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. 

Struggle for the Upper Hand

“Mr. President, what’s this about Japan?” asked Churchill. 

“It’s quite true,” the President confirmed. “They have attacked us at Pearl Harbor. We are all in the same boat now” (60).

The Book

The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942 by Nigel Hamilton focuses on a very specific era of FDR’s presidency-a few months prior to Pearl Harbor through the success of Allied forces in North Africa. While it is a specific era, it is not short of anecdotes and intriguing information regarding the early days of America’s involvement in World War II.

Hamilton begins by telling of FDR’s August 1941 meeting with Winston Churchill. The goals of these two men couldn’t have been more different for this meeting: FDR wanted to listen, provide supplies and weapons, and discuss a future peace agreement; Churchill wanted to develop a strategy to win the war with America’s help. The main takeaway from the meeting was a future peace agreement: the Atlantic Charter (later to become “A Declaration by the United Nations”). Hamilton then provides the reader with the following events: Pearl Harbor, loss of the Philippines, failures of British forces in the East, and the Allied invasion of North Africa. 

One of the most interesting parts of this biography are the two struggles FDR encounters. First, is the struggle between FDR and his military generals. It appears that the two had different ideas for the majority of this time period. The generals wanted a preemptive strike on Japan, FDR demurred because it was not typical of American action and many Americans were still isolationists. Once America entered World War II, the generals wanted a cross-Channel invasion of France (precursor to D-Day). However, FDR recognized the difficulty of such a move and pushed for an invasion of North Africa. The second struggle was between FDR and the rising American power, and Churchill and the fading British empire. Both had different views about how and where to strike, in addition to the preservation of the British empire.

The Mantle of Command is a well-written and insightful account of these two years. Hamilton attempts to tell FDR’s side of the story and relies heavily on first-person accounts and letters. To truly understand the global nature of this story, the backgrounds of key players and occurrences are included. 1941-1942 involved much more than America’s preparation to enter World War II and avenge the attack at Pearl Harbor. The book does go into military and political detail, which could be difficult for some readers. In the first half of the book, Hamilton often editorializes in the nature of an italicized question directed at the reader. It feels more like an astonished aside that can jar the reader out of the narrative. But, overall, The Mantel of Command presents a new insight into a significant era of American and world history.

The Place

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is located by 
the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. It is a memorial unlike the others on the National Mall because it focuses on storytelling. The Memorial is split into four rooms that depict each of FDR’s four terms in office. Each room includes quotes, statutes depicting specific events, and a water feature.

As a part of the National Park Service, entrance is free. If you enjoy reading and spending time in the memorials, plan your schedule accordingly. Due to its size, there is a lot of walking to move through each outdoor room. The first time I visited, it was pouring; the bulk of my time was spent in a small Visitor Center. Before visiting, make sure to check the weather forecast.