Behind the Ballots: The Personal History of a Politician

by James A. Farley

Book by Farley, James A.

392 pages, Hardcover

Reviews

[Roberta Havel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 4.5 stars. This book is fascinating. Political operatives in any and every era need to read this book. Believe me, they would learn a lot about courting the electorate and political officials.

Jim Farley was brilliant at the political game and he worked with the master of the 20th century. This book is a must read for politicians and students of FDR.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Farley must have been something like an early version of Carl Rove. Farley was FDRs early political consultant along aide Louis Howe. Farley stepped into the spotlight after Howe’s success at masterminding FDR into the White House followed by his death early in the FDR presidential era. Farley’s arrogance jumps off the pages of this vanity book. In fairness there are some good life and politics lessons in this book and it is worthwhile to read but you may come away from the experience thinking Farley was a self promoting buffoon. From my quick read on Wiki, i think Franklin and Eleanor also got to the point by about 1940 where they had enough of Mr. James Farley. JIM

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating political memoir. A rare, in-the-thick-of-it, view of FDR and the political world around him.