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Roosevelt's Centurions
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Q&A WITH JOSEPH (SPOILER THREAD)
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Question: How do you think FDR saw war? How did his viewpoint evolve over his lifetime? Did his time during WWI have a profound impact on him?
Bentley wrote: "Interesting answer Joe - thank you."Bentley, I am just testing to see if Selby's cure works. Apparently it does
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Question: Could you tell us what brought you to examine FDR as a military leader?
Question:How would you compare the way FDR operated in his role as Commander in Chief to subsequent Presidents? Was he more hands-on than those who came after him? Has the nature of war changed so dramatically that we are likely to see someone as involved as FDR was?
Question:How much influence do you think Roosevelt's experience of being an Undersecretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration had on his behavior towards Japan and their ability to strike Hawaii from carriers. Was Roosevelt a big ship man or was he in favor of carriers and air power.
Joe (Mr. Persico), it’s known that FDR, who lacked an architectural background, drove some of the military officials crazy as he tried to alter the design of the Pentagon construction.To the chagrin of Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR found the map room to be overly fascinating. Certainly he was viewing the big picture and the ships on the sea must have really drawn his attention.
Question: Do you feel that FDR was also looking at the map as a chess board and as commander-in-chief determining intricate strategy moves?
Question: Could you give a reason why the all the bombers were not moved out of Formosa to Clark Field?
Mr. Persico,Question:
Given Robert McCormicks nearly disastrous disclosure of information gathered through sigint re: Midway to the Chicago Tribune do you feel comfortable discussing the Snowden situation in that context? If yes, could you share your thoughts? Thank You.
G, don't forget to add Question: in front of your question so that the author knows that is a specific question for him.Thanks.
Bryan wrote: "Question: How do you think FDR saw war? How did his viewpoint evolve over his lifetime? Did his time during WWI have a profound impact on him?"We do know this. FDR's insistence on unconditional surrender to terminate the war did grow out of his WWI experience. He was a great friend and admirer of General Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in that war. Pershing had opposed the negotiated armistice that ended WWI and warned that the Germans would come roaring back and have to be fought all over again. FDR wanted to make sure that this would not happen again. Hence, he demanded unconditional surrender over a negotiated end.
Bryan wrote: "Question: Could you tell us what brought you to examine FDR as a military leader?"Roosevelt was the only president I knew when I was growing up. Hence, I followed closely all the war news as he lead the country during WWII. As a writer subsequently, I wrote two books on FDR before I wrote Roosevelt's centurions. Those projects quickened my curiosity as to how well he performed as commander in chief.
Alisa wrote: "Question:How would you compare the way FDR operated in his role as Commander in Chief to subsequent Presidents? Was he more hands-on than those who came after him? Has the nature of war changed s..."Every president is commander in chief under the constitution. But FDR was in one fact as well as in law. He seized the levers of military control as no president since Lincoln in the Civil War. Not only did he choose the commanders to fight WWII war, but he kept in his hands the top strategic decisions, which I explore in my book, Roosevelt's Centurions.
Christopher wrote: "Question:Why wasn't any inquiry ordered after MacArthur's command failed to protect the planes on the ground in the Philippines? Was it because Pearl Harbor scapegoats were already being pegged o..."
There was not the slightest doubt in FDR's mind about the arrogance and hubris of Douglas MacArthur. The President had first retained MacArthur as Army chief of staff when he became President in 1933. And though MacArthur was caught almost as flatfooted in the Philippines as the commanders at Pearl Harbor, I conclude that FDR weighed the merits of sacking MacArthur versus the general's military sagacity and strong popular acclaim. Hence, rather than have MacArthur rot in the Philippines, he rescued him and gave him command of the South West Pacific theater of war.
Clayton wrote: "Question:How much influence do you think Roosevelt's experience of being an Undersecretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration had on his behavior towards Japan and their ability to strike H..."
Clayton wrote: "Question:
How much influence do you think Roosevelt's experience of being an Undersecretary of the Navy in the Wilson administration had on his behavior towards Japan and their ability to strike H..."
FDR was a keen student of history and well aware that the Japanese success against the Russian fleet in the Russo-Japanese War had been sparked by a sneak attack. As December 7, 1941 approsched, FDR fully expected a Japanese attack somewhere, but had no firm knowledge of Pearl Harbor which General Marshal assured him was impregnable. As for carriers versus big ships, the President early backed air power whether by land or sea and he had to push his Navy chief, Admiral King, into producing fast light carriers, CVEs.
Mark wrote: "Joe (Mr. Persico), it’s known that FDR, who lacked an architectural background, drove some of the military officials crazy as he tried to alter the design of the Pentagon construction.To the chag..."
FDR was fascinated by maps from boyhood. When he essentially launched an undeclared war in the Atlantic prior to Pearl Harbor, he called in his key advisors went over his Atlas with them and redrew the ocean. This was an exercise that astonishingly led him to place Greenland and Iceland in the Western Hemisphere!In the Pacific campaign, he studied the maps with his Navy chief, Admiral King, in deciding that Guadalcanal was to be the first step in the island hopping campaign in the Pacific.
Bryan wrote: "Question: Could you give a reason why the all the bombers were not moved out of Formosa to Clark Field?"I'm afraid this question is above my pay grade. I think you will have to find your answer in histories specializing in the air war in the Pacific.
G wrote: "Mr. Persico,Question:
Given Robert McCormick's nearly disastrous disclosure of information gathered through sigint re: Midway to the Chicago Tribune do you feel comfortable discussing the Snowden..."
I think here we have a question of scale. McCormick's reports essentially revealing that we were breaking the Japanese codes could have had disastrous results in the midst of the War. Fortunately, FDR chose not to nail McCormick in order to protect the coding secret. As for Snowden, I think that his revelation that the NSA was monitoring phone and e-mail traffic was hardly a surprise to either our friends or foes, in the category of the news story, "Dog Bites Man."
Joe (Mr. Persico) it was certainly a credit to your qualifications and reputation that you were given the opportunity to co-write "My American Journey", the life of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Question:As you were briefly a Naval officer how did you come to pen the story of such a distinguished four-star general of the Army?
by Colin Powell (no photo) & Joseph E Persico (no photo)
Although President Wilson did not have a military background he maintained a strong relationship with Secretary of the Navy Joseph Daniels. When America entered the First World War, Army General John Pershing, appointed commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, did not wish to have the Marines fight in France. Wilson’s Secretary of War Newton Baker, overruled Pershing and one brigade of Marines was allowed to actively fight. It appears to me that from the time U.S. troops hit France until his term ended in peacetime, Wilson relinquished much of his role as commander-in-chief.Question: How would you compare Wilson as commander-in-chief, handling the commanders and generals in the First World War to that of FDR as commander-in-chief, handling the commanders and generals in the Second World War?
Mark wrote: "Joe (Mr. Persico) it was certainly a credit to your qualifications and reputation that you were given the opportunity to co-write "My American Journey", the life of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Po..."Mark wrote: "Joe (Mr. Persico) it was certainly a credit to your qualifications and reputation that you were given the opportunity to co-write "My American Journey", the life of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Po..."
Mark wrote: "Joe (Mr. Persico) it was certainly a credit to your qualifications and reputation that you were given the opportunity to co-write "My American Journey", the life of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Po..."
I'm afraid my naval credentials are slim and old. Three years as a LTJG during the Korean War. But I became curious about General Powell as soon as he emerged as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs in the first Gulf War. He had a book contract for his life story. He wanted a collaborator. We met and hit it off. Working with Colin Powell turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my writing career.
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Mark wrote: "Although President Wilson did not have a military background he maintained a strong relationship with Secretary of the Navy Joseph Daniels. When America entered the First World War, Army General Jo..."Wilson was no where near involved as was FDR in dealing with the top commanders.
Joe (Mr. Persico) your latest book “Roosevelt’s Centurions” is fantastic. I know completing such a fully researched project is exhilarating yet exhausting. Question: Are you working on another manuscript? If not, with your background I would encourage you to pick another great subject and whip out a creative less intense 250-300 page offering.
I agree with you Joe about Wilson's lack of involvement in the military arena during WWI. This leads me to:Question: Which president(s) did FDR model his approach after in his relationships with his top commanders?
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Question: What factors helped lead to such a strong base of American military leadership during World War II? It seems like the United States had more top-notch military leadership during WW II compared to any previous time in American history (although perhaps you feel there were more great leaders either during the Civil War or even Mexican-American War?) But compared to the next two wars in Korea and Vietnam, American military leadership was certainly more top-heavy with great generals in Europe and the Pacific front. Do you feel there were reasons this was the case?
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Bryan wrote: "I agree with you Joe about Wilson's lack of involvement in the military arena during WWI. This leads me to:Question: Which president(s) did FDR model his approach after in his relationships with..."
I don't know that FDR did this consciously, but he was a fairly serious student of the Civil War in which Abe Lincoln had been a hands on commander in chief, appointing and dealing with top leaders. Roosevelt did the same thing, personally involving himself in the selection of generals and admirals and making the major strategic decisions, for example, designating Nazi Germany as the chief enemy, demanding unconditional surrender, going into North Africa and Italy before attacking across the English Channel, the latter questionable strategies.
Craig wrote: "Question: What factors helped lead to such a strong base of American military leadership during World War II? It seems like the United States had more top-notch military leadership during WW II co..."In part the quality of military leadership in WW II may have been partly chance. How do we explain the simultaneous ,unsurpassed emergence of statesmen among the founding fathers at the nation's creation? Also, compared to subsequent wars, the second world war was an all consuming patriotic crusade which pushed more talent to the surface.
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Yes, the USA was really fighting to maintain not only its democracy but the world's and it was a deeply personal war - it really mattered. When things matter - I think the cream rises to the top and people step forward who might not otherwise have gotten involved. The quality of the founding fathers who stepped forward is quite similar to the talent of the folks who stepped up during the Second World War when you think about it. I have enjoyed your responses to the questions asked.
Joe, thank you so much for taking time to answer questions. Much appreciated.Question: In your chapter title "The Home Front" you talk about racial segregation in the military as well as the evolution of the women's auxillary corp and service. We know that there was civilian involvement in supporting the war effort, such as gas rationing, saving of scrap metal, and the increase of women laborers entering the workforce in the manufacturing trades. To what extent were these other initiatives the brainchild of FDR, and how much or how little involvement did he have in supporting these efforts?
Alisa wrote: "Joe, thank you so much for taking time to answer questions. Much appreciated.Question: In your chapter title "The Home Front" you talk about racial segregation in the military as well as the ev..."
I can't swear to FDR's personal involvement in every one of the detailed efforts you mention. But in my book, I do describe him as the nation's "Morale Officer" and on the big morale issues, his hand is evident, most notably in his creating the GI bill well before the War was won. It was also FDR who recognized the power of the famous flag rising on Iwo Jima and brought back the survivors to promote war bond sales. And he kept major league baseball alive, even though the standout players were mostly in uniform, because he recognized the morale value of the great American pastime.
Question: Out of all the archives you visited, which one was the best organized and easiest to use?
Bryan wrote: "Question: Out of all the archives you visited, which one was the best organized and easiest to use?"Clearly the FDR Library at Hyde Park, NY. Perhaps because it is smaller than others and because it is dealing with one figure, the collection is easily accessible and the service is skilled and personal.
Thank you. I visited that library and it is a great place.
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My American Journey (other topics)Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918 (other topics)
Masters and Commanders: The Military Geniuses Who Led the West to Victory in World War II (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Colin Powell (other topics)Joseph E. Persico (other topics)
Andrew Roberts (other topics)
Steven Pinker (other topics)
Joseph E. Persico (other topics)
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Jun 15, 2013 04:35pm
Joe, it appears that the United States may have hastened the bombing at Pearl Harbor with a series of policy decisions which left the Japanese high and dry - 1) advising the British not to renew their agreement w/Japan 2) cutting off oil 3) stopping the sale of scrap metal 4) thwarting their attempts to expand in order to have their own natural resources.
Question:
Did FDR himself bring about Pearl Harbor with his previous decisions?
Persico Replies (via Bentley)
It may be going too far to suggest that FDR’s provocations toward Japan made Pearl Harbor inevitable. Their determination to establish the Greater East Asia Co Prosperity sphere across the Pacific, (which required driving the U.S. out) would have gone forward anyway. But FDR’s decisions certainly rationalized the Japanese decision to strike Pearl Harbor, for example, the fact that FDR swept China swept in as a a recipient of military aid through Lend Lease.
FDR had a very cavalier approach about decision making; it seemed the right approach when we were in the thick of it - but strategically he seemed to be off target with foreign policy decisions.
Question:
Do you think he was more impressed with himself and his foreign policy prowess than he should have been?
Persico Replies (via Bentley):
Doesn’t every President, though FDR in his major geopolitical decisions (for example about the U.S. having to be involved in the War in order to save Western democracy) seems to justify his confidence in himself.
Sometimes I feel when reading your book that FDR was careless with people and took risks for himself and others that maybe were not prudent or presidential. He certainly would not have gotten away with them in this day and age and with this media.
Question:
What made FDR so successful politically during this time period and how successful would he be today if he ran for president?
Persico Replies (via Bentley)
FDR in my judgment was successful politically during the War because, in addition to being Recruiter in Chief of top military talent, and Strategist in Chief by holding the major military decisions in his hands, was a magnificent Morale Officer, making clear in his Day of Infamy speech that victory was inevitable, by bringing the people into the fray through his fireside chats, and posing visionary ideas like the GI Bill.