space, falling asleep, or forgetting where he was, due to what is speculated to have been oxygen deprivation to his brain. He nonetheless ran for and won two terms beyond those traditionally allowed.
There are things that we remember to Roosevelt's credit. He was a great communicator who inspired hope through his confident oratory. He wouldn't let his leg paralysis get him down. He created the CCC and WPA, which, while of questionable economic value, did leave behind some great structures and helped to develop the US parks system in important ways. There are a few programs, like Social Security, that stuck around to today. There are, of course, many admiring tomes you could read about him that would laud other things that came out of his presidency. It is surprising, though, given the lesser known faults, that historians continue to rate him number 2. While this was not a bad biography, I docked it mostly for rating FDR more highly than his presidency seems to merit.
September 12, 2018
With the many books written on Roosevelt I feel that this one most likely didn't need to be written. Rather than display the facts and give you a full presentation of Roosevelt's life I feel like the author was a Roosevelt fan boy who wanted to display a full picture but thought that Roosevelt could do no wrong and was justified in some of his shady dealings.
December 22, 2021
When identifying the “greatest presidents,” historians consistently rank Washington and Lincoln in the top two slots; the third spot almost always goes to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served as chief executive longer than any before or since and shepherded the nation through twin existential crises of economic depression and world war. FDR left an indelible legacy upon America that echoes loudly both forward to our present and future as well as back to his day. Lionized by the left today—especially by its progressive wing—far more than he was in his own time, he remains vilified by the right, then and now. Today’s right, which basks in the extreme and often eschews common sense, conflating social security with socialism, frequently casts him as villain. Yet his memory, be it applauded or heckled, is nevertheless of an iconic figure who forever changed the course of American history, for good or ill.
FDR has been widely chronicled, by such luminaries as James MacGregor Burns, William Leuchtenburg, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jay Winik, Geoffrey C. Ward, and a host of others, including presidential biographer Robert Dallek, winner of the Bancroft Prize for Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932–1945. Dallek now revisits his subject with Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life, the latest contribution to a rapidly expanding genre focused upon politics and power, showcased in such works as Jon Meacham’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, and most recently, in George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father, by David O. Stewart.
A rough sketch of FDR’s life is well known. Born to wealth and sheltered by privilege, at school he had difficulty forming friendships with peers. He practiced law for a time, but his passion turned to politics, which seemed ideally suited to the tall, handsome, and gregarious Franklin. To this end, he modeled himself on his famous cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt. He married T.R.’s favorite niece, Eleanor, and like Theodore eventually became Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Unsuccessful as a vice-presidential candidate in the 1920 election, his political future still seemed assured until he was struck down by polio. His legs were paralyzed, but not his ambition. He never walked again, but equipped with heavy leg braces and an impressive upper body strength, he perfected a swinging gait that propelled him forward while leaning into an aide that served, at least for brief periods, as a reasonable facsimile of the same. He made a remarkable political comeback as governor of New York in 1928, and won national attention for his public relief efforts, which proved essential in his even more remarkable bid to win the White House four years later. Reimagining government to cope with the consequences of economic devastation never before seen in the United States, then reimagining it again to construct a vast war machine to counter Hitler and Tojo, he bucked tradition to win reelection three times, then stunned the nation with his death by cerebral hemorrhage only a few months into the fourth term of one of the most consequential presidencies in American history.
That “brief sketch” translates into mountains of material for any biographer, so narrowing the lens to FDR’s “political life” proves to be a sound strategy that underscores the route to his many achievements as well as the sometimes-shameful ways he juggled competing demands and realities. Among historians, even his most ardent admirers tend to question his judgment in the run-up to the disaster at Pearl Harbor, as well as his moral compass in exiling Japanese Americans to confinement camps, but as Dallek reveals again and again in this finely wrought study, these may simply be the most familiar instances of his shortcomings. If FDR is often recalled as smart and heroic—as he indeed deserves to be—there are yet plenty of salient examples where he proves himself to be neither. Eleanor Roosevelt once famously quipped that John F. Kennedy should show a little less profile and a little more courage, but there were certainly times this advice must have been just as suitable to her husband. What is clear is that while he was genuinely a compassionate man capable of great empathy, FDR was at the same time at his very core driven by an almost limitless ambition that, reinforced by a conviction that he was always in the right, spawned an ever-evolving strategy to prevail that sometimes blurred the boundaries of the greater good he sought to impose. Shrewd, disciplined, and gifted with finely tuned political instincts, he knew how to balance demands, ideals, and realities to shape outcomes favorable to his goals. He was a man who knew how to wield power to deliver his vision of America, and the truth is, he could be quite ruthless in that pursuit. To his credit, much like Lincoln and Washington before him, his lasting achievements have tended to paper over flaws that might otherwise cling with greater prominence to his legacy.
I read portions of this volume during the 2020 election cycle and its aftermath, especially relevant given that the new President, Joe Biden—born just days after the Battle of Guadalcanal during FDR’s third term—had an oversize portrait of Roosevelt prominently hung in the Oval Office across from the Resolute Desk. But even more significantly, Biden the candidate was pilloried by progressives in the run-up to November as far too centrist, as a man who had abandoned the vision of Franklin Roosevelt. But if the left correctly recalls FDR as the most liberal president in American history, it also badly misremembers Roosevelt the man, who in his day very deftly navigated the politics of the center lane.
Dallek brilliantly restores for us the authentic FDR of his own era, unclouded by the mists of time that has begotten both a greater belligerence from the right as well as a distorted worship from the left. This context is critical: when FDR first won election in 1932, the nation was reeling from its greatest crisis since the Civil War, the economy in a tailspin and his predecessor, Herbert Hoover, unwilling to use the power of the federal government to intervene while nearly a quarter of the nation’s workforce was unemployed, at a time when a social safety net was nearly nonexistent. People literally starved to death in the United States of America! This provoked radical tugs to the extreme left and extreme right. There was loud speculation that the Republic would not survive, with cries by some for Soviet-style communism and by others for a strongman akin to those spearheading an emerging fascism in Europe. It was into this arena that FDR was thrust. Beyond fringe radical calls for revolution or reaction, despite his party’s congressional majority, like Lincoln before him perhaps Roosevelt’s greatest challenge after stabilizing the state was contending with the forces to the left and right in his own party. This, as Dallek details in a well-written, fast-moving narrative, was to be characteristic of much of his long tenure ..
READ THE REST OF REVIEW HERE: https://regarp.com/2021/10/17/review-...
FDR has been widely chronicled, by such luminaries as James MacGregor Burns, William Leuchtenburg, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jay Winik, Geoffrey C. Ward, and a host of others, including presidential biographer Robert Dallek, winner of the Bancroft Prize for Franklin D. Roosevelt and American Foreign Policy, 1932–1945. Dallek now revisits his subject with Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life, the latest contribution to a rapidly expanding genre focused upon politics and power, showcased in such works as Jon Meacham’s Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power, and most recently, in George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father, by David O. Stewart.
A rough sketch of FDR’s life is well known. Born to wealth and sheltered by privilege, at school he had difficulty forming friendships with peers. He practiced law for a time, but his passion turned to politics, which seemed ideally suited to the tall, handsome, and gregarious Franklin. To this end, he modeled himself on his famous cousin, President Theodore Roosevelt. He married T.R.’s favorite niece, Eleanor, and like Theodore eventually became Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Unsuccessful as a vice-presidential candidate in the 1920 election, his political future still seemed assured until he was struck down by polio. His legs were paralyzed, but not his ambition. He never walked again, but equipped with heavy leg braces and an impressive upper body strength, he perfected a swinging gait that propelled him forward while leaning into an aide that served, at least for brief periods, as a reasonable facsimile of the same. He made a remarkable political comeback as governor of New York in 1928, and won national attention for his public relief efforts, which proved essential in his even more remarkable bid to win the White House four years later. Reimagining government to cope with the consequences of economic devastation never before seen in the United States, then reimagining it again to construct a vast war machine to counter Hitler and Tojo, he bucked tradition to win reelection three times, then stunned the nation with his death by cerebral hemorrhage only a few months into the fourth term of one of the most consequential presidencies in American history.
That “brief sketch” translates into mountains of material for any biographer, so narrowing the lens to FDR’s “political life” proves to be a sound strategy that underscores the route to his many achievements as well as the sometimes-shameful ways he juggled competing demands and realities. Among historians, even his most ardent admirers tend to question his judgment in the run-up to the disaster at Pearl Harbor, as well as his moral compass in exiling Japanese Americans to confinement camps, but as Dallek reveals again and again in this finely wrought study, these may simply be the most familiar instances of his shortcomings. If FDR is often recalled as smart and heroic—as he indeed deserves to be—there are yet plenty of salient examples where he proves himself to be neither. Eleanor Roosevelt once famously quipped that John F. Kennedy should show a little less profile and a little more courage, but there were certainly times this advice must have been just as suitable to her husband. What is clear is that while he was genuinely a compassionate man capable of great empathy, FDR was at the same time at his very core driven by an almost limitless ambition that, reinforced by a conviction that he was always in the right, spawned an ever-evolving strategy to prevail that sometimes blurred the boundaries of the greater good he sought to impose. Shrewd, disciplined, and gifted with finely tuned political instincts, he knew how to balance demands, ideals, and realities to shape outcomes favorable to his goals. He was a man who knew how to wield power to deliver his vision of America, and the truth is, he could be quite ruthless in that pursuit. To his credit, much like Lincoln and Washington before him, his lasting achievements have tended to paper over flaws that might otherwise cling with greater prominence to his legacy.
I read portions of this volume during the 2020 election cycle and its aftermath, especially relevant given that the new President, Joe Biden—born just days after the Battle of Guadalcanal during FDR’s third term—had an oversize portrait of Roosevelt prominently hung in the Oval Office across from the Resolute Desk. But even more significantly, Biden the candidate was pilloried by progressives in the run-up to November as far too centrist, as a man who had abandoned the vision of Franklin Roosevelt. But if the left correctly recalls FDR as the most liberal president in American history, it also badly misremembers Roosevelt the man, who in his day very deftly navigated the politics of the center lane.
Dallek brilliantly restores for us the authentic FDR of his own era, unclouded by the mists of time that has begotten both a greater belligerence from the right as well as a distorted worship from the left. This context is critical: when FDR first won election in 1932, the nation was reeling from its greatest crisis since the Civil War, the economy in a tailspin and his predecessor, Herbert Hoover, unwilling to use the power of the federal government to intervene while nearly a quarter of the nation’s workforce was unemployed, at a time when a social safety net was nearly nonexistent. People literally starved to death in the United States of America! This provoked radical tugs to the extreme left and extreme right. There was loud speculation that the Republic would not survive, with cries by some for Soviet-style communism and by others for a strongman akin to those spearheading an emerging fascism in Europe. It was into this arena that FDR was thrust. Beyond fringe radical calls for revolution or reaction, despite his party’s congressional majority, like Lincoln before him perhaps Roosevelt’s greatest challenge after stabilizing the state was contending with the forces to the left and right in his own party. This, as Dallek details in a well-written, fast-moving narrative, was to be characteristic of much of his long tenure ..
READ THE REST OF REVIEW HERE: https://regarp.com/2021/10/17/review-...
February 23, 2018
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt have long been of interest to me to the point of reading many, many books about the couple. One might think that I would not learn anything new about them. This is not true. I especially appreciated the amount of information in this book about Franklin's health and the health of people who assisted FDR (Missy LeHand, Harry Hopkins, etc.). Occasionally, Dallek referenced my favorite historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin. That always made me feel that Dallek had done his homework.
August 19, 2018
I get the sense that Roosevelt had a bit of a savior complex. It doesn't help that the author agrees with Roosevelt- that Roosevelt was the only person on the planet that was capable of leading the United States through World War II. I felt the book made a number of dubious claims and a lot of "what if" statements to cover up a number of Roosevelt's missteps. The author also places blame on the American people for a couple of Roosevelt's less palatable policies. Overall the book just came across as one man's opinion , rather then a book intending to inform about Roosevelt as a politician.
January 9, 2020
In an era of applied politics, it’s difficult not to read this book without a yearning for the leaders of the past. That is not to say the pst was perfect, nor Roosevelt. But, it is the desire for a leader who has conviction, dreams, and a message of change and hope for the future that’s drives that yearning for leaders past.
Dallek does an incredible job tracing Roosevelt’s political life from start to finish. Dallek neither paints and overly critical nor overly glossy role on Roosevelt. He isn’t afraid to highlight both strengths and weaknesses. I’m doing so he paints a clear picture of the President and his impact on America and the world.
Dallek does an incredible job tracing Roosevelt’s political life from start to finish. Dallek neither paints and overly critical nor overly glossy role on Roosevelt. He isn’t afraid to highlight both strengths and weaknesses. I’m doing so he paints a clear picture of the President and his impact on America and the world.
February 7, 2021
Really good. I liked this much more than the same author's biography of John F. Kennedy, though admittedly I'm not sure if it's because it's any better written or just because I find FDR to be a more compelling - not to mention a more admirable and inspirational - figure than JFK. Nevertheless, very much worth a read.
January 22, 2022
I'm glad I started my 2022 tour of Presidential biographies and memoirs with FDR. It's a little hard for me to separate my review of the President from my review of the book, but I'll try... The book had enough quotes and excerpts from personal letters that I felt I really got to know Franklin and those closest to him but also enough objectivity that I felt both personally and academically invested the entire time. Big fan of the author and his style and am excited to read his biography for Truman next!
(A little frustrated that the book ended before the war, but I can't ACTUALLY hold that against it in the review, so... 5 stars)
(A little frustrated that the book ended before the war, but I can't ACTUALLY hold that against it in the review, so... 5 stars)
March 2, 2018
Franklin D. Roosevelt a Political Life
Franklin D. Roosevelt A Political Life by Robert Fallen is an interesting, information book. What a sense of history. I highly recommend this book.
Franklin D. Roosevelt A Political Life by Robert Fallen is an interesting, information book. What a sense of history. I highly recommend this book.
November 18, 2020
This was excellent. A meat and potatoes one volume biography. Highly recommend. All that said, Eleanor Roosevelt does not come off too well in this. I am going to have to read Blanche Weisen Cook's biography as a counterbalance.
March 7, 2023
Solid and comprehensive biography. Dallek does a good job of focusing in on the critical moments of Roosevelt’s political life and I learned a lot about Roosevelt’s political philosophy (or lack there of). While he certainly holds Roosevelt in esteem, the book is in no way fawning. Rather Roosevelt emerges as a figure that is deliberate, cautious, and very weary of getting in front of public opinion - on both domestic and foreign affairs.
I do wish there was more of a focus on the “how” of Roosevelt’s political machinations in addition the “what” - especially in his earlier years. I also think the biography could have given more attention to the more controversial aspects of his presidency - namely his failure to act in response to the Holocaust and the internment of Japanese Americans.
I do wish there was more of a focus on the “how” of Roosevelt’s political machinations in addition the “what” - especially in his earlier years. I also think the biography could have given more attention to the more controversial aspects of his presidency - namely his failure to act in response to the Holocaust and the internment of Japanese Americans.
April 28, 2025
Dallek makes history feel like news, showing FDR to be a true public servant (albeit one with significant smudges is his legacy).
October 25, 2018
At times, getting through this colossal book was a real effort. That being said, all the key points and motivations for FDR's extraordinary success during complicated times are explored more than competently. I learned a considerable amount about this fascinating man.
October 15, 2021
This book comes across as advertised. It is a biography of Franklin Roosevelt, but one that concentrates on the political, rather than the personal side of is life. FDR lies at the center of the book, as the policies that made up his New Deal program and the initiatives of his foreign policy are analyzed through the prism of the political pressures he was under. Dallek does a nice job of relating the give and take of the American political process, highlighting the impressive skills and instincts that FDR brought to this process. There are other books out there that examine the New Deal from the vantage point of Congress, and books that take a look at World War II from the battlefield. This book does not attempt to do anything that removes FDR from the center of the story, which leaves the reader marveling at the way that this man with such a incredibly physical disability was able to get so much time during his time as president. My one complaint about the book is that it is clear that the author is a huge fan of FDR, and while he points out the shortcomings and failures of his actions and policies, there is not a lot of analysis of the way that the politics of the south impeded his legislative initiatives in ways that made most of the New Deal programs very discriminatory in nature. If one is interested in that story, Ira Katznelson's book "Fear Itself" is a good place to start. But with his intense interest in liberal administrations and his access to many of FDR's personal correspondence, Dallek presents a compelling story.
January 28, 2018
It’s really long, almost 1000 pages, very dry, very detailed but full of the respect and affection Dallek has for FDR. In a time when the Presidency itself is under siege looking back on a man who overcame incredible personal obstacles and led us through the depression and WWII mainly by force of personality is inspiring. Dallek lets the reader infer much from his Joe Friday writing, (just the facts, ma'am) but uses material from many sources. He does argue briefly that FDR did not know that Pearl Harbor bombing was imminent. He also condemns his internment of Japanese Americans and shows why he thinks there was little the Allies could do to save Jews except win the war quickly. The subtitle gives you fair warning that this is mostly about FDR’s life as an elected official and the balancing act required to get enough support to do what was needed. It was refreshing to read that he had no comprehensive plan to end the depression but relied on instinct. And it might not have worked without the war to stimulate the economy.
If you do read this I highly recommend Harry Truman’s 2volume autobiography or Truman by David McCullough to finish the story. Those two presidents shaped the America we live in, for better or worse. It’s helps to understand why we are where we are. What we can do about it, well that’s another book.
If you do read this I highly recommend Harry Truman’s 2volume autobiography or Truman by David McCullough to finish the story. Those two presidents shaped the America we live in, for better or worse. It’s helps to understand why we are where we are. What we can do about it, well that’s another book.
July 8, 2021
a good comprehensive biography that focusses on the political life of FDR who died in the early part of his 4th term as President and as a result failed to see the end of the war in either Europe or Japan or the establishment of the United Nations that was an essential part of his vision. Without his New Deal it is likely that even today the USA would be a harsher place and if he hadn't been the leader during WW2 it is doubtful that the war would have ended when it did. As a private individual he was seriously flawed but as a politician he was clearly the right man for the times
August 27, 2019
This was an excellent read. The author starts out with a slight warning, suggesting that he's a massive fan of FDR, and I thought "Well, here comes the whitewash," but he provided a warts-and-all bio that's immensely readable.
July 12, 2020
A supremely insightful and intelligent biography of FDR. A must read.
June 5, 2021
I listened to the audiobook version. Admittedly, there were times where I did doze off, so I’m sure some parts are a bit hazy for me, but was still overall really enjoyable.
As usual, with biographies like these, the childhood and early accomplishments of great people fascinate me to no end. I Think it really explains a lot of powerful qualities that would emerge later on in their lives. In the case of FDR, he was proud, cared for achievement, and extremely charismatic. Having been born wealthy and moving around a bit internationally for school, he set a pretty high expectation of himself and those around him. Not being good at sports, no problem, he’ll find another role. He admired his cousin Teddy Roosevelt and joined the marines. He gains political influence working close in the White House and his charm just shows. I think his natural people skills is one of the things that I admire most about FDR. He really has a way of connecting to people as a child and eventually as president, only because he is so careful with his words. The book does show that he does feel lonely sometimes because of it.
One character I grew to really like was Louie Howe, who seemed to be so different from FDR, but has such loyalty, it was insane. He makes me think of Doug Stamper in House of Cards, and his friendship with FDR was something that I really enjoyed listening to.
I was surprised about was his troubles with his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. She was from a good family too, and it seemed like it was good until Roosevelt had his affair. It seemed to do permanent damage to the marriage, and while they stayed together, they couldn’t get as close anymore. Roosevelt had a really tough personal life afterwards, and would write more frequently to his friend Daisy than his own wife. House of Cards also mentioned this in one episode when Frank and Claire were falling out. It makes sense now.
And that’s on top of his physical ailments. What incredible mental fortitude it had to have to serve all those years in office. Time after time, we see how intense the responsibilities of the president really is, yet he still manages to lead the United States through the depression and WW2. Through the complicated controversies of being elected 4 terms. Through the grueling presidential campaigns and showing what a strong president looks like. Through the criticisms of dictatorship. Through international travels and conferences with the other great powers of Russia and England. He had issues with China’s Chang and France’s Dougall. It’s really wild that he was able to get through all of that all while handicapped as he was. I did want to point out that it was neat how he would have all these stressful events and then take days or weeks off to fully relax and let it all go.
The epilogue does a good job painting FDR in both good and bad. He talks about the internment camps of the Japanese during this time, the issues of tyrannical dictatorship, and the questionable benefits of the new deal today. Along with his affairs and other deeds, FDR isn’t perfect. He’s not a man without issues, and it’s important to recognize that. And we also have to acknowledge the impact this man has had in life.
Through listening to this man’s life, I really saw how the times progressed and leveled up. It’s crazy to see the impacts of the world happening told in the perspective of when everything was so uncertain. The author really demonstrates the predicaments and tensions that arose around conservatives, Russia’s Stalin, the campaigns, the anti-war sentiment towards WW2, and so much more. All of these things have such a big impact in the world, and we still live to see it today. This man is wild and has issues, but I respect this man
As usual, with biographies like these, the childhood and early accomplishments of great people fascinate me to no end. I Think it really explains a lot of powerful qualities that would emerge later on in their lives. In the case of FDR, he was proud, cared for achievement, and extremely charismatic. Having been born wealthy and moving around a bit internationally for school, he set a pretty high expectation of himself and those around him. Not being good at sports, no problem, he’ll find another role. He admired his cousin Teddy Roosevelt and joined the marines. He gains political influence working close in the White House and his charm just shows. I think his natural people skills is one of the things that I admire most about FDR. He really has a way of connecting to people as a child and eventually as president, only because he is so careful with his words. The book does show that he does feel lonely sometimes because of it.
One character I grew to really like was Louie Howe, who seemed to be so different from FDR, but has such loyalty, it was insane. He makes me think of Doug Stamper in House of Cards, and his friendship with FDR was something that I really enjoyed listening to.
I was surprised about was his troubles with his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. She was from a good family too, and it seemed like it was good until Roosevelt had his affair. It seemed to do permanent damage to the marriage, and while they stayed together, they couldn’t get as close anymore. Roosevelt had a really tough personal life afterwards, and would write more frequently to his friend Daisy than his own wife. House of Cards also mentioned this in one episode when Frank and Claire were falling out. It makes sense now.
And that’s on top of his physical ailments. What incredible mental fortitude it had to have to serve all those years in office. Time after time, we see how intense the responsibilities of the president really is, yet he still manages to lead the United States through the depression and WW2. Through the complicated controversies of being elected 4 terms. Through the grueling presidential campaigns and showing what a strong president looks like. Through the criticisms of dictatorship. Through international travels and conferences with the other great powers of Russia and England. He had issues with China’s Chang and France’s Dougall. It’s really wild that he was able to get through all of that all while handicapped as he was. I did want to point out that it was neat how he would have all these stressful events and then take days or weeks off to fully relax and let it all go.
The epilogue does a good job painting FDR in both good and bad. He talks about the internment camps of the Japanese during this time, the issues of tyrannical dictatorship, and the questionable benefits of the new deal today. Along with his affairs and other deeds, FDR isn’t perfect. He’s not a man without issues, and it’s important to recognize that. And we also have to acknowledge the impact this man has had in life.
Through listening to this man’s life, I really saw how the times progressed and leveled up. It’s crazy to see the impacts of the world happening told in the perspective of when everything was so uncertain. The author really demonstrates the predicaments and tensions that arose around conservatives, Russia’s Stalin, the campaigns, the anti-war sentiment towards WW2, and so much more. All of these things have such a big impact in the world, and we still live to see it today. This man is wild and has issues, but I respect this man
January 3, 2024
"The journalist Raymond Clapper believed that Roosevelt valued [Harry] Hopkins not just for his administrative skills in managing hundreds of millions of dollars but because he was 'quick, alert, shrewd, bold' and carried things off 'with a bright Hell's bells air or devil-may-care attitude'. Hopkins's offbeat personality also appealed to Roosevelt: His passion for horse racing, where he cultivated friendships with touts; his delight in lowstakes poker games; his hyperactive mannerisms, fueled by gallons of coffee and chain-smoking; and his disheveled appearance, making him a rival to Louis Howe as worst-dressed man in government, made him an unforgettable character. He was brusque, sarcastic,
profane, and a workaholic, and his personal excesses jeopardized his health. [...]
Hopkins felt such urgency about getting relief to the poor that he gave $5 million to state relief agencies during his first two hours as head of FERA. Mineworkers - who, according to John L. Lewis, their union president, subsisted on a diet 'actually below domestic animal standards' - were among the first in line to receive this help. But Hopkins quickly developed a passion to end these payments as strong as his ardor to feed clothe, and house the needy. [...] The mayor of Toledo, Ohio, reinforced his conviction, saying, 'I have seen thousands of these defeated, discouraged, hopeless men and women, cringing and fawning as they come to ask for public aid.'
No one made Hopkins and Roosevelt more aware of indigent suffering than the forty-year-old Lorena Hickok, a former journalist with a brilliant capacity for close-in depth reporting. Born in Wisconsin and raised in the Midwest, Hickok suffered through an unhappy childhood with a father who beat her regularly and maliciously killed the family dog and cat. The misery of living with so violent a parent and her mother's death moved Hick, as most everyone called her, to flee her home at the age of fourteen. [...] Her reporting from the field described the misery of needy people on relief in a way that called FERA's efforts to rescue them. As a consequence, relief administrators and recipients developed an uncomfortable relationship that was not lost on Hopkins. He understood that someone unemployed and destitute had become a social outcast who was 'made to feel his pauperism. Every help which was given him was to be given in a way to intensify his sense of shame' Hopkins concluded: 'I don't think anybody can go year after year, month after month, accepting relief without affecting his character in some way unfavorably. It is probably going to undermine the independence of hundreds of thousands of families. [...] I look upon this as a great disaster.'
As David Kennedy points out, 'The Depression [...] revealed one of the perverse implications of American society's vaunted celebration of individualism. In a culture that ascribed all success to individual striving, it seemed to follow axiomatically that failure was due to individual inadequacy.' To most Americans, then, unemployment was less the product of social ills or a flawed national economy than the personal shortcomings of the men and women who had fallen on
hard times."
profane, and a workaholic, and his personal excesses jeopardized his health. [...]
Hopkins felt such urgency about getting relief to the poor that he gave $5 million to state relief agencies during his first two hours as head of FERA. Mineworkers - who, according to John L. Lewis, their union president, subsisted on a diet 'actually below domestic animal standards' - were among the first in line to receive this help. But Hopkins quickly developed a passion to end these payments as strong as his ardor to feed clothe, and house the needy. [...] The mayor of Toledo, Ohio, reinforced his conviction, saying, 'I have seen thousands of these defeated, discouraged, hopeless men and women, cringing and fawning as they come to ask for public aid.'
No one made Hopkins and Roosevelt more aware of indigent suffering than the forty-year-old Lorena Hickok, a former journalist with a brilliant capacity for close-in depth reporting. Born in Wisconsin and raised in the Midwest, Hickok suffered through an unhappy childhood with a father who beat her regularly and maliciously killed the family dog and cat. The misery of living with so violent a parent and her mother's death moved Hick, as most everyone called her, to flee her home at the age of fourteen. [...] Her reporting from the field described the misery of needy people on relief in a way that called FERA's efforts to rescue them. As a consequence, relief administrators and recipients developed an uncomfortable relationship that was not lost on Hopkins. He understood that someone unemployed and destitute had become a social outcast who was 'made to feel his pauperism. Every help which was given him was to be given in a way to intensify his sense of shame' Hopkins concluded: 'I don't think anybody can go year after year, month after month, accepting relief without affecting his character in some way unfavorably. It is probably going to undermine the independence of hundreds of thousands of families. [...] I look upon this as a great disaster.'
As David Kennedy points out, 'The Depression [...] revealed one of the perverse implications of American society's vaunted celebration of individualism. In a culture that ascribed all success to individual striving, it seemed to follow axiomatically that failure was due to individual inadequacy.' To most Americans, then, unemployment was less the product of social ills or a flawed national economy than the personal shortcomings of the men and women who had fallen on
hard times."
March 22, 2018
This is a solid and enjoyable one-volume biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but it is written without much styistic flair, and the citations are rudimentary. At a few places in the book, I found myself thinking, ‘oh, that’s a nice touch - that anecdote really offers an insight’ and so looked up the notes to see where it came from - and repeatedly, the cite referenced other, earlier books by Dallek on FDR, Lyndon Johnson, or American foreign policy. I have to think this work, which the author admits relies heavily on secondary sources, does not reflect the full quality of Dallek’s signature books.
One challenge in the book’s composition is that while there are through-themes in the narrative, they don’t drive the structure. Once Roosevelt is elected President, the main narrative is chopped up chronologically, so within each nine to twelve month period, a chapter tours domestic issues, then foreign issues, with a paragraph or two for each. Two themes receive a lot of emphasis: Roosevelt’s reliance on a number of women (other than his wife Eleanor) for companionship and emotional support, especially Margaret ‘Daisy’ Suckley, whose letters and diaries are quoted extensively; and Roosevelt’s failing health across his Presidency, but especially during his third and final terms in office. Dallek doesn’t raise the question of whether Roosevelt could have lived longer had he retired after one or two terms, but he does argue that Roosevelt kept pushing himself past his capacity out of a sense that he owed the nation nothing less.
The book is subtitled ‘a political life’, and Roosevelt’s certainly was; but that’s not actually Dallek’s main lens. There are a lot of political figures, of course, but not a lot of context or background, and very little focus on the ways Roosevelt changed party politics or communications. There’s also little here on how Roosevelt processed the actual administrative work of the presidency, apart from the consistent habit of surrounding himself with advisors and cabinet seretaries with differing views, and then telling them contradictory things. Rather, this is more of an intimate biography - what happened to Roosevelt himself, who he had around him, what he knew versus what he said, and why. Once the story reaches World War II, all domestic issues except isolationism recede very far into the background of Dallek’s narrative. One strand that I really wondered about, and is almost entirely absent, is how Roosevelt worked with Harry Truman, and the extent to which he prepared him to take over after the President’s death.
In sum, this book was interesting, and - since I hadn’t previously read a biography of FDR - filled up my head with a lot of useful and logically organized facts; but it’s hard to imagine this will be regarded as the definitive one volume biography of FDR.
One challenge in the book’s composition is that while there are through-themes in the narrative, they don’t drive the structure. Once Roosevelt is elected President, the main narrative is chopped up chronologically, so within each nine to twelve month period, a chapter tours domestic issues, then foreign issues, with a paragraph or two for each. Two themes receive a lot of emphasis: Roosevelt’s reliance on a number of women (other than his wife Eleanor) for companionship and emotional support, especially Margaret ‘Daisy’ Suckley, whose letters and diaries are quoted extensively; and Roosevelt’s failing health across his Presidency, but especially during his third and final terms in office. Dallek doesn’t raise the question of whether Roosevelt could have lived longer had he retired after one or two terms, but he does argue that Roosevelt kept pushing himself past his capacity out of a sense that he owed the nation nothing less.
The book is subtitled ‘a political life’, and Roosevelt’s certainly was; but that’s not actually Dallek’s main lens. There are a lot of political figures, of course, but not a lot of context or background, and very little focus on the ways Roosevelt changed party politics or communications. There’s also little here on how Roosevelt processed the actual administrative work of the presidency, apart from the consistent habit of surrounding himself with advisors and cabinet seretaries with differing views, and then telling them contradictory things. Rather, this is more of an intimate biography - what happened to Roosevelt himself, who he had around him, what he knew versus what he said, and why. Once the story reaches World War II, all domestic issues except isolationism recede very far into the background of Dallek’s narrative. One strand that I really wondered about, and is almost entirely absent, is how Roosevelt worked with Harry Truman, and the extent to which he prepared him to take over after the President’s death.
In sum, this book was interesting, and - since I hadn’t previously read a biography of FDR - filled up my head with a lot of useful and logically organized facts; but it’s hard to imagine this will be regarded as the definitive one volume biography of FDR.
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