It was only when FDR began making a name for himself in the New York Democratic Party that he caught the eye of Woodrow Wilson, whose 1912 presidential victory paved the way for young FDR to make his first solid connection to the common American. After wading through life at Harvard and Columbia, FDR complained about not wanting to work for a living, which was supported by his mother and the significant monies amassed in the Roosevelt accounts. Smith discusses in passing that FDR constantly lived under the shadow of his ever-popular relative Theodore, whose ascendancy in New York politics had yet to reach its climax in the late 19th century. Born into a family of some wealth, FDR was the only child his parents had, permitting him to be doted upon like few others. That FDR was a silver-spoon socialite is by no means a shock to the reader who attentively sifts through these chapters. Smith reserves the early portion of this biography to show the reader some of the foundational aspect of the man’s upbringing. Smith takes up this challenge and delivers a stellar piece of biographical writing that is a must-read for the curious reader who thirsts for knowledge. The man who feared little, pulled America out of its doldrums, and faced enemies on all fronts, FDR ought not be left remembered in the history books solely as the man of the Sunday night radio broadcast or he who was confined to a wheelchair. FDR sought to protect the common American, even if his upbringing did not mirror that of the large portion of the electorate. As Smith recounts throughout, FDR tried to better America in the only way he knew how, by forging ahead and changing some of its current practices. The leader behind these great acts helped shape America in ways known to fewer people, doing so with all the vigour he could muster. But there is more to this man, as Jean Edward Smith argues in this lengthy biography. Known best for his New Deal to help America and acting as one of the three Allies political leaders during the Second World War, Roosevelt’s legacy is thoroughly documented in the history books. Roosevelt (FDR) has been called one of the three most important US presidents of all time, by historians and political figures alike.
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