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One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily read by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Kudlinski brings Franklin Delano Roosevelt to life.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born into a life of comfort --- one could almost say a life of luxury. He had a beautiful home, was tutored privately, had a pony to ride and a boat to sail, and went on European vacations. His mother had very definite ideas as to how she wanted her son to live his life, and her word was very much the law in the Roosevelt household. Franklin went to a prestigious boarding school and then on to Harvard, just as his parents wished.

It was only when he was in his twenties that he began to assert his independence. He decided that he wanted to marry the niece of the great "Teddy" Roosevelt, a relative and former President of the United States. "Mother" was not pleased with his choice but Franklin insisted.

Franklin had just begun his political career when he was struck down and crippled by polio. His mother wanted him to go to the family home where she could care for him. But Franklin was not going to let polio destroy his dreams, and he fought very hard to prove to the American public that he was strong enough to be a good candidate --- first for Governor of New York, and later for President of the United States. He was determined to show them that a person stricken with polio could still be a great leader; he was so successful in this mission that he was elected President for an unprecedented four terms. He helped pull the United States out of the dark years of the Depression and led the country through World War II. With a huge grin on his face, he cheered up the American public when few others could.

In addition to documenting his remarkable accomplishments as a leader, author Kathleen Kudlinski also touches on Franklin's private life. We learn that he was afraid of fire because he couldn't run from it, he exercised for hours so that he would be able to do what was required of him as President, and though his leg braces hurt him terribly, he never said a word or complained. Franklin founded the March of Dimes and his support helped hundreds of polio victims. By the end of his third term in office, Franklin grew tired and terribly ill, but he still chose to run for President again because his country needed him.

Kudlinski brings Franklin Delano Roosevelt to life, giving him a real face, heart and smile.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (mjansengruber@mindspring.com) ... Read more

Product Description
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman are two men whose backgrounds were very dissimilar but whose achievements proved to be roughly comparable--both became President of the United States. It is, for example, ironic that the wealthy Roosevelt is best known for his social programs and that Truman, who came from modest circumstances in the Middle West, achieved his greatest success in foreign affairs. This study demonstrates, with some flair, the variety and the breadth of the American experience and provides, in part, a credible basis for the existence of "an American Dream." ... Read more

Product Description
On February 19, 1942, following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and Japanese Army successes in the Pacific, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed a fateful order. In the name of security, Executive Order 9066 allowed for the summary removal of Japanese aliens and American citizens of Japanese descent from their West Coast homes and their incarceration under guard in camps. Amid the numerous histories and memoirs devoted to this shameful event, FDR's contributions have been seen as negligible. Now, using Roosevelt's own writings, his advisors' letters and diaries, and internal government documents, Greg Robinson reveals the president's central role in making and implementing the internment and examines not only what the president did but why. Robinson traces FDR's outlook back to his formative years, and to the early twentieth century's racialist view of ethnic Japanese in America as immutably "foreign" and threatening. These prejudicial sentiments, along with his constitutional philosophy and leadership style, contributed to Roosevelt's approval of the unprecedented mistreatment of American citizens. His hands-on participation and interventions were critical in determining the nature, duration, and consequences of the administration's internment policy.By Order of the President attempts to explain how a great humanitarian leader and his advisors, who were fighting a war to preserve democracy, could have implemented such a profoundly unjust and undemocratic policy toward their own people. It reminds us of the power of a president's beliefs to influence and determine public policy and of the need for citizen vigilance to protect the rights of all against potential abuses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Interesting read but theory does not hold water
In "By Order of the President," Robinson dogmatically attempts to prove his theory that Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of the worst biased and prejudiced presidents we have ever had, giving as proof, FDR's "undemocratic" methods of forcing Japanese Americans into incarceration, based upon his racist and prejudiced views of all Japanese. We shall see now just who is prejudiced.

The first impression one receives from any book, quite naturally, is from the cover. Judging then from the title, one would expect that this book would set out to prove that Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the internment of Japanese Americans.

First of all, just how many Japanese Americans (Nisei) are we talking about? Robinson says "more than 100,000." Actually, there were exactly zero.

Robinson should have known, and let the reader know, that no Japanese having American citizenship were ever ordered to be interned by FDR during WWII. Only enemy alien Japanese were interned, in Department of Justice internment camps, awaiting possible deportation. True, there were some Nisei wives (with their children) who joined their interned husbands at the Crystal City Internment Camp in Texas, the only internment camp that allowed families.

Could these be the ones Robinson refers to? Hardly, for they were not ordered to go there by FDR, either.

Then perhaps Robinson means the Nisei who were at the detention camps. No, those camps were really jails for the Nisei who were there because of their own fault -- they were never ordered there by FDR.

So, who exactly does Robinson mean by "Japanese Americans"? He states that FDR's "most tragic act of his administration" was "the internment of Japanese Americans." Then he says that Executive Order 9066 was intended to apply to Japanese Americans exclusively. Here is how he then defines these people:

"...the Japanese-American or Nikkei community was made up of several distinct groups. First-generation immigrants from Japan, ...Issei, ...resident aliens, ...(then) second-generation, ...the Nisei... by birth-right, American citizens, ...(and finally) a third group, the Kibei, American-born U.S. citizens who were brought up and educated in Japan."

Then he concludes that: "All three groups were interned."

So there you have it -- the Nikkei were all Japanese-American (including the enemy alien residents) and they were all ordered interned by Roosevelt's EO 9066. These resident alien Japanese are suddenly somehow given American citizenship, according to Robinson's theory.

Amazing, yet sad -- Robinson has not done his research very well at all. Perhaps we can give him the benefit of doubt and attribute his usage of Japanese Americans to how he felt _Roosevelt_ viewed them. But, that is stretching a bit too far.

More fallacious (and obviously under-researched) statements can be found in almost every paragraph of his "Introduction":

* Japanese Americans were "rounded up by the army" and "sent under armed guard to confinement in ten camps."
* Japanese Americans were damaged by "the stigma and psychological impact of segregation and incarceration."
* American citizens were "incarcerated without any charge, trial, or evidence against them."
* They were "forced to abandon their homes, farms, furnishings, cars, and other belongings," and as a result of EO 9066, the "vast majority of... Japanese Americans lost all their property."

One quote from FDR, which Robinson starts out with, is a favorite among many modern re-interpreters of this episode in US history: "And it is felt by a great many lawyers that under the Constitution they [Japanese of American citizenship] can't be kept locked up in concentration camps."

The "concentration camp" advocates say this is proof that even Roosevelt used the term. But does it? Was not Roosevelt only referring to what the _lawyers_ felt these camps were? He used the term only twice, Robinson says, but he fails to mention about the other times FDR called them relocation centers.

Regarding this and other vocabulary, however, Robinson has his arbitrary "Notes on Terminology," where he redefines usage of important words and phrases. This is somewhat confusing, and perhaps is the reason it has been relegated to the back of the book.

In the end, Robinson fails to convince us that Roosevelt was a terrible president, though he tries his best with these wild accusations:

* "He deserves censure for not providing moral and constitutional leadership." -- So, is that why he was re-elected to the presidency four times (over 12 years in office), with the largest electoral vote ever (98.5%), and ranks among the three greatest presidents, and is one of only four presidents who have memorials in the National Mall? Sir, you obviously missed reading about FDR's moral integrity, his faith in God, and, as he put it, his striving to "uphold the integrity of the morals of our democracy."

* "He repeatedly subverted the rights of those of Japanese descent." -- Mr. Robinson, what rights do enemy aliens have? No rights of American citizens were "subverted" by FDR, not even once, not even repeatedly.

* FDR made his EO9066 decision "casually... with no consideration... of the racial or constitutional implications."

* FDR "effectively stripped the internees of their property and possessions."

Robinson ends with his most vehement of accusations, stating that FDR bore "a special measure of guilt for his inability to project any real sympathy or consideration for the concerns and interests of the interned Japanese Americans." Especially damning he no doubt thinks, "FDR made little effort to defend the internees from the stigma of disloyalty," "took no steps to improve conditions in the camps," and "made no effort to assist them in... reintegrating into mainstream society."

For a president known for his secrecy and hiding his true feelings and his real motives, Robinson seems to have discovered the real Franklin D. Roosevelt, a feat not even achieved by the multitude of authors who have written biographies on FDR.

The reader will be greatly relieved to remember, though, that what Robinson has written is simply his theory. And theory it will remain, ill-conceived as it is. Try as anyone may, there will never be found proof that the people of Japanese ancestry on the West Coast suffered irreparable damage due to Roosevelt's leadership, a phenomenal leadership that has never been equalled.

Well-done critique and rethinking of the WWII internment
In this book, Greg Robinson reexamines one of the most controversial incidents in American history: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's decision to relocate more than 100,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, to internment camps for the duration of World War II. In this book, Mr. Robinson argues that scholars have not sufficiently examined Roosevelt's role in formulating and implementing the internment policy. Previous studies sought to explain FDR's decision primarily as a pragmatic reaction to political pressure from military and political leaders on the West Coast who feared pro-Japanese fifth-column activities, as well as powerful nativist groups motivated by racial prejudice and economic self-interest. While acknowledging the importance of these factors, Robinson also argues that standard accounts typically underplay two additional and important factors that influenced Roosevelt's controversial final decision: his own view of Japanese Americans as immutably foreign, and the weaknesses of his hands-on, competitive administrative management style.

As for the accusations and charges that all Japanese Americans were probably disloyal and untrustworthy, it should be known that Japanese Americans did volunteer to join the US Army to fight against the Germans. For example if you read the book Go For Broke (written by Chester Tanaka), it tells about the bravery of the Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442d Regimental Combat Team during World War II. They were the most decorated unit in the United States Army; at least 680 of them were killed in action fighting the Germans.

The 100th Infantry Battalion fought in North Africa and Italy, joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in June 1944. They fought in Italy, France, and Germany, rescued the "Lost Battalion," and their 522nd Field Artillery Battalion liberated the survivors at the Dachau death camp. Of the 10,000 volunteers for the all-American combat unit, 1200 came from mainland U.S. concentration camps and the rest from Hawaii, where Executive Order 9066 to intern the West Coast Japanese-American community did not apply.

So if Japanese-Americans were considered to be so untrustworthy and disloyal, then why would the United States Army allow young Japanese-American men from internment camps to join their ranks to fight against the Germans?

A Well-Rounded, Enjoyable Read
`By Order of the President' is a book that attempts to show how involved Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the internment of a group of Americans during World War II (more specifically, the Americans whom ancestrally came from Japan).The book starts out by detailing FDR's youth and pre-presidential opinions of the Japanese portion of the American population, as well as his position on the Japanese of Japan's population.It then proceeds to present the events that led to the internment and how the president contributed to the process.After the preliminary details on internment, Robinson goes on to bring forth facts and information in accordance with the continuation and eventual dismemberment of the internment as well as Roosevelt's involvement in the process.

Robinson's work presents many facets of popular and unpopular interpretations of FDR's involvement in the events leading to, and beginning the internment - as well as presenting details as to why each opinion is in existence.His book notably allows the reader to see into the meetings and investigations that went into the original initiation of the internment, as well as the misinterpretations and lies that led to the ongoing existence of internment.Robinson sets out to show the true circumstances and events surrounding the prosecution and incarceration of the so-called Japanese American population as well as the involvement of the president in the matter, who seems to have actually been in support of the internment.

The book presents its literary style in a very attractive manner and will keep the reader involved, despite the fact that the author does seem to use commas a bit excessively.Despite the title of the book, however, the book mostly centers on the positions and deliberations of the president's advisors - something that needs to be presented, but is focused on exceedingly in this case.Nevertheless, the factual evidence about FDR that Robinson does present is compelling and is demonstrative of the true nature of FDR.The facts are largely presented in such a way as not to force an opinion on the reader, but rather to allow the reader to come upon their own conclusions - a writing style that is seemingly growing rarer with every passing year.

Overall, `By Order of the President' is a work that should not go ignored and which presents the opinions of the president on internment, as well as how these opinions led to the internment of Americans under the pretext that they were dangerous due to their ancestry.Robinson presents a pleasing literary style and I personally look forward to any future publications by the author.The book is therefore highly suggested for anyone interested in Franklin D. Roosevelt, civil rights, American history, or the World War II era in general.

please!!
to whoever wrote the review about "sickening anti-americanism"- that is completely ridiculous. the conditions in the internment camps are not the issues i am speaking of; it was the concept of forcefully interning american citizens that i find disgusting. that you defend this action is even more disgusting. perhaps you should rate the book- which i found extremely interesting- more on the basis of the information it gave rather than your view of American presidents being unable to do any wrong.

Important history lesson
While United States pop culture has tradditionally portrayed the 40's as a binary of freedom vs. facism, this book exposes the truth that had long been supressed behind ideological walls.

The United States was in fact guilty of it's own internment of an entire group of people based on their involuntary membership in a subordinated group. Although taken to a lesser extent than that of the Nazi's, the actual reality of the country's actions severely clashes with the images of freedom and justice used to marshall support for the war effort.

Paranoia and bias about the potential actions of a few people led to the stereotyping of millions. Their only crime was being of Asian descent in a world where racism and fear was rampant.

The actual event in itself is still shocking, but what is even more shocking was that it happened under one of the great liberals whose presidency had been irevocably cross-referenced with the quest for social justice. FDR had openly built his presidency on advocating for the disavantaged and giving them access to the American dream, something which obviously did not happen here. ... Read more

Product Description
A collection of Presidential Speeches from George Washington's first Inaugural Address in 1789 to the second term Inauguration address by George W. Bush.

... Read more

Product Description

Political conventions in years past were more than pep rallies for preselected candidates -- they were suspenseful, no-holds-barred battles for the nomination. In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the man who would become one of America's most beloved presidents, was far from a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination at the party's convention in Chicago. Using new sources of information, award-winning reporter Steve Neal weaves the compelling story of how FDR finally got the nod along with the personalities of the day who influenced the decision, including Joseph P. Kennedy, Al Smith, Huey Long, and William Randolph Hearst.

Customer Reviews (9)

A great look at the convention journey FDR took
This was a great book that focused on the 1932 Democratic National Convention where FDR won the nomination for president. The book focuses not only on FDR but all the other contenders that have long been lostin history which is one of the reasons why I liked this book. In addition to all the interesting facts and research, there were a great deal of pictures to bring the convention and the people involved to life.

I definitely recommend this to anyone who is interested in American politics and FDR.

Titans of an Era
The highlight of Steve Neal's book is not its excellent telling of the convention maneuvering or arcane party rules that led to FDR's nomination in 1932.The best part of the book is the mini-bios it offers of the titans of the Democratic Party in the early 1930s.That includes figures history remembers in rich detail like 1928 nominee Al Smith and former Treasury Secretary William McAdoo.It also includes less well known figures such as Chicago Mayor Cermak and former War Secretary Newton Baker.The mini-bios, told in successive chapters during the book, present a great cast of characters.Those characters than operate in the environment of the convention Neal presents.The one character that remains elusive in Neal's telling, perhaps because he is somewhat detached from the convention wrangling in New York, is FDR himself.

The first among equals
1932 was a pivotal year in American history.The Great Depression was in full swing, the wet forces were gathering steam, a Kingfish from Louisiana arrived in Congress, and the Democratic party was itching to get back in the White House.All of this came to a grand climax in the Democratic National Convention in Chicago that summer, the topic of this book.The political careers of several generations of Democrats came together that summer and decided the future of the country and dozens of leaders.Characters like Adlai Stevenson, Sam Rayburn, Huey Long, Al Smith, Joseph Kennedy, William Randolph Hearst, and FDR would wheel and deal in a tenacious game of power where friends and enemies all melted into one pool of potential allies.The book unfolds in a semi-chronological order.Most of the chapters are spent highlighting individual characters and their careers, especially the various serious and erstwhile candidates, such as Newton Baker, John Nance Garner, Al Smith, and FDR himself.The final chapters relive the convention itself, both the public events, and the private politicking.Everything is told from an objective manner, as each candidate is shown in both their glory and defeats.The book does an especially good job of explaining how the various candidates fought for delegates.Overall, this is a great history book.It is told like a story, and is quite readable.

Oh the Drama
Before they became the highly polished love fests that they are today political conventions were high drama events that often caught the imagination of the country. There were fights over the platform, the convention rules and credentials with the members of almost every convention deciding which delegations to seat when more than one delegation showed up from the same state. Then after all that the convention would get around to nominating a candidate for president.

The Republicans had their share of contested conventions but it was usually the Democratic convention where most of the fireworks were to be found. The Democrats you see had the 2/3 rule, which meant that a candidate had to get 2/3 of the delegate votes in order to be nominated and over the years that rule had on many occasions put a stop to the candidacy of many front-runners. The 2/3 rule and its history gave great pause to Franklin Roosevelt and his staff because FDR came into the 1932 Chicago convention with well over half of the votes but no where near 2/3 of the votes and there was a very strong stop FDR movement afoot.

Mr. Neal looks at this drama in detail and tells the story is such a way as to bring the reader up onto the edge of his seat in anticipation of just what might happen next. Quite an accomplishment when you consider that the reader already knows who will win when it is all said and done. The author takes each of the major contenders and leads the reader through a brief history of their candidacy and their career in public service and some of these guys like Alfalfa Bill Murray are colorful to say the least. Among the major players at this convention were political legends Al Smith, Joe Kennedy, John Nance (Cactus Jack) Garner, William Randolph Hearst, Clarence Darrow, Jane Adams and Cordell Hull. Two of the major players at this convention Chicago Mayor A.J. Cermak and Louisiana Governor Huey Long were not only extremely colorful but also bound for assassination. In February of 1933 a bullet meant for Roosevelt would fell Cermak who had opposed FDR and in 1935 Huey Long who had been instrumental in holding the South for FDR in 1932 but had since turned against him was felled in the Louisiana State House. With characters like these to work with Neal has a great cast for his story and he does them all justice.

Mr. Neal has written a gripping account of this watershed convention and it is an account that no history lover or political junkie will want to pass over. He has captured the back room wheeling and dealing, the energy and the high drama of the convention floor as the Democratic Party charted the course of its future. Despite knowing how the story ends you will find it very difficult to put this book down.

the hinge of fate
More than seventy years later, it is easy for us to view Franklin Roosevelt's nomination and presidency as inevitable: how could the New Dealer and world warrior have lost? Easily, as Steve Neal makes clear in this, his last book, on the 1932 Democratic National Convention.

Neal paints a rich, colorful portrait of the behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing that secured, on the fourth ballot, the nomination for FDR. Had Huey Long's Lousiana delegation not been seated, had a deal with Speaker of the House John Nance Garner not been reach -- had any number of pieces not fallen into place, the convention might have swung in a different direction, perhaps to perpetual candidate Al Smith or a dark horse.

Neal captures all the drama and suspense as these events unfolded in stifling Chicago. His is a character-based account, which is reflected in the book's organization and which tends to give short shrift to the major issues of the day, like Prohibition (whether to repeal) or foreign policy (whether to pursue Wilsonian internationalism). While the reader probably won't walk away with a full appreciation of the issues, he will certainly have a vivid picture of what these men were like and how they acted. The book is worth reading for that reason alone. ... Read more

Product Description
One of today’s premier biographers has written a modern, comprehensive, indeed ultimate book on the epic life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In this superlative volume, Jean Edward Smith combines contemporary scholarship and a broad range of primary source material to provide an engrossing narrative of one of America’s greatest presidents.

This is a portrait painted in broad strokes and fine details. We see how Roosevelt’s restless energy, fierce intellect, personal magnetism, and ability to project effortless grace permitted him to master countless challenges throughout his life. Smith recounts FDR’s battles with polio and physical disability, and how these experiences helped forge the resolve that FDR used to surmount the economic turmoil of the Great Depression and the wartime threat of totalitarianism. Here also is FDR’s private life depicted with unprecedented candor and nuance, with close attention paid to the four women who molded his personality and helped to inform his worldview: His mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, formidable yet ever supportive and tender; his wife, Eleanor, whose counsel and affection were instrumental to FDR’s public and individual achievements; Lucy Mercer, the great romantic love of FDR’s life; and Missy LeHand, FDR’s longtime secretary, companion, and confidante, whose adoration of her boss was practically limitless.

Smith also tackles head-on and in-depth the numerous failures and miscues of Roosevelt’s public career, including his disastrous attempt to reconstruct the Judiciary; the shameful internment of Japanese-Americans; and Roosevelt’s occasionally self-defeating Executive overreach. Additionally, Smith offers a sensitive and balanced assessment of Roosevelt’s response to the Holocaust, noting its breakthroughs and shortcomings.

Summing up Roosevelt’s legacy, Jean Smith declares that FDR, more than any other individual, changed the relationship between the American people and their government. It was Roosevelt who revolutionized the art of campaigning and used the burgeoning mass media to garner public support and allay fears. But more important, Smith gives us the clearest picture yet of how this quintessential Knickerbocker aristocrat, a man who never had to depend on a paycheck, became the common man’s president. The result is a powerful account that adds fresh perspectives and draws profound conclusions about a man whose story is widely known but far less well understood. Written for the general reader and scholars alike, FDR is a stunning biography in every way worthy of its subject.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Exceptional and readable bio of one of our most important presidents
It says a great deal of his importance that more than 75 years after he was president, we are still debating the success of FDR's term in office.Not so much if he was successful, but now it is the degree to which he was successful. Jean Edward Smith writes what I believe is the best single volume biography of FDR.She chronicles his life from birth right up until his sudden death.She goes into great detail on his early life, without sacrificing any part of his presidency.She also does a great job of focusing on lesser known aspects of his life like his return from polio.

What I think sets this book head and shoulders above the rest is that she is willing to call FDR out for his failures, court packing as well as his successes.She does a good job of refraining from overt criticism for his deal making but lets it be known that FDR did make some deals with some shady characters in order to get the deal done.

All in all this is a truthful and honest view of FDR and surprisingly well balanced. I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the man or his times.

Excellent insights to a great President
Having read many biographies of FDR, i wondered whether this new entry would add much, if anything, to a thoproughly explored life. I was quite happy to see that it does. Ms. Smith's style is factual, not materially biased, and accurately and perceptively traces the trajectory of this remarkable man from highly privileged bon vivant, to a sufferer of polio, to a great President. When she concludes that but for the polio, FDR would not have become the FDR that the world knew, you agree. She has presents compelling evidence in support.
The author also does a fine job of setting out the vile rhetoric that plagued the FDR presidency in ways that are all too fanmiliar in our current politics. There is something vaguely comforting in recognizing that the vituperation is nothing new.
This is a good companion book to the wondeful Doris Kearns Goodwin bio, No Ordinary Times, where she literally breathes life into historical players so that you feel that you know them as human beings. Also, the post-Obama election book of Jonathan Alter, A Date with Destiny, is a fine read.

Great Book
I read this book for a political science class. It's a large book, but it is a very good read. I would highly recommend this book.

Excellent reflection of our own times
This timely biography is one of the best there is.Instructive and entertaining from both a historical and contemporary perspective.

Gift
Bought this book for my father and he really enjoyed it- he's a big big history buff, generally the only books he prefers so, his outlook on any book is a very high review. ... Read more

Product Description
The most complete portrait ever drawn of the complex emotional connection between two of history’s towering leaders

Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were the greatest leaders of “the Greatest Generation.” In Franklin and Winston, Jon Meacham explores the fascinating relationship between the two men who piloted the free world to victory in World War II. It was a crucial friendship, and a unique one—a president and a prime minister spending enormous amounts of time together (113 days during the war) and exchanging nearly two thousand messages. Amid cocktails, cigarettes, and cigars, they met, often secretly, in places as far-flung as Washington, Hyde Park, Casablanca, and Teheran, talking to each other of war, politics, the burden of command, their health, their wives, and their children.

Born in the nineteenth century and molders of the twentieth and twenty-first, Roosevelt and Churchill had much in common. Sons of the elite, students of history, politicians of the first rank, they savored power. In their own time both men were underestimated, dismissed as arrogant, and faced skeptics and haters in their own nations—yet both magnificently rose to the central challenges of the twentieth century. Theirs was a kind of love story, with an emotional Churchill courting an elusive Roosevelt. The British prime minister, who rallied his nation in its darkest hour, standing alone against Adolf Hitler, was always somewhat insecure about his place in FDR’s affections—which was the way Roosevelt wanted it. A man of secrets, FDR liked to keep people off balance, including his wife, Eleanor, his White House aides—and Winston Churchill.

Confronting tyranny and terror, Roosevelt and Churchill built a victorious alliance amid cataclysmic events and occasionally conflicting interests. Franklin and Winston is also the story of their marriages and their families, two clans caught up in the most sweeping global conflict in history.

Meacham’s new sources—including unpublished letters of FDR’s great secret love, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, the papers of Pamela Churchill Harriman, and interviews with the few surviving people who were in FDR and Churchill’s joint company—shed fresh light on the characters of both men as he engagingly chronicles the hours in which they decided the course of the struggle.

Hitler brought them together; later in the war, they drifted apart, but even in the autumn of their alliance, the pull of affection was always there. Charting the personal drama behind the discussions of strategy and statecraft, Meacham has written the definitive account of the most remarkable friendship of the modern age.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (75)

A Hell of a Book
I'm not a Churchill or Roosevelt scholar, but this is not my first book about either of them, and this is just a hell of a book, you leave the book feeling like you are a personal friend of both Churchill and Roosevelt and that you sat right in the room with them at their meetings, it really feels as if you've spent years with someone, good times and bad times and actually first hand witnessed their behavior at all these critical moments.Now layer that level of intimacy into the friendship of the leaders of the free world from 1940 to 1945 and you have an experience so moving and enjoyable its almost as if you've added a brief highly interesting chapter to your own life.

A Little Too One-Sided
This is an excellent book, of course, but Mr. Meacham tends to view the world through American-colored glasses, not showing much of the pain and anguish caused by some of Mr. Roosevelt's decisions.

A more recent book, "Citizens of London", presents what seems to be a more balanced viewpoint.

Very Readable
A well written book with a good focus on these 2 colossal figures. It is well balanced between the two. There is a nice analysis as to why Churchill did not attend Roosevelt's funeral. I was also impressed that he quoted Churchill's parliamentary eulogy to Roosevelt, which is most spell-binding.

Perfect Condition, Fast Delivery
This was the first time I ordered a used book on tape.I didn't know what to expect.I was sent immediately and it was in perfect condition.I really enjoyed it.

comparing 2 powerful men
Good insights into what makes these two tick.Especially interesting how they use each other to compliment their own weaknesses and build a stronger whole.Shows the importance of relationships in everything. ... Read more

Product Description

"While listening to the audio, readers will be struck by Roosevelt's immense oratory skills. In his famous 'fireside chats,' the president adopted a down-to-earth, fatherly tone, but when the occasion demanded it, he could thunderously deliver such lines as, 'this generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.' A fine contextualization of Roosevelt's life and times."--Kirkus Reviews

An uncommon portrait of Roosevelt's presidency, in words, photographs, and his own voice

This vivid portrait shows a nation at its best and at its worst, through the lens of a president's words during the first presidency truly impacted by the media age. An FDR biography unlike any other, Together We Cannot Fail offers a new view of Roosevelt's transformation of an insular America into the world's most revered and feared superpower. An exclusive accompanying audio integrates with the biography to reveal in his own words how he led the nation through the Great Depression and World War II to its "rendezvous with destiny."

Historian Terry Golway brings alive how Roosevelt saved America from its worst fears and led the nation to victory in a cataclysmic world war and by doing so forever changed how Americans live and view themselves. Crafted from Roosevelt's own stirring words, this unique biography shows how he invented and established the practice of the media presidency with his famous fireside chats, the first presidential speeches broadcast nationally from the White House.

For twelve tumultuous presidential years, Roosevelt regularly spoke to the American people, this man of wealth and privilege giving voice to the downtrodden's American Dream. The first in a long line of media presidencies, Roosevelt's innate ability to connect with the people remains the standard by which even the best of them-Kennedy, Reagan, and Obama alike-are judged. Roosevelt's words would define a remarkable presidency that faced and overcame the country's worst economic crisis and a war to end all wars.

Together We Cannot Fail brings the president and his era to life like no other biography, combining the insight of noted historian Terry Golway with Roosevelt's own voice in audio excerpts from his most memorable speeches and chats.

Kindle Edition with Audio/Video includes:

• Audio for 30 famous speeches

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Way to Show Off New Kindle Audio Feature
I can't think of a better way to introduce the Kindle's new audio capability that to include the ringing voice of FDR in his speeches and fireside chats with this workmanlike biography of Roosevelt.I've been reading the text to see what sort of book was chosen for this demo, and I've already found two typos, so at the level of formatting quality it's not very impressive. Still, it's well worth the $9.99 to try out this groundbreaking title. I am reading and listening to it on my iPad and iPhone 4. Sound quality is good, given the scratchy audio of the original. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (34)

Completes another piece of the puzzle
People enjoy reading about Franklin and Eleanor not only because of their important impact on America, but because of the sometimes mysterious and confusing nature of their relationships with each other and others in their lives.

In this well researched and well written book about Louis Howe, FDR's principal campaign advisor and political strategist, you get a senseof the political battles that eventually led to FDR's presidency. You also learn about Howe encouraged Eleanor to shed her role as a good and dutiful wife to take on the political activism that brought great meaning to her life.

Howe was not only a political operative, he was an intimate member of the Roosevelt household. After Franklin contracted polio, Howe rushed to his side and helped Eleanor with the nursing. When Franklin was finally able to move back to NYC, Howe moved in with the family to help. He emphasized the importance of keeping Franklin mentally active, and brought interesting visitors to keep Franklin engaged with the world.

Howe also served as a bridge between Eleanor and Franklin as their lives went in different directions in the 1920's.

Heartily recommend this book which helps you understand another aspect of the complex puzzle of Franklin and Eleanor.It is a relatively brief book (about 200 pages) which seems an appropriate size for the topic.

A Strange Man's Impactful Journey/more Fingy Conners please
Louis Howe's impact on FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, and thus his impact on world history is amazing. This book does a great job of telling us not of great events, but of Howe the man. What would cause a man to virtually ignore his own wife and children for a lifetime while ingratiating himself into an initially resistant Roosevelt family in any and all ways possible ?

Howe was a poor provider and had difficulty keeping a job, partly due to an unpleasant personality. He also selfishly turned down profitable opportunities just to stay close to the Roosevelts. Fortunately for his family, after decades of relative poverty his wife inherited a substantial income from none other than Lizzie Borden, the Fall River Massachusetts woman believed to have murdered her parents with an axe.

Howe did have his strengths though. He was a tremendously prescient political operator who saw the potential in both FDR and Eleanor long before anyone else, including themselves. He then,over a period of decades that included having to deal with FDR's paralysis, engineered perhaps the most improbable political comeback in American History. At the same time he brought Eleanor out of her "shell" to become one of the most influential American women in modern history.

I think the chances are high that had Howe not existed, FDR and Eleanor would be unknown to us today. Given the Roosevelt's world wide impact during the depression, the War, and beyond one can only imagine how the World would look today if there had been no Louis Howe.

A note to the author:

The reader is introduced to a wildly colorful character named Fingy Conners, a 19th and early 20th century tycoon. I happen to have written, and published, a magazine article on this mans life and know well his story. It would be wonderful if a writer of Ms. Fensters ability would write a book on him.

Good Subject, Disappointing Product
Roosevelt's Shadow starts off with a great topic and runs through its first chapters strongly.We learn about Louis Howe a bit more in depth than in the many books about Roosevelt and those around him.Howe came from a family always one step ahead of poverty and creditors, grew up in the newspaper business, and was on the periphery of New York state politics until he came into the orbit of Franklin Roosevelt, then a young state senator.It is at this point that the book veers from Howe to a book about the Roosevelts.And unfortunately, it is not a particularly good one as it does not give them comprehensive biographical treatment and jumps over major events much too quickly.I was about twenty-five pages from the end of the book when I realized FDR was not even Governor of New York yet.His election as governor and subsequent run for the presidency was all done with substantial assistance from Howe.I would think it would have required a few more pages.

The other book specifically about Howe I read is called The Man Behind Roosevelt: http://www.amazon.com/Man-Behind-Roosevelt-Story-McHenry/dp/B001Q1J8MI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265401246&sr=8-2

It was not perfect, splitting between a good biography of Howe's young life and then becoming a string of anecdotes about Howe.Those anecdotes all took place during periods of time barely discussed in the book here when Howe was working on Roosevelt's campaigns.Much more information should have been included about what Howe's role was, how did he communicate with FDR, what was the nature of his advice, and so on.As a lot of correspondence was still done by letter, there should have been significant information available.

I am happy to see a book dedicated to Howe, but this just gave me a taste for what I want to know about the man and his interaction with the Roosevelts.

An interesting but incomplete look at a critical piece of FDR
"FDR's Shadow, Louis Howe, The Force That Shaped Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt" is a generally well written book that has one major flaw: the subject isn't worth a biography save for his influence on two other people, FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt.As such, it provides an interesting look at how Howe provided crucial support during certain periods in both of their lives, but doesn't quite leave the reader satisfied the way a massive tome like Jean Edward Smith's does.Still, some useful and unique insights on FDR earn this a marginal 4 stars.

Louis Howe was a generally unnoticeable failure of a newspaper editor (and other brief attempts in business) that was marginally involved in Democratic politics in New York up until he began covering FDR in his revolt against the nomination of a Tammany Hall Senator.After FDR became ill during his reelection campaign (which saw almost all of FDR's mutinous gang defeated), Howe saw his chance to link on to a rising star in the party and took over as his campaign manager; the rest was history, and Howe became one of FDR's closest advisers throughout the 1910s and 1920s.

Unfortunately, Howe isn't an sympathetic character whatsoever save for his interaction with the Roosevelts; his marriage was a disaster, his work history spotty, and while he may have been a "smooth dancing personality that attracted ladies" in his youth he was noteworthy for grating on others throughout the rest of his life.Eleanor Roosevelt honestly hated the man until the Vice Presidential tour in 1920, and even FDR had mixed feelings.

All that said, some of the nuggets Fenster pulls out about FDR based on his relationship with Howe are fascinating, especially the controversy regarding Roosevelt's involvement in a scandal at the Navy Department during WWI.Howe's biggest contribution to FDR was getting him focused on recovering from polio and back into politics, and this the biography covers well.Unfortunately, once FDR was back on track, he turned to others more and more often for advice, and Howe faded in importance.Unfortunately, Fenster falls into a trap here; once Howe wasn't as directly involved in major decisions, the biography more or less skims through those years.That is a shame, as Howe's role being the one person that could tell FDR no deserved more than a couple of chapters when FDR was actually in power.

As such, it's a bit disappointing but still an interesting adjunct to the massive amount of literature on FDR.However, it's much more useful if you actually know the details behind many of the stories.3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Beautifully written, but incomplete...
I waited months to purchase Julie M. Fenster's new book, FDR's Shadow: Louis Howe, the Force that Shaped Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.Howe was nicknamed "the kingmaker" for setting the path for Franklin Roosevelt to become president.Unfortunately, although this book is beautifully written, it is very incomplete

Louis Howe started out as a newspaperman, and eventually became FDR's political advisor, confidant, best friend, and even what would today be his chief of staff. Many could not see Howe's genius and instead, focused on his looks (he was a small, wizened, gnome-like, unhealthy specimen of a man who dribbled cigarette ashes all over himself).But early on, Howe saw something in FDR and started addressing him as "Beloved and Revered Future President."Howe set a road-map for FDR's accession, and cultivated friends and worked deals.When this road was threatened by FDR's polio in 1921, Howe had to fight Sara Roosevelt (FDR's mother) to get him back into politics.From this time onward, Howe pretty much lived with the Roosevelts and never returned to his family.FDR would have never gotten the nomination for president at the Democratic Convention in 1932 without Howe making back-room deals. "A typical impression of Howe was that he was veritably smitten with Franklin Roosevelt and wanted nothing more than to live, homely as he was, through the handsome aristocrat with the friendly charm.That version of their relationship, though, smacks of a fairy tale and overlooks the fact that Howe had a vision for American society.Had the Roosevelts not shared that vision...Howe would not necessarily have followed them."

Howe was first FDR's friend.But when FDR contracted polio, he and Eleanor became a team.He encouraged her to join political groups, coached her in public speaking, and turned her into a confident political figure in her own right.Howe claimed that once FDR completed two terms of office, he could then get Eleanor elected for another two terms. "The idea of a grown man with a family of his own impressing himself in a marriage of two other people was unusual and practically unprecedented.Part of the reason that it worked is that Franklin and Eleanor needed Louis equally."

Once FDR became president, Howe was installed in the Lincoln Bedroom.But his fragile health became worse and he died in 1936.His death was a blow to both Eleanor and Franklin.Not only did they lose the bridge between them, but FDR made some major blunders (like trying to stack the Supreme Court) that Howe would probably have prevented.

Shadow is beautifully written and we get to see the conflicting emotions of Howe.After giving up so much, he often felt underappreciated.The recent unveiling of the Louis Howe papers in the FDR Library gives us a look into the sad relationship between Howe and his wife, Grace.But there is so much that Fenster neglected to tell us about Howe.Next to Howe, FDR was probably closest to secretary Missy LeHand.Yet there is virtually nothing about how Howe and LeHand interacted.Howe had a secretary, Margaret Durand, nicknamed Rabbit by FDR.She gave her life to Howe just as Howe gave his to FDR.Yet she merits only one fleeting mention.Other tidbits would have helped to flesh-out Howe, including more information about him singing in a DC church and his play writing and performances. There is very little after FDR is elected president.Eleanor used to shop for Howe and after he died, she would send flowers to Grace Howe on certain anniversaries.There is hardly anything about his kids.Also, what happened to them after he died?Also, it would have been interesting if Fenster included that FDR appointed Grace Hartley to the job of post master (the first for a woman) after Howe's death.

It is regrettable that this book was way too short and lacking so much information about Howe and his life.FDR's Shadow had the potential to be so much more.
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Customer Reviews (3)

Retelling a well known story
When I first started graduate school in history, I used to speculate as to how there could be another biography of Lincoln or Washington, or who ever without some newly discovered source of information.I came to learn that historians reevalute existing sources in light of new events and/or place their own unique perspecitve on the materials.

In the case of Resa Willis' FDR AND LUCY, Willis did none of the above.When a new book comes out on a subject in which one has interest, there is alwayshope that there is some new sources or new perspective.While doing a fine job of research and writing,Willis adds nothing new to a story that came to light in the 1960's after the death of Eleanor.

Willis quotes children and friends of FDR and Lucy Mercer but as another reviewer said - there's nothing new. The story is stretched a bit with the inclusion of lots of basic facts about American history.There is a decent amount of information about the geneology of some of the characters, but other than showing the Mercer and FDR lived in a relatively close circle of friends and relatives, its old hat. She offers some speculation. Did FDR have an hand in arranging the marriage of Lucy and her husband Wintrop Rutherfurd.But she offers no anwers.She talks about FDR's circle of women friends but the author draws no conclusions about these relationships or how they reflected on FDR's personality.

One of the amazing things about the relationship between FDR and Lucy is that the servants never talked. In the 21st century, all of the servants and secret service agents would have published tell all books.As an African American, whose family lived in Aiken, I always found it amazing that no one in the African American community, who clearly would have served as servants, ever mentioned a visit from the President. I've looked for the railroad siding that was suppose to have been built to accomodate the President but have never figure out where it was.

Willis takes no sides in relating her story. She relates the story of two people who had an affair and the came to be great friends.She provides an insight in to life at the White House during the War years but there is little character development.

If you know nothing about FDR and Lucy Mercer, read the book.If you know the least little bit from previous readings, don't bother.

Eleanor's Sweet Revenge
Resa Willis tells the story of a time in American history as skillfully, objectively, personally, accurately and compassionately as humanely possible in 152 pages.How refreshing!

You are privileged to hear about all the FDR doings and Eleanor Roosevelt doings along with all the important players.

And, you come to learn how a great man so deeply loved by so many women could be fundamentally lonely.

Some would call it Eleanor's sweet revenge.

Nothing new here
I was expecting a thorough examination of the love affair between FDR and Lucy Mercer. The affair has been common knowledge for forty years and it's always touched upon in Roosevelt biographies and documentaries. But this book is a rather crushing disappointment, padded with much unnecessary and repetitive information. Most of the book consists of boring material relating directly to Lucy's life as Mrs. Rutherford in the 20's and 30's. Personally, I was expecting more details on FDR's affair with her throughout WWI, Eleanor's discovery of her love letters in Franklin's suitcase, and then the hysterical control-monster, Sarah Delano Roosevelt, demanding Franklin dump Lucy or risk losing his inheritance. Now that is the stuff of legend!

Instead we get a dreary narrative with no new information. The book picks up a bit when Lucy re-enters Roosevelt's life in the 30's and spends considerable time with his in the closing years of his life. Most of their meetings took place in Warm Springs, Georgia, and also in the White House. FDR's daughter, Anna, was the one who invited Lucy to the Executive Mansion while Eleanor was away on one of many tours during the war. It's mindful to recall a remark from Alive Roosevelt Longworth in this context: "Franklin deserves a good time. He was married to Eleanor!"

If you know little about the mechanics of the Lucy-Franklin alliance, this is a well-written and entertaining book. But if you know more about the pair, it wouldn't be particularly revealing. The characterization of Eleanor is especially weak. While I'm not advocating adultery, let's face facts: Eleanor was frigid, disinterested in sex and in the 30's took up close "friendships" with people like Lorena Hickock (who makes Yogi Berra look gorgeous in comparison). I really can't blame a man as charming and handsome as Franklin Roosevelt pursuing sex outside of marriage. His choice may not have been the "moral"one (whatever that means), but it was the only logical thing to do under the circumstances.

To sum up, if you're an FDR newbie, this would be nice. If you're not, forget it. ... Read more

Product Description
The United States is not a preternaturally inward-looking nation, and isolation is not the natural disposition of Americans. The real question is not whether Americans are prone to isolation or engagement, but how their engagement with the world has evolved, how events have made the United States a superpower, and how these developments have been guided by political leadership. Indeed, the great debates on foreign affairs in American history have not been about whether to have debates on foreign affairs; they have been between the competing visions of American influence in the world.In Architects of Power, Philip Terzian examines two public figures in the twentieth century who personify, in their lives, careers, and philosophies, the rise of the United States of America to global leadership: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Terzian reveals how both men recognized and acted on the global threats of their time and questions whether America can rise to the same challenges today. Without this clear window into the stricken world that Roosevelt inhabited and Eisenhower understood, we are unlikely to recognize the perils and challenges of the world we have inherited. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Roosevelt and Eisenhower:The tacit truth of power architects.
A glance at the book shows its explantory power.The urge to make sweeping prouncements in an age of 24/7 cable and the omnipresent internet and "sound bites" for the blagosphere obscure the undeniable fact that presidential power is NOT always about ringing pronouncements made FOR DOMESTIC-AND PARTISAN effect that may come back to haunt you.Vietnam for JFK and LBJ illustrates that.I try to focus on what the Russian call "za kulisami"-behind the scenes.This may not be perfect transparency but it is sometimes neceassary-even imperative!

elegant, precise and engaging mix of biography and analysis
Phil Terzian's pointillist portraits of FDR and Eisnhower are riveting in and of themselves. They are a model of great learning lightly worn (check out the frightening bibliography). But they are also directly applicable to today's foreign policy dilemmas. When Terzian writes, "The stated reasons for American participation in World War I ..were legitimate, to be sure, but they failed to define any fundamental American interest in the war's outcome", he might be writing about Afghanistan today. When he says, "Pearl Harbor...exploded the notion that self-sufficiency and generous impulses were sufficient to defend America" he might be talking of another more recent surprise attack on the U.S.. None of this is heavy handed or partisan, and Terzian has a magical gift for making his ideological points persuasively and with exemplary civility. A small gem. ... Read more

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Foreword by Christopher du P. Roosevelt. This behind-the-scenes look at Franklin D. Roosevelt's extraordinary skill as a blue-water sailor explores how his love of the sea shaped his approach to public service and even influenced the course of events in World War II. Family and friends, Secret Service agents, and others reveal never-before-told stories of their days afloat with America's greatest seafaring president, including how he escaped injury when fire broke out aboard his small schooner, how ships were modified to accommodate his disability, and details of his wartime rendezvous with Winston Churchill. Sailing pals discuss his abilities as a skipper along with his enjoyment of an evening cocktail at sea during the days of Prohibition. Letters and other documents illustrate how the sea was never far from Roosevelt's thoughts.

Robert Cross examines Roosevelt's great affection for the sea in the context of an era dominated by the Great Depression and two world wars. While some criticized Roosevelt for taking too many seagoing trips-he logged hundreds of thousands of miles at sea and was sometimes out of touch with the White House and the Secret Service for hours-FDR was quick to explain that his lengthy voyages allowed him to personally assess the world situation instead of relying solely on White House briefing books. The author argues that the skills required to be a good sailor have much in common with those needed to be a successful politician: the ability to alter courses, make compromises, and shift positions as the situation warrants. Cross describes FDR as a master at dealing with the unexpected, allowing him to excel in the Navy department, the governor's mansion, and the White House, as well as on the open sea. From luxury ocean liners and presidential yachts to submarines and kayaks, this book lists all of the vessels on which FDR sailed and includes some never-before-published photographs. 28 photographs. 2 maps. Appendixes. Notes. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. 6 x 9 inches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

FDR, the man at the wheel.
Here is a book that I looked forward to with great enthusiasm because of the blend of subjects I hold dear: one of my favorite presidents, his love for sea and ships, sailing, traveling, collecting and an overall fondness for the culture of the sea. The results were however very disappointing as I found the book disjointed, lacking in syntax, unbearably repetitious, trite, containing what seemed to be numerous editorial errors, and containing silly quotations and statements which may have been used out of context from the original sources.

To the book's credit it follows a chronology, is heavily annotated, has a thorough bibliography and contains a catalog of most of the boats and ships FDR either sailed or sailed on that is not available elsewhere to my knowledge. It also contains a good selection of photos and his personal FDR sailboat logo seldom seen elsewhere.

There are annoying factual or editorial errors throughout the book that should be corrected. For example the Fasnet Race is not a 3000 mile transatlantic race (page 7) but a 600 mile race in the British Isles; the Aquitania is not a sistership to the Mauretania (FDR's favorite liner) and Lusitania (page 29); The Nourmahal never "served" in the James River fleet she was laid up there during the post war, there is no "serving" in mothball fleets; the Panama Canal is 50 miles long not 8 miles long (page 82); the film Double Indemnity was not even produced until eight years after FDR was supposidly watching it aboard the yacht Potomac (page 91); the film actor was Basil Rathbone not Rathborn; and reference to Frances Perkins as "he", to mention just a few.

The book contains a number of silly sounding or seemingly impossible refrences that may have been taken out of context. Here are a few examples: "FDR's whale hunting ancestors would have been proud of their descendant if he had succeeded [killing a whale with a rifle]"; "FDR....explored the harbor bottom sixty feet down for about a half hour" [in a submarine]; "Roosevelt, knowing those waters extremely well, took control of the vessel." His Grandson Curtis Roosevelt correctly states that FDR was an un-licensed pilot and that the C.O. was still responsible. [The USS Flusser with Capt. Bull Halsey in command]; "the sleek yacht skimmed what was described as glassy waters for five hours" (where was the wind?); "German submarines had been actively shooting down bombers and other planes crossing the Atlantic...Roosevelt was going into an active war zone full of Nazi spies, all of whom would be hailed as heroes if they assassinated the comander-in-chief."; "Apparently, the commander of the squadron [US Navy] had confused local time with Greenwich Mean Time..." And "Praying for fog," seems highly unlikely while sailing around the Bay of Fundy. These are just a few of the nautical gaffs showing a lack of nautical expertise in the writing but not necessarily by FDR.

The cliches are endless and annoying, many found numerous times in the text. The words "icy waters", "twin-masted" (it is two-masted), "small" schooner, "tiny" yawl, "giant" destroyers, "monumental" tides, and "shoal-ridden seas", "treacherous" New England waters, "Skipper" Roosevelt, "anchored" (where moored or docked should be used); "strong shoulders and arms" and finally "ship-swallowing seas" are trite and un-nautical sounding.

I found the description of the arcane sport of ice boating or hard water sailing, Nantucket's Wharf Rat Club, meetings with Winston Churchill, references to Port Everglades, and the ridiculous King of Saudi Arabia some of the more interesting parts, however I wonder about the endless fishing from the sides of US Navy ships, particularly in the cold Aleutian Islands.

Noticeably missing from the book, and one of the reasons I bought it in the first place, was reference to his collecting. Having recently viewed the museum exhibit entitled "FDR and The Sea," I was expecting to learn details of his ship model collection and more about the prints and paintings so important to him. Also his famous White House ship naming sessions that often took place during the afternoon cocktail hour with friends and colleagues participating. Also absent was reference to the popular nautical collector clocks produced in his honor during the era featuring FDR "Steering the ship of state" or "At the wheel for a New Deal." Nor does the author mention that FDR was the president who first declared May 22 of every year National Maritime Day, a tradition that has continued to the present day but is largely overlooked.

Finally Admiral Emory S. Land is quoted thus: "Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew more about ships and the men who sailed them...than any other man who ever held high office." That may be the case with FDR but is regrettably not with this book.

FINALLY, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT MADE FDR TICK!
I just finished reading "Sailor in the White House."Now, I finally understand what strongly influenced FDR throughout his entire government career.In his fresh and probing new biography, author Robert Cross opens up a whole new dimension in the life of our 32nd president.

FDR used his expert sailing skills and instincts to guide America through the Great Depression and on to victory in World War II.He was always ready to compromise, change tack or revise his plans based on the changing political landscape...just as he did when he sailed the world's oceans.What an ingenious way to look at President Roosevelt! I thank the author for sharing his important insights with all of us.Great job!

Sailor in the White House
This was an excellent view of another side of FDR that as a sailor of the same waters, I found exceptionally interesting.

Not only was the book extremely well written but it was full of glimpses of this president which added a new perspective to my knowledge of his presidency.

It is a wonderful experience to stumble across a biographical work about a man about whom so much has been written and yet find an entirely new and different view of the person's life.

Bravo!!!

sailor in the white house
This is a book I could not "put down" once I started reading it. My problem is I get into the index which takes me every where in the book. However, when I finally got it all together I found it to be both historic and above all informative.I grew up in the Roosevelt era and this book has given me an entirely new insight of his time.
Thank you Mr.Cross.

I Could NotPut This Fascinating Book Down!
Franklin D. Roosevelt loved the sea, sailing and all things nautical.He was America's greatest seafaring president, spending more time sailing, fishing and swimming than any president in our nations's history.And this book tells very interesting minute of it.

In Robert F. Cross' terrific new book, "Sailor in the White House: the Seafaring Life of FDR," the author offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at Roosevelt's time on the sea.What makes this book such a treat, is that many of the stories are told through the voices of those who actually sailed with the president, and who shared their tales with the author for the first time.

Through interviews with Secret Service agents, Roosevelt staff and family members, and contemporaries of the president, Cross exposes a whole new dimension of FDR's life, a dimension which-until this book-has never been explored in the countless biographies of the 32nd president; but it is a dimension which is key to understanding FDR's character and governing style.

The author logs just about every minute FDR spent on the water, and lists all the vessels he was aboard during his entire lifetime-an extraordinary record for anyone, but particularly for one whose legs were paralyzed from polio.From canoes to lifeboats, schooners to destroyers, and battleships to submarienes, Roosevelt never passed up an opportunity to be on the water.The author meticulously records each vessel, noting the type of craft and the years Roosevelt was aboard. No such list existed until now.

The never-before-told stories, including one in which FDR's life was threatened when a fire broke out aboard his schooner, and rare photographs shared with the author are laid out for us within the overall framework of two world wars and the Great Depression.A never-before-published photograph shows FDR seated in a wheelchair; this is only the third such photo known to exist in the more than 35,000 photographs of the president in the FDR library.And Cross has found it!

As we tag along with Roosevelt on New York State's Barge Canal, the atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean, and witness his many antics and adventures, the author skillfully keeps the reader current on world and national affairs, allowing us to see behind the newspaper and newsreel footage, while weaving in the unfolding and perilous world
history.

The tales of FDR hiding from his Secret Service guards are amusing, providing a glimpse of a fearless president who valued his privacy and went to great lengths to protect it. FDR never permitted secret Service agents to travel aboard his small vessels; they had to travel behind on destroyers and Coast Guard cutters.He played "cat and mouse" with the agents, who really had their hands full protecting FDR.The author's interviews with FDR's Secret Service agents are priceless.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., calls this book "delightful."It is that to be sure-but, it is much, much more."Sailor in the White House" provides a new and valuable insight into the make-up and character of the only American president ever elected to four terms.FDR never passed up an opportunity to be on the water, a place where he felt most at home.A place which helped him to relax and gain perspective as he tackled the most difficult problems ever filled by an American President.I recommend this book highly.

Martin Davis, Ph.D. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete texts of all U.S. presidential inaugural addresses from George Washington in 1789 to Barack Obama in 2009.

The Kindle Edition includes a full Table of Contents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

All the speeches, in one place
Following Obama's inauguration speech, I was interested in comparing it to the ones that had come before. This book brings them all together, and, through the hyper-linked front index indicating the president's name and the year of the inauguration, they are very easy to browse and read. Fascinating stuff. ... Read more

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The death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1945 sent shock waves around the world. His lifelong physician swore that the president had always been a picture of health. Later, in 1970, Roosevelt-s cardiologist admitted he had been suffering from uncontrolled hypertension and that his death-from a cerebral hemorrhage-was -a cataclysmic event waiting to happen.- But even this was a carefully constructed deceit, one that began in the 1930s and became acutely necessary as America approached war. In this great medical detective story and narrative of a presidential cover-up, an exhaustive study of all available reports of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt-s health, and a comprehensive review of thousands of photographs, an intrepid physician-journalist team reveals that Roosevelt at his death suffered from melanoma, a skin cancer that had spread to his brain and abdomen. Roosevelt-s condition was not only physically disabling, but also could have affected substantially his mental function and his ability to make decisions in the days when the nation was imperiled by World War II. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Interesting hypothesis concerning FDR's death
This book was interesting and presented altered views on one of the many illnesses that befell FDR.The cause for Melanona was a good one and I think that even though he had many doctors and specialists. he was not well served by them.They overlooked how signifant his heart condition was andhis heavy smoking was not considered a factor. They also didn't give much consideration to how important his paraplegia compounded all the other illness.I felt that they covered up his illnesses, were dishonest with him and his family and his care should have been the best available at the time.Maybe it was, but it doesn't seem that way. It seems that the best specialists were not involved enough in his care to step in and step up with a man considered so important to the country and the war effort.I did enjoy the fact that politics was only in the background and the book was true to his illnesses.

Interesting Analysis of FDR's Medical Condition During His Presidency
Having recently read FDR's Funeral Train, I view this book as the flip side of the events leading up to the death of FDR. 'Funeral Train' looks at the 'facts' surrounding FDR's death and builds upon the intrigue involved in planning a president's funeral. I loved it, but couldn't help but wonder what all the underlying causes were that contributed to FDR's very obvious decline and 'sudden' death. This book provides a "factual autopsy" based on sketchy medical records, varied personal memoirs and recollections of people close to FDR, and the diaries of FDR's distant cousin Daisy Suckley (an FDR insider and close confidant). As FDR was not autopsied after his death, a certain amount of speculation by the author based upon his medical knowledge and the analysis of factual information leads to the conclusion that in all probability FDR's brain hemorage was actually the result of skin cancer/malignant melanoma which traveled to his brain and resulted in his death. Found this all fairly interesting and based upon my very sketchy and non-professional knowledge, I found the author's conclusion plausible and possible.
While there is no way to conclusively determine the actual cause of death some 60+ years after the fact, the lengths to which FDR and his associates went to conceal the facts regarding his medical problems were staggering as well as fascinating. This charade pre-dates FDR's presidency and really begins with his polio diagnosis. However, according to this book, this situation was not without precedence. Most notably, Woodrow Wilson's health problems which threatened the final years of his presidency, were artfully masked by his personal physician and his aides.
This book is interesting and would probably appeal to anyone interested in FDR's presidency, american history, medicine, or political conspiracies.

Good guess work but no smoking gun
The authors of this book spill a lot of ink supposing that FDR dies of brain cancer and not of the cerebral hemorrhage we have all been lead to believe. They also offer a number of theories which claim that FDR was a much sicker man than anyone ever let on.That may be the case but what they don't do is provide specific examples of where, in the last year of his presidency this may have impacted his ability to lead.FDR's polio was not publicized as we all know but it was not the secret some authors would want you to think.

This book is full of speculation and theorizing, but it doesn't answer two key questions. First, where is the documentation that FDR was as sick as what they claim and two, what could be done.We can't treat the type of melanoma he has today, was he supposed to resign in the middle of a war and go off and die.If anything, I respect FDR more for leading the nation through depression and war despite the immense toll it took on him. If this book is to be believed it literally cost him his life.

Who should one trust?
The authors contend FDR was in far worse health than ever previously admitted, that besides his heart disease he also had widespread cancer originated from a malignant melanoma on his forehead. The book seems well-documented, and it could all be true. Who knows?

riveting
I could not put this book down once I started to read it.A must for anyone who has read about FDR.Medical professionals will be fascinated by the roles famous and respected names still in operation today.The founder of the Lahey clinic is a key person in this book.A great contrast to the "must know all" the facts about our current political leaders. ... Read more

Product Description
Discover the untold truth about how The Great Depression of 1929-1940 is so very similar to America’s economy today!The Great Depression of 1929-1940 was a time of great sorrow for a lot of families in America as they lost their jobs, lost their homes and didn’t have enough food to eat.It was a time when families went from prosperity to poverty in a very short time.The Stock Market Crash of 1929 was the beginning of a deep dark hole in the lives of many people and it took years for Americans to dig their way out of this hole.

The Great Depression – Is It Back? is not just about The Great Depression of the 1930s but is also about our present day Depression or as some like to call it, Recession, and how some of the same guidelines that President Hoover used to battle it during the 1930s Great Depression is similar if not exactly like the ones President Obama is using in America today.

In The Great Depression – Is It Back ? you will walk with some personal family members who lived through the Great Depression and learn how it forever changed their lives.You will discover, as they did, that it isn't always money and prosperity that keeps you happy and holds your family together through terrible trying times.You will learn how they lost their homes, businesses and how their children sometime had to go to bed hungry.But through it all you will feel their love and strength as they depended on each other for courage to overcome the poverty that The Great Depression had led them into.

What really caused The Great Depression?Are we in or being led into another Great Depression?What steps did President Hoover take to fight the depression and what steps is President Obama taking today to lead us back to prosperity?The Great Depression – Is It Back? delves into all the steps taken not only by President Hoover, but will also give you the inside story on the presidents that served right before the Great Depression and during this era.

You are going to be delighted as you roar with me into the Roaring Twenties with prohibition, movies, music, flappers, gangsters, fraud and deceit in high places and much, much more.So get ready for the ride of your life; sit back and enjoy this story of prosperity, murders, suicides, gangsters, frauds, movies and music of the 20s and see how some of the same things are going on in our world today!
Look for these other books by Joseph Newburg:
The Embarrassing Truth About AIDS AND How To Manage It
The Embarrassing Truth About Constipation AND How To Cure It
The Embarrassing Truth About Crohn’s Disease AND How To Cure It
The Embarrassing Truth About Sexual Diseases in Women AND How To Cure Them
The Embarrassing Truth About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)-How to Manage It
The Embarrassing Truth About Tween Acne AND How To Cure It
Pancreatic Cancer Causes and Cures – Joseph Newburg
The Truth About The H1N1 Swine Flu – Separating Fact From Fiction – Joseph Newburg
... Read more