A Force to be Reckoned With

“The riddle for a biographer is to explain how this Hudson River aristocrat, a son of privilege who never depended on a paycheck, became the champion of the common man” (xii).

The Book

The life of the 32^nd president was one of privilege and politics, trials and triumphs. FDR by Jean Edward Smith takes the reader through the entire life of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It provides insight, excerpts from personal letters, and a glimpse into a large figure in American history.

FDR’s career (1910-1945) in government spans significant moments in American history and the reader is given a front seat view to his thoughts and interactions with other political figures. Smith focuses on FDR’s reactions and decisions when covering events like World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Interwoven are stories of his family and personal relationships.

Over half of FDR’s time in government was impacted by his contraction of polio in 1921. The book spends quite a bit of time on FDR’s battle with polio and the aftermath. For additional insight into this part of FDR’s life, I would recommend the film Sunrise at Campobello.

This biography is well-written and provides just enough information for the reader to feel like they have a better idea of who FDR was and his public life. Little stories throughout each chapter help to entertain and show FDR as human. As you read the book, you are able to grasp what the context, time period, and relationships were like. Do not be put off by the length of the book (over 600 pages), the reading comes easily. There are certain sections where Smith’s admiration and political leanings are subtlety included in the narrative. While the author does spend substantial time on FDR’s personal flaws and poor public decisions, the biography does not always read as impartial.

The Place
The FDR Presidential Library and Museum provides visitors the opportunity to visit and learn in several different ways. The first stop is the Welcome Center where tickets can be purchased (for the museum, home, or both). Here, visitors are able to watch an introductory video about the life of FDR. Just outside the Welcome Center, you can wander the grounds where you encounter statutes commemorating FDR’s speeches or significant events, gardens, and the graves of FDR and Eleanor. I would recommend you take some time looking down the lane FDR would walk each day to regain his mobility that was lost when he had polio (see photo on right).

The tour of FDR’s home is with a park ranger and tickets are timed-so make sure to purchase them right away. Tickets for the museum do not sell out as quickly. The museum is self-guided and provides visitors an immersive look at FDR’s life and public service. Artifacts on display include his metal leg braces and personally annotated drafts of many significant speeches. For me, it was quite an experience to see FDR’s personal notes on speeches like the delivery to Congress after the attack on Pearl Harbor.