Man of Destiny : FDR and the Making of the American Century

"No president looms larger in twentieth-century American history than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and few life stories can match his for sheer drama. He was a man of large personality and a president of vast and enduring accomplishments. Yet, as the distinguished historian Alonzo Hamby argues, FDR's record as president was more mixed than we are often led to believe. Roosevelt was a great politician and war leader, but the New Deal, his most famous legacy, failed to achieve its goal of reviving the nation's economy, in no small measure because of FDR's hostility toward the business and financial communities. Hamby is no less perceptive about FDR's private life. Drawing on overlooked sources, he documents the president's final months in intimate detail, claiming that his perseverance despite his serious illness must be counted as one of the twentieth century's great feats of endurance. Man of Destiny is a measured account of the life, both personal and public, of the most important American leader of the twentieth century"--Provided by publisher.;Part I. Becoming FDR. "The best people": family and identity, 1882-1896 -- Young gentleman: schooldays, 1896-1904 -- Eleanor and Franklin: marriage, family, job, 1904-1910 -- Insurgent progressive, 1910-1913 -- Riding in front: Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1913-1914 -- Armageddon: the Great War, 1914-1919 -- Victory in defeat, 1919-1921 -- Paralysis and philanthropy, 1920-1928 -- The young prince returns, 1922-1928 -- Chief executive: power in Albany, 1929-1932 -- Destiny calls: the quest for the presidency, January-July, 1932 -- Much to fear: election and interregnum, July, 1932-March, 1933 -- Part II. The New Deal. Nothing to fear: creating a New Deal, March-July, 1933 -- Unlimited ambitions, limited achievement: the First New deal, July, 1933-November, 1934 -- Presidential government, the politics of maximum leadership, 1933-1934 -- Toward "a new order of things": origins of the Second New Deal, 1935 -- Rendezvous with destiny: the Second New Deal and the triumph of 1936 -- "Panic and lack of confidence": the economic and political consequences of the second hundred days, 1937-39 -- Part III. The world at war. Winds of war, 1933-1939 -- Private plans and public danger, September, 1939-November, 1940 -- Undeclared war, December 7, 1940-December 7, 1941 -- Commander-in-chief of the United Nations, December, 1941-January, 1943 -- Dr. New Deal at bay: mobilization and mortality, 1942-44 -- War and diplomacy, February, 1943-June 1944 -- Indispensable man, June 6, 1944-November 7, 1944 -- The quest for a new world order, November 8, 1944-April 15, 1945 -- Epilogue: FDR and the American century. From An Acclaimed Historian Comes An Authoritative And Balanced Biography Of Fdr, Based On Previously Untapped Sources. No President Looms Larger In Twentieth-century American History Than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, And Few Life Stories Can Match His For Sheer Drama. Following In The Footsteps Of His Republican Cousin President Theodore Roosevelt, Fdr Devoted Himself To Politics As A Democrat And A True Man Of The People. Eventually Setting His Sights On The Presidency, He Was Elected To Office In 1932 By A Nation That Was Mired In The Great Depression And Desperate For Revival. As The Distinguished Historian Alonzo Hamby Argues In This Authoritative Biography, Fdr's Record As President Was More Mixed Than We Are Often Led To Believe. The New Deal Provided Much-needed Assistance To Millions Of Americans, But Failed To Restore Prosperity, And While Fdr Became An Outstanding Commander-in-chief During World War Ii, His Plans For The Postwar World Were Seriously Flawed. No Less Perceptive Is Hamby's Account Of Fdr's Private Life, Which Explores The Dynamics Of His Marriage And His Romance With His Wife's Secretary, Lucy Mercer. Hamby Documents Fdr's Final Months In Intimate Detail, Claiming That His Perseverance, Despite His Serious Illness, Not Only Shaped His Presidency, But Must Be Counted As One Of The Twentieth Century's Great Feats Of Endurance. Hamby Reveals A Man Whose Personality--egocentric, Undisciplined In His Personal Appetites, At Times A Callous User Of Aides And Associates, Yet Philanthropic And Caring For His Nation's Underdogs--shaped His Immense Legacy. Man Of Destiny Is A Measured Account Of The Life, Both Personal And Public, Of The Most Important American Leader Of The Twentieth Century.--publisher Website. Becoming Fdr. The Best People : Family And Identity, 1882-1896 ; Young Gentleman : Schooldays, 1896-1904 ; Eleanor And Franklin : Marriage, Family, Job, 1904-1910 ; Insurgent Progressive, 1910-1913 ; Riding In Front : Assistant Secretary Of The Navy, 1913-1914 ; Armageddon : The Great War, 1914-1919 ; Victory In Defeat, 1919-1921 ; Paralysis And Philanthropy, 1921-1928 ; The Young Prince Returns, 1922-1928 ; Chief Executive : Power In Albany, 1929-1932 ; Destiny Calls : The Quest For The Presidency, January-july, 1932 ; Much To Fear : Election And Interregnum, July, 1932-march, 1933 -- The New Deal. Nothing To Fear : Creating A New Deal, March-july, 1933 ; Unlimited Ambitions, Limited Achievement : The First New Deal, July 1933-november 1934 ; Presidential Government : The Politics Of Maximum Leadership, 1933-1934 ; Toward A New Order Of Things : Origins Of The Second New Deal, 1935 ; Rendezvous With Destiny : The Second New Deal And The Triumph Of 1936 ; Panic And Lack Of Confidence : The Economic And Political Consequences Of The Second Hundred Days, 1937-1939 -- The World At War. Winds Of War, 1933-1939 ; Private Plans And Public Danger, September 1939-november 1940 ; Undeclared War, December 7, 1940-december 7, 1941 ; Commander-in-chief Of The United Nations, December 1941-january 1943 ; Dr. New Deal At Bay : Mobilization And Mortality, 1942-1944 ; War And Diplomacy, February 1943-june 1944 ; Indispensable Man, June 6, 1944-november 7, 1944 ; The Quest For A New World Order, November 8, 1944-april 15, 1945 -- Fdr And The American Century. Alonzo L. Hamby. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 439-484) And Index. From an acclaimed historian comes an authoritative and balanced biography of FDR, based on previously untapped sources No president looms larger in twentieth-century American history than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and few life stories can match his for sheer drama. Following in the footsteps of his Republican cousin President Theodore Roosevelt, FDR devoted himself to politics as a Democrat and a true man of the people. Eventually setting his sights on the presidency, he was elected to office in 1932 by a nation that was mired in the Great Depression and desperate for revival. As the distinguished historian Alonzo Hamby argues in this authoritative biography, FDR's record as president was more mixed than we are often led to believe. The New Deal provided much-needed assistance to millions of Americans, but failed to restore prosperity, and while FDR became an outstanding commander-in-chief during World War II, his plans for the postwar world were seriously flawed. No less perceptive is Hamby's account of FDR's private life, which explores the dynamics of his marriage and his romance with his wife's secretary, Lucy Mercer. Hamby documents FDR's final months in intimate detail, claiming that his perseverance, despite his serious illness, not only shaped his presidency, but must be counted as one of the twentieth century's great feats of endurance. Hamby reveals a man whose personality — egocentric, undisciplined in his personal appetites, at times a callous user of aides and associates, yet philanthropic and caring for his nation's underdogs-shaped his immense legacy. Man of Destiny is a measured account of the life, both personal and public, of the most important American leader of the twentieth century.