The Coming of the New Deal 1933-35

The Age of Roosevelt #2

by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

The Coming of the New Deal, 1933-1935, volume two of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.’s Age of Roosevelt series, describes Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first tumultuous years in the White House. Coming into office at the bottom of the Great Depression, FDR told the American people that they have nothing to fear but fear itself. The conventional wisdom having failed, he tried unorthodox remedies to avert economic collapse. His first hundred days restored national morale, and his New Dealers filled Washington with new approaches to recovery and reform. Combining idealistic ends with realistic means, Roosevelt proposed to humanize, redeem, and rescue capitalism. The Coming of the New Deal, written with Schlesinger’s customary verve, is a gripping account of critical years in the history of the republic.

Genres: History, American History, Politics, Nonfiction, Biography, Presidents, Us Presidents

688 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1958

About the author

Arthur Meier Schlesinger Jr., born Arthur Bancroft Schlesinger, was a Pulitzer Prize recipient and American historian and social critic whose work explored the liberalism of American political leaders including Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. He served as special assistant and "court historian" to President Kennedy from 1961 to 1963. He wrote a detailed account of the Kennedy Administration, from the transition period to the president's state funeral, titled A Thousand Days. In 1968, he actively supported the presidential campaign of Senator Robert F. Kennedy until Kennedy's assassination in the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968, and wrote the biography Robert Kennedy and His Times several years later.

He popularized the term "imperial presidency" during the Nixon administration by writing the book The Imperial Presidency.

His father was also a well-known historian.

Reviews

[Brian Eshleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In drug a little bit for a non-policy wonk. I expected Best in the Brightest, Stateside connecting personalities with policy trends. I got some of that, especially at the end, but too much of the book for my taste was the push back and forth on various policy details.

[Stefania Dzhanamova · Rating 5 out of 5]

While The Crisis of the Old Order describes the importance of reigning leadership such as FDR’s in the USA during the economic crash of 1929, The Coming of the New Deal shows how during Roosevelt’s first term, the American people began to respond to the crisis. The events cover the period between 1933 and 1934, but sometimes, the author seems it appropriate to continue the stories until later.

1933 was a presidential year. Governors Franklin Delano Roosevelt of New York was seeking the Democratic nomination. In his opinion, economic orthodoxy had been tried and failed, and the country demanded bold presidential experimentation.

When FDR won the nomination, however, not everyone was impressed. Journalist Walter Lippmann dismissed him as “a pleasant man who, without any important qualifications for the office, would very much like to be President”. Yet, Roosevelt won the election and his inaugural address electrified the nation.

Sending the Agricultural Adjustment Act to Capitol Hill, he warned Congress that the path he’d chosen was untrod. The Great Depression provided ideas and experimenters for experimentation. Thoughtful men and women analyzed where exactly the New Era has gone wrong and were eager for public service.

In his work, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. presents well-done sketches of many vigorous personalities from FDR’s supporting cast, who brought excitement and color to Washington. Harry Hopkins, Felix Frankfurter, Adolfe Berle, Frances Perkins, and others are described with all their contributions, defeats, and victories, and their impact on those agitated times is interestingly explained. Some of them Schlesinger has had the luck to even interview.

The first hundred days of FDR’s presidency were filled with intense drama, and under the pressure of national crisis, the President came into his own by combining eloquent idealism with sharp realism.

In the last part of the book, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. thoroughly analyzes Roosevelt’s administrative philosophy. The President was more interested in creativity then consensus; he encouraged rivalry and competition in his administration, and kept everyone on his or her toes, thus receiving diverse information. His administrative style went against the textbook principles of order and regularity, but it worked for him. As one of his budget directors wryly observed, FDR was “an artist in government.”

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. has created an impressive – both in style and content – second book in the series. Five stars.

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a come down from the brilliant first value

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://bestpresidentialbios.com/2016...

Published in 1958, "The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal (1933-1935)" is the second of three volumes in Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s series on FDR. Originally projected to consist of four volumes, Schlesinger never completed the series after being appointed Special Assistant to President Kennedy in 1961. Schlesinger was a well-known historian, social critic and prominent Democra. He died in 2007 at the age of 89.

This second volume picks up where the first ended - with FDR's inauguration as president in 1933. The first volume painted a detailed portrait of the political, economic and social backdrop from which FDR emerged as a national leader. This volume covers the first two years of his presidency in extraordinary detail, a period Roosevelt devoted almost completely to combating the Great Depression.

For the most part this volume proceeds topically; readers who prefer a chronological progression may be occasionally distressed by the discontinuous timeline. But given the relatively brief period of time under coverage there is little reason for concern. The book is well organized and distinct chapters are allocated to topics such as farm policy, industrial revitalization and labor issues.

But like the first volume in this series, this book proves far less a biography of FDR than an examination of his era. His New Deal legislative program is dissected in remarkable detail and analyzed with a very discerning eye. But for long stretches Roosevelt rarely, or never, appears.

Nevertheless, at its best this volume is truly awesome. In spite of Schlesinger's distinct "progressive" tendencies there is much of value to be absorbed by readers of any political persuasion. But there is so much detail on each component of the New Deal that it is easy to lose sight of the ebb-and-flow of the Depression itself - and of the efficacy of the programs designed to mitigate its impact.

Readers hoping to see the crisis through the president's eyes or to watch him in action will be disappointed. Rather than witnessing his deft handling of the economic crisis up close, readers see Roosevelt more as the "man behind the curtain." Chapters on the TVA and the CCC, however, were particularly interesting and Schlesinger sprinkles illuminating introductions to many of Roosevelt's colleagues (such as William Woodin, Henry Wallace and Cordell Hull) throughout the book.

But Schlesinger saves the best for last; the final four chapters are by far the best of the book. Unlike the previous thirty-one chapters, these are almost entirely focused on Roosevelt: his approach to the office, his daily routine, his likes and dislikes, his eccentricities and many of his foibles. His personality is more fully fleshed-out and and his early actions as president make sense within the context of his finally-revealed character. These pages are long overdue but well worth the wait.

Overall, Arthur Schlesinger's "The Age of Roosevelt: The Coming of the New Deal (1933-1935)" is an outstanding review of FDR's New Deal but an unsatisfactory biography of FDR. As a detailed review of the legislative accomplishments and failures of the first two years of Roosevelt's presidency this book shines. But as an examination of the man himself, or just of his early presidency, this volume is far from ideal.

Overall rating: 3½ stars

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a different book this was from the first volume. That had some narrative, big-picture sweep while I felt buried under details of monetary and trade policy, etc.

Note: Do NOT buy the Kindle version. It is shamefully done-scanned, OCR'ed and then not proofread.

[AskHistorians]

Second volume in the Age of Roosevelt series by Schlesinger. A classic study of the New Deal.

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and well-written history.

[Laura Schewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most inspiring and instructive books I've read in years. Not only does it give accurate histories of the origins of some pretty important legislation that still exists (though is for the most part, used in drastically different ways than was originally intended), but it gives not one, but dozens of portraits of change: who was defeated, who overcame, who argued, who decided, how it was supported/denigrated/ignored, how long it took...

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Coming of the New Deal is the second of Schlesinger's three-volume set about FDR. In it he describes how Roosevelt boosted morale during his first 100 days in office and then assembled an administration that used novel approaches to achieve reform and recovery. It's a very long book and there's endless detail about policy as well as the dynamics between the various players as they tried to advance their agendas. Many parallels between New Deal legislation/policy and Obama's proposals.

[Colby Woodis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here ASJr offers a fascinating perspective of FDR’s New Deal a short 15 years after it was implemented. His attention to detail is incredible, and I was able to learn so much from his retelling of this pivotal time in history.

Especially interesting was his structure of the book. Logically, I would have thought the last section would have been better suited at the beginning of this book, but knowing that this is the second installment of a three part project maybe ASJr is setting the reader up for the last book.

I also tried to read this book with the lens of a late 50s American. I wish more exposition would have been offered on the groundwork laid for the rise of Labor and the burgeoning CRM.

Overall, a top notch read from a critical mind. This is essential reading for anyone hoping to gain a greater understanding of the beginning of FDR’s presidency, especially in light of the “Crisis of the Old Order.”

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book. Especially looking back at it at this point in history. But I really want to highlight one of the badass women of the New Deal that I knew very little about before reading this book....

Frances Perkins, FDR appointed her Secretary of Labor in 1933 and she served from 1933 to 1945, the longest to serve in that position, and first woman ever appointed to the US Cabinet.

"Before accepting appointment, she laid before Roosevelt an extensive agenda, including unemployment and old age insurance, minimum wages and maximum hours; and he told her to go ahead."

I just feel like we need to give this woman credit for our current labor laws that allow us to have weekends, over time pay, and health insurance when we grow old.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted this to be my FDR read. Unfortunately I've parked the book (and the series). To much peripheral detail. Not enough on the man himself. I also did not realize the series does not include the war years. That said, if you're looking for a better understanding about the run up to and the challenges of implementing the New Deal (and related federal policies) this book may be for you.

[Grindy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is interesting to read about the heroic efforts to rescue a depressed America in the first 100 days of an administration while the dismantling of the country takes place in real time. Solid history that still holds up and is also a lively read.

[Daniel Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely magnificent presentation in a very detailed way of this Roosevelt period by this brilliant Harvard professor and JFK brain truster.

[Arnold T. Blostein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Probably the best book written about Roosevelt and that period of time. It is so thorough and so enjoyable to read.

[Dave Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read anything by Arthur Schlesinger you know you are digging in for a detailed book. This one is no exception. It tracks through FDR's promise that the American people have nothing to fear but fear itself upon taking office. We get a detailed account of how he had to prevent further economic collapse near the end of the depression. If you are a history buff, I recommend this book.

[Aaron Million · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schlesinger's second volume of the Roosevelt administration, focusing on the New Deal and FDR's first two years in office. Schlesinger covers much of the important agencies and programs instituted by the New Deal: AAA, NRA, SEC, and Social Security specifically. He also delves into the personalities and issues behind the 1933 London Economic Council, that ultimately resulted in a lot of talk and finger pointing by countries at each other.

Schlesinger gives brief biographies of many of the important characters in FDR's administration: Henry Wallace, Hugh Johnson, Raymond Moley, Harry Hopkins, Rexford Tugwell, Joseph Kennedy, Donald Richberg, Harold Ickes, Frances Perkins, and Cordell Hull. He also talks about how they interacted with each other - the cabinet rivalries and battle for authority and quest for FDR's attention.

The narrative does bog down a bit during segments on economic and labor policy, and the in-fighting between the various labor unions like the UMW and the AFL. Schlesinger's strength is in fleshing out the personality conflicts between the opposing leaders.

He concludes with a part about the return of the Right and their anti-FDR vehemence, and the final several chapters are about FDR himself - his management style, personality, primary interests, and skills as a politician. I think that these two segments, along with the earlier one on the London Economic Council, are the best parts of the book. Schlesinger talks about how FDR initially tried to court business leaders, but many of them - and especially most of the newspaper publishers - were admantly against the New Deal and several of them made (sometimes veiled) accusations that his Administration was Communistic or Socialistic in intent.

Schlesinger concludes the book by discussing the various benefits and pitfalls of FDR's management style, and how he never really let his guard down or let anyone get too close to him. Even people that had known him and worked with or for him for decades could not ever really know his thinking or accurately predict what he would do about a certain issue. FDR, in the end, was affable and friendly to almost everyone while remaining an enigma throughout his life.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the midst of incessant FDR-Obama media buzz on the advent of Obama's inauguration, I felt compelled to learn more about FDR's famous first "Hundred Days" and the formation of the New Deal. I don't think I could have picked a better reference. Though a hefty volume, it is organized into sensible chapters and further broken into easily-digestible topics. Colorful dialogue and intriguing vignettes lend zest to the driest of subjects. (Imagine J.P. Morgan's surprise when a midget was sprung onto his lap for a photograph during a congressional hearing!)

Indeed, it was easy to draw parallels between the economic philosophy of the Hoover administration and that of the Bush administration, and there appears to be much in common between FDR's policies and Obama's promises. Aside from the amusement of drawing comparisons between past and present, I found many interesting facts and ideas which had somehow previously escaped me. For instance, it is very possible (and was widely believed) that the U.S. was on the verge of a Communist revolution prior to the New Deal. It is also noteworthy that racism was (and possibly still is) one of the greatest challenges against efforts to organize labor and distribute public assistance to those in need.

If history does repeat itself, I'll have familiarized myself with an important piece of the script; if nothing else, I had the pleasure of reading another good book!

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second volume in this series is quite good, especially for someone who is interested in the wonkier policy aspects of the New Deal. There's a lot of depth as this covers a ton of different areas where they were trying some pretty bold new policies in the effort to drag the US out of the Great Depression into a new and stable paradigm. You've got everything from banking, monetary, trade, labor, industrial, environmental, and securities policy going on here, along with various attempts at foreign policy and Schlesinger assumes that all of them are equally interesting. (they're probably not, but I appreciate the egalitarian aspect of it)

There's a lot of similarities to this and Caro's LBJ Saga in that it's as much history as it is biography and the actual events of the times are almost as important as the political moves. But there's two crucial differences: 1) Caro's narrative is much more strongly focused around LBJ, whereas in much of this FDR is in the background as dynamic other officials take the fore; 2) This doesn't have the overwhelming contempt for the subject that Caro has for LBJ. Schlesinger is a much more forgiving chronicler, and while FDR isn't immune to criticism it's a lighter touch.

It's an interesting read, and the fact that it was published less than 15b years after FDR's death gives it an interesting level of immediacy that adds something interesting to it and makes of for any lost dispassion that might be in the pages.

[Brian Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The complete overview and through analysis of the New Deal's first wave. Immediately after being sworn in, FDR takes immediate action. Instituting a systematic overhaul of the governmental oversight of the economic aspects of society, FDR sorts out the banking system and puts people back to work by creating government jobs. Restoring confidence through his public relations and his deft administrative handling of his staff, cabinet, and Congress, FDR was one of the most successful "accomplishers" ever to inhabit the Oval Office. If you want the complete story on the first years of the New Deal, and are a stout reader, this book is complete and definitive. Fascinating.

[Ldrutman Drutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schlesinger, as always, is a delightful raconteur of history, full of real characters and entertainingly elucidating snippets. It's helpful to be reminded of the "New Deal" was a time of chaos and relentless experimentations (some of which failed miserably) -- particularly as history has now presented us with yet another unprecedented precipice.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitive synopsis of the new deal from the definitive liberal establishment historian of the 20th century. offers unique insight into the philosophical world view that drove the new deal. provides a blueprint of sorts for the thinking behind johnson's great society in the 60s and obama's welfare state today.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is serious history rather than an amusing overview (as some of my books are.) revelatory for me anyway, so many New Deal things we are proud of as a nation to this day, were initially seen as so chancy, crazy and even bad ideas.

[Cws]

973.00

[Jim Talbott]

First 100 days is exhilarating, but it can be some serious tough going from there on out.