In the Shadow of FDR: From Harry Truman to Barack Obama

by William E. Leuchtenburg

From review of previous editions: "In the Shadow of FDR shrewdly sets forth the special cruelty of the dilemma Roosevelt's successors have all faced: 'If he did not walk in FDR's footsteps, he ran a risk of having it said that he was not a Roosevelt but a Hoover. Yet to the extent that he did copy FDR, he lost any chance of marking out his own claim to recognition.'"―New York Times Book Review "A stimulating and original survey of the political impact of Franklin D. Roosevelt's image on his successors in the White House. Truman was resentful, Eisenhower suffered (in liberal eyes) by invidious comparison, Kennedy was ambivalent, Johnson celebratory, Nixon strangely admiring, Carter shallow in his use of FDR symbolism, and Reagan the first to turn his back on the New Deal."―Foreign Affairs "William E. Leuchtenburg's close examination of FDR's presidential legatees has enabled him to demonstrate Roosevelt's enormous beyond-the-grave influence. In the Shadow of FDR is a fine, perceptive work that constitutes a valuable coda for New Deal studies. Several pertinent insights help to contribute to discussions of the role of personalities in politics. This book is a refreshing contribution to studies of the presidency."―American Historical Review A ghost has inhabited the Oval Office since 1945―the ghost of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR's formidable presence has cast a large shadow on the occupants of that office in the years since his death, and an appreciation of his continuing influence remains essential to understanding the contemporary presidency. This new edition of In the Shadow of FDR has been updated to examine the presidency of George W. Bush and the first 100 days of the presidency of Barack Obama. The Obama presidency is evidence not just of the continuing relevance of FDR for assessing executive power but also of the salience of FDR's name in party politics and policy formulation.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

456 pages, Paperback

Published January 15, 2010

About the author

William Edward Leuchtenburg was an American historian who was the William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a leading scholar of the life and career of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Reviews

[Gilda Felt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps being a bit biased, I didn’t believe that any of these men could not but be overshadowed by FDR before I read the book. Reading it has only reinforced my opinion. We’re given a term by term review of each succeeding presidency. A few of the men come close to fulfilling the promise of “another FDR.” But, truthfully, many of the men are lessened in my eyes because of the way they either try to denigrate FDR’s accomplishments, or, almost as bad, pretend that they are no longer relevant.

I think FDR said it best. “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” That’s the standard that those who came after should try to meet. Too often, as been so glaringly shown in the present, we elect someone who doesn’t even try.

All Americans’ lives are better because of FDR. And we still live with many of the things he accomplished. Social Security, minimum wage (even if it hasn’t kept up with the cost of living,) the many parks and buildings constructed by the CCC, to name a few. It seems a fool’s errand to try to surpass all that, especially in 100 days. Perhaps we should stop making them try. It’s been almost a hundred years since FDR was first elected. No one has yet stepped out of that shadow.

[Chris Leuchtenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracing the various ways in which the memory and myth of FDR influenced, constrained, bedeviled and motivated the following presidents is an unusual and fruitful way to assess a presidency. Filled with juicy quotes and surprising revelations (the chapters on Republican presidents like Reagan and conservative Democrats like Carter and Clinton are the most interesting) this book goes beyond presidential considerations and actually provides a history of American liberalism or federal government activism in the twentieth century.