Reviews (2)

Interesting view of history
This is the story of Franklin Roosevelt's friendship with a distant cousin Daisy Suckley, based on journals long kept from the public by Daisy herself. It is fascinating for that story, but more so for the information it gives of a time in our history, when the President could leave the country and only those closest to him would know it. As Daisy relates the daily comings and goings of her life, she give us an intimate look at how Franklin Roosevelt managed to travel to secret meetings with other world leaders. She also lets us see Rosevelt's failing health and how his determination to win the war kept him going.

Geoffrey C. Ward's editing keeps the story moving. It may not be scholarly history, but it is a fascinating read for any history buff looking to understand the story behind the history.

An intimate portrait that does not sacrifice dignity
Having visited Ms. Suckley's home and the nearby Roosevelt home and library, I felt as though I were along for the ride as I read Daisy's accounts of their picnics and "tea dates" at various sites along the Hudson. In this day of "tell-all" books and seemingly unlimited voyeuristic snooping into Presidential private lives, this book was a pleasant departure from the norm. It also offered new insights into the life of a much-studied President, but one about whom there are still many unknowns. Margaret Suckley, even while preserving much of the account of her longstanding (but unknown to most contemporaries) relationship with FDR, took care to take the more private elements of their friendship to the grave. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A top advisor to Ronald Reagan once remarked of his boss: "He knows so little and accomplishes so much." Reagan, in His Own Hand will show that the 40th president knew far more than some people have given him credit for. It collects Reagan's recently discovered writings from the late 1970s, when he delivered more than a thousand radio addresses. He wrote about two-thirds of these himself, in longhand on yellow legal paper. "In writing these daily essays on almost every national policy issue during the 1970s, Reagan was acting as a one-man think tank," suggest the editors. This edition reproduces everything faithfully, right down to the spelling mistakes and crossed-out words. And it offers a compelling look at the ideas and principles that animated one of the most important Americans of the 20th century. In one address, Reagan describes his contribution to a time capsule:

I wrote of the problems we face here in 1976--The choice we face between continuing the policies of the last 40 yrs. that have led to bigger & bigger govt, less & less liberty, redistribution of earnings through confiscatory taxation or trying to get back on the original course set for us by the Founding Fathers.... On the international scene two great superpowers face each other with nuclear missiles at the ready--poised to bring Armageddon to the world.

The bulk of the book comprises these radio addresses, but a concluding section includes everything from a short story Reagan wrote as a school assignment when he was 14 (it earned him a B+) to his memorable letter in 1994 revealing his Alzheimer's disease. This book will enthrall Reagan's devotees, and even his toughest critics will concede he had a way with words. No wonder they called him "The Great Communicator." --John J. Miller ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Many of Us Underestimated Ronald Reagan
This selection of 670 radio commentaries Ronald Reagan wrote between 1975 and 1979 astonishes me to no end. Although I was an ardent supporter of the former President, it seemed to me that Reagan's intellect left much to be desired. At best I concluded that Reagan had superb gut instincts, but was primarily the mouthpiece of those far more intelligent than himself. The first question concerning--Reagan, In His Own Hand--that came to mind was whether Reagan relied upon a ghost writer. After all, it is well established that some political leaders such as John F. Kennedy were credited for books they never wrote. I was therefore amazed to learn that it appears Ronald Reagan didn't even have an editorial assistant. These writings are indeed the result of Reagan's many years of intellectual inquiry in issues dominating the last three quarters of a century.

The editors of this collection rightfully describe Reagan as "a one-man think tank." His insights on why Communism would inevitably disintegrate alone justifies the purchase of this work. Reagan's detractors were upset when the President called the now defunct Soviet Union an "evil empire." Nevertheless, Reagan refused to mealy mouth the truth. In the end Reagan insisted that we stay the course in our opposition to World Communism. A weaker but still dangerous Soviet Union might still exist today had it not been for President Reagan. He was proven correct and his opponents should have the integrity to admit their errors in judgment. The great leader also clearly understood the values of Democratic Capitalism. Some may legitimately nit-pick Reagan on some of the specifics, but substantially he was on target. Reagan's own words reveal a profound realization that dire poverty can only be eradicated by an essentially free economic system; government policies may be well meaning, but inadvertently often do more harm than good.

Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest Presidents in our nation's history. Even many professional Liberal historians are favorably reevaluating Reagan's Presidency. --Reagan, In His Own Hand--deserves a prominent place in one's library. These radio commentaries allow us to more fully comprehend how fortunate we were that Ronald Reagan lead our nation during such a crucial era.

The real Reagan
This is a must read for both avid admirers of Ronald Reagan (disclaimer: that's me), and his would-be detractors in the liberal arena. Far from being an "amiable dunce", this collection of radio broadcasts and essays, mostly written in the 1974-1980 period, shows Reagan's keen intellect and focus on his areas of greatest interest, such as the superiority of capitalism over communism, and the cause of freedom throughout the world. His radio broadcasts were short, only about 5 minutes, but they show that he was well-read and informed on any number of topics. Probably the most fascinating aspect was his ability to not only write a compelling, concise story, but to edit his own material. The compilers of this material wisely chose to include the words and phrases that were lined out in favor of the final, broadcast version. This gave me some real insights to Mr. Reagan's line of thought as the essays were composed. The final essay in this book is Reagan's farewell to the American people upon his learning of that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and is one of the most tender and touching messages I have ever read. God bless you, Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

Good Study Item
Even before President Reagan's passing, I had wanted to find a book that would outline his political views. When I finally got around to it, I chose this book and so far find it enthralling. You soon learn to read through some of the cross-outs that the editors decided to leave in because it is a book of his handwritten drafts of his radio addresses. I've decided to flag some of my favorite addresses that can be updated for the world today for later study. That's the great thing about any great thinker; his thoughts and words are always able to be updated for the time you are in, and I think Reagan's words, including these radio addresses, will live on as long as the free world reigns. Great book, you should buy it.

An open, curious, searching mind revealed
Lately I have been reading some of the books on letters from the former president and this is indeed one of the best in its revelatory powers. What is surprising - once one gets past all the soundbites of the media - is that he was incredibly curious about the world (in a sense, reminescent of Clinton) but at the same time held an optimistic, almost youthful outlook for the American people that never faltered once.

As I said in my review on Reagan: Letters, his was an intellect unlike Nixon, Gore, Dole or Kerry. He did not think in terms of politics first but always in terms of people. He was (as one reviewer aptly noted) at heart a libertarian, revealed by his comments on adult drug usage, religion, taxes and personal freedom. This most abused of Presidents (think Hollywood and academia) effectively reshaped America and the world in his image - an accomplishment of outstanding proportions that few Presidents can approach.

It is not surprising that he supported Goldwater, another closet Libertarian. (I love his comment on election day, "I voted for a few Democrats." Can one imagine a comparable comment from Delay or Clinton?) I liked the rough letters - it shows us a mind in the process of arriving at a final thought. Sometimes the marked out parts are more informative than what remains. Once again, the intellectual range covered within these words is simply astounding - economics, philosophy, the proper role of govt, the correlation between economic and personal freedom, human motivation... One notes again that these are PHILOSOPHICAL (not political) undertones - no quick and easy answers on such questions as minimum wage, quotas, throwing money at education, mass transit, welfare...these were almost too pedestrian for someone determined to change America and the world.

To quote another reviewer, RR possessed one of the rarest of qualities - emotional intelligence. He recognized why people did what did and continually sought to make American into a place where everyone could reach their full potential. Another outstanding contribution to the political literature!

Outstanding and important text
This outstanding book is not narrative, nor is it a history. Rather, it is a collection of short opinion pieces the president wrote and broadcast on radio during the 1970s. In these pages, you will find the Reagan philosophy clearly outlined, defined, and defended.

I first read this book when it was assigned for a graduate class at Wesleyan University. As one can imagine, the book was subjected to some pretty brutal criticism by the students. However, one area of agreement was that the philosophy developed was clearly his, that he wrote the speeches himself, and therefore the image of the "amiable dunce" that has long characterized the traditional academic's view of Reagan is, at least, an oversimplification. More likely, Reagan was an intellectually capable leader with a grasp of the "big picture" who could delegate public policy details to competent staffers, who at times failed in their responsibility.

Whatever your views of Reagan's domestic and foreign policy are, this book will give you insight into the philosophy that drove Reagan. Whether you want to cheer or scream at what you read, you will find the principles of the Reagan revolution clearly articulated. Moreover, this is pure Reagan. He is obviously influenced by William F. Buckley and National Review by this period, but these are not presidential speeches written by staffers and in house intellectuals. This is, to put is simply, the real Ronald Reagan. Everyone interested in understanding his legacy ought to read this book. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Before Barry Bonds, before Reggie Jackson, before Hank Aaron, baseball's stars had one undeniable trait in common: they were all white. In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke that barrier, striking a crucial blow for racial equality and changing the world of sports forever. I Never Had It Made is Robinson's own candid, hard-hitting account of what it took to become the first black man in history to play in the major leagues.

I Never Had It Made recalls Robinson's early years and influences: his time at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete; his army stint during World War II, when he challenged Jim Crow laws and narrowly escaped court martial; his years of frustration, on and off the field, with the Negro Leagues; and finally that fateful day when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers proposed what became known as the "Noble Experiment" -- Robinson would step up to bat to integrate and revolutionize baseball.

More than a baseball story, I Never Had It Made also reveals the highs and lows of Robinson's life after baseball. He recounts his political aspirations and civil rights activism; his friendships with Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, William Buckley, Jr., and Nelson Rockefeller; and his troubled relationship with his son, Jackie, Jr.

Originally published the year Robinson died, I Never Had It Made endures as an inspiring story of a man whose heroism extended well beyond the playing field.

Reviews (10)

A man who lived A dream...or did he?
When I think about someone like Jackie Robinson, I think of someone who had an easy life of playing baseball and making lots of money. He was first the first African-American to play in the professional Major League level and was highly respected by everyone. After having read his autobiography, I Never Had It Made, I realized that I was totally wrong. Besides the glory and the fame for having been the first African-American to play in the major leagues, Jackie had to go through many hardships to get where he got. Jackie uses this book to tell the reader of all the different trials and hardships he had to go through before, during, and after his professional career as the 1st and 2nd baseman of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie also tells of all the other things that he did besides baseball. I didn't know it, but Jackie went to UCLA and while he was there, he did many great things. Not only was a great baseball star at UCLA, he was also a big star in football, basketball, and track. After college, he went into the Army and became a lieutenant for the U.S. Army before he signed with the Montreal Royals (a minor league baseball team) in 1945. Jackie gives a lot of the credit to Mr. Branch Rickey, the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers for having the guts to bring him into the team and making the transition as easy as possible. Jackie promised to take in any insults thrown at him while he was in baseball uniform and not to respond to them for two years. This was to pave the way for other black players to be brought into the major league. I personally don't think that I can play a game while people are yelling and making fun of me. Jackie describes what he had to go through in the book. Jackie also discusses the hate mail he got and even the threats people placed on his life. He also tells of his wife and the kind of positive impact she had on him as well. Many people think of Jackie Robinson as being only a baseball player, but he did much more. After retiring from baseball, he did many things in regard to the civil rights issue. He influenced many issues and was even the political scene, helping President Nixon and President John F. Kennedy during their stay in office. He was even apart of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). In the book, you learn more about his relationships with Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and many others. Jackie Robinson accomplished many things and had endured many problems even within his own family. He talks about the drug problems that plagued his oldest son and all the hardships his children had to go through being the sons and daughter of a famous African-American figure. Jackie changed the way of life for many people and gave hope to the African-American community. After all of this, Jackie learns that no matter what his successes were in the white world, he would always remain a black man. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in knowing about Jackie Robinson. You wouldn't expect for a baseball player to be a good enough writer to write a three hundred page autobiography, but I thought Jackie did a great job. The book flowed and it never got boring. I didn't even want to put it down, just kept turning the pages. This book gave great insight into the kind of life African American faced in the early to mid nineteen hundreds and what they had to endure. Jackie Robinson is not only a great icon in the world of professional sports, but in other aspects as well and I think that he did awesome job in writing this book.

I Never Had It Made
This book tells of the struggles Jackie Robinson faced as he made a name for himself in the game of baseball. This is a wonderfully writen autobiography that tells the emotion and physical hardships he faced not only in the major and minor leagues while playing baseball but also in his everyday life as well.While perservering through all this, he succeeded to a degree of breaking the color barrier in the United States. As a child he witnessed constant racism from neighbors, children, and many others that came into contact with him. His mother brought him up to be very strong and independent because when Jackie was about one or two his father went to the city and never returned. He left her with nothing but thier five children who were all too young to work and support the family. Eventually after being forced to move, they went to live with Jacies uncle in California.
This book really showed me how hard he had it. Not only did he have the pressures of playing in the major leagues but also have to worry about prejudist on the field and in the stands. You will see how he didnt have a friend to talk to unless his wife, Rachel Robinson, would travel with him during the season. There was no one who even dreamed of having a black man in baseball until the dodgers took on Jackie. Baseball has never been the same because of the influence this one man has had on the sport itself and many if not all other sports indirectly.
"I Never Had It Made" tells Robinson's early years and influences such as his college experience at UCLA, where he became the school's first four-letter athlete;World War II , playing with the Negro Leagues; and when Branch Rickey of the Brooklyn Dodgers asked Jackie Robinson to play, which was known as the "Noble Experiment".The league itself recieved a lot of critism from fans during the timethis "experiment" was unvealed.Jackie Robinson expesses his deppest feelings in this book and writes of his relationship's with individual player's and managers. He also talked of the few he had arguments and different views in many areas. There is many accounts of important games such as the 1955 World Series, when jackie Robinson and the Dodgers won against thier rivals.
This book is a great story of one man's determination and detication to a sport he loved to play through thick and thin. He did this in the faces of all those people who said it could never happen,.it would never happen, and blacks will never say in major league baseball in the United States.Jackie Robinson was a true hero

Everyone in America should read this book
This is a very important book. It documents one man's struggle against terrible odds. It should be assigned reading in every junior high school in America. I know that I'll be giving a copy to my kids so that can read the story of a man who said what he believed & fought for his ideals.

I Never Had it Made
"I Never Had It Made" by Jackie Robinson is an amazing biography of one of the most remarkable figures in the history of baseball. There is much more to Robinson than just baseball. From his fight for respect in the US Army to his support of Rockefeller, Robinson deserves much respect for this and is probably one of the best symbols of everything this country should represent. Much of the baseball critics doubted that he could even hit a big league pitch. Tom Candiotti said major league pitchers would "knock the bat right out of his hands." Robinson's critics claimed he couldn't hit because "he was all tied up at the shoulders and could never get around on the pitches inside." Jackie Robinson gave all of us, not only athletes, but every person in this country, a sense of our own strength. However, because I am an athlete, I looked at Jackie a little differently. This is not all about baseball; it's about the deep commitment that Robinson made to achieve justice for himself and all Americans. In 1947 Robinson broke the color line in the major leagues and suffered terrible abuse for doing so. He discusses his relationships with the sports figures he admired, and also recalls his run-ins with those he did not like. It is later about political involvements after his career ended in 1956 and his friendships with Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, William Buckley, and Nelson Rockefeller.

I Never Had It Made
This is an inspiring book that talks about the life of a great sports figure named Jackie Robinson. Who was the man who broke the color barrier in baseball. Despite all odds he does what many people thought was impossible. He had went through many hardships but never gave up. He gave hie people hope and something to shoot for now that he did the impossibe. Jackie Robinson was a hero ... Read more

Book Description

For as long as she could remember, Jackie Mitchell's father had told Jackie she could be good at whatever she wanted, as long as she worked at it. Jackie worked at baseball. She worked hard. And before long Jackie could outplay anyone in her neighborhood -- even the boys.

She had one pitch -- a wicked, dropping curve ball. But no seventeen-year-old girl could pitch against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It was unthinkable. Then on April 2, 1931, the New York Yankees stopped in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. And on that day Jackie Mitchell made baseball history.

Marissa Moss tells a true story of determination and heroism, a gem of baseball history sure to inspire ballplayers of all ages. And C. F. Payne's vibrant, glorious illustrations make the golden age of baseball come alive. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether it was traveling with Ronald Reagan on endless campaign flights, discussing day-to-day issues in the Oval Office, or surviving the harrowing assassination attempt, former aide and longtime family friend Michael Deaver offers his warm recollections of Ronald Reagan -- governor, president, and friend.

In A Different Drummer, Deaver writes of the Reagan he has known: a man who was shy and deplored talking about himself, who would rather spend a party talking to a laborer than policy wonks; a man whose convictions remained unchanged over the. course of his life, who never used pollsters to decide In's position on issues; a man whose idea of relaxation was riding a horse, fixing fence posts, and chopping wood until his muscles ached and In's hands blistered.

Writing not only of their dizzying highs, Deaver also shares the lows, including the tough times that would test the strength of their friendship. Finally, lie shares a poignant look at Reagan today, as lie battles Alzheimer's disease, and at Nancy Reagan, as she stands by his side in her finest hour.

Reviews (40)

Lessons from the Master
For twenty years, Michael Deaver had the best job in the world (second only perhaps to Ronald Reagan himself): standing by the side of probably the most important, most inspiring leader of the American Century. A Different Drummer gives us a close-in look at our 40th President, and accomplishes what the biographers-of-record only struggled at: explaining Reagan the man.

For years, frustrated Reaganologists like Edmund Morris have told us Reagan's mind was too hard to penetrate. Getting "close" to the private man was very difficult for most people. That Reagan possesed a genius for leadership that hasn't quite been approximated is probably what made them try so hard. Deaver's central message is that Reagan was really a simple man who was utterly and completely confident in who he was, and in the greatness of his countrymen. This self-assuredness could explain his supposed lack of introspection so obsessed over by the historians. The outward self-pity of presidents like Johnson, Nixon, Carter and Clinton have made for abundant and fascinating psychological profiles of these men. Not so with Reagan. Reagan knew who he was, and had no time for self-doubt.

Regretably, Deaver's volume is all too slim. But his memories of Ronald Reagan are gripping, and will give you a more complete picture of the whole Reagan than will the works of the often confused historians.

Reagan. From a man who knew him well.
Few people ever really knew Ronald Reagan. He was a very private person. This fact led to Edmund Morris writing a semi-fictional biography of Reagan, because he just couldn't understand his psychology. Thankfully, longtime Reagan friend, Mike Deaver, decided to offer a personal memoir of his time with the ex-president.

Deaver goes way back. Back to California when no one thought Reagan could be elected governor. He spent a total of 20 years with Reagan the public figure. In those 20 Years, he understood the private Reagan and his devoted marriage to Nancy. Reagan didn't need anyone else but her. He liked and even loved others, but if they drifted in and out of his life he didn't fret. She filled his every void.

Deaver tells the story of a very involved president who read through stacks of position papers and briefings. It was Reagan's mother who told him that if he learned to love reading, he would never feel alone. The intellectuals have never understood Reagan. They have always been willing to dismiss his substance as play acting for the camera. But Reagan had the kind of vision that is rare for a leader. He saw the shining city on a hill long before the rest of us. He had the humility to think of himself as a regular guy. He felt as comfortable with laborers as he did with Prime Ministers. This was ultimately the reason he could connect with the American people.

After reading more than one account of the distant Ronald Reagan, I was very happy to read a telling that was reminiscent of the man I grew up with in my adolescent years. When Reagan spoke, I heard the voice of a calm experienced captain that was taking the ship to port. It was my misfortune, maybe, that I was too young to know how important he really was at the time. I remember the last public speech he gave in 1993, where his ad-lib humor was a great reminder of what's been missing in politics ever since. Michael Deaver helped me to remember the great man once more.

Both comfortable and comforting
No review of this book would be complete without addressing the first point to be made by the author -- a description of what this book is not.

It is not an exhaustive biography, an apology for Reagan's policies, or a criticism of his opponents. It is simply an accounting of Mike Deaver's time with Ronald Wilson Reagan.

This is a comfortable book, because it is written with an ease and familiarity born of friendship. It is comforting, because it shows that behind the scenes and out of the spotlight, Ronald Reagan was as genuine as he appeared to be. His integrity and conviction was not an act.

Deaver could easily have used this book for self-promotion, but he wrote it in the same way he served Reagan -- with wholehearted committment to his friend and boss.

Reagan's person and policy has been, and will continue to be studied, criticized, and defended. Biographies and collections of works will tell much of the story. But none of them will offer such a simple glimpse into the public and private nature of the 40th President as does this recounting of memories shared by a loyal friend and advisor.

In the wake of Ronnie's death, indispensable
After the massive disappointment of Edmund Morris' "Dutch", I thought I would give up on outside accounts of the Reagan legacy. Mike Deaver's book, however, brought me out of the disappointment of "Dutch" and in this week of mourning, has brought this reader many smiles. Let not the slimness of this volume dissuade you: Deaver, having been close to Reagan from before the Governorship of California, understands his subject in a way that completely eluded Morris' bloated opus and what emerges from these pages is a picture of an introverted extrovert. One sees a complex Reagan - but where "Dutch" seemingly gives up and fails in trying to understand the complexity, "Drummer" seems to draw a picture of a man who simply wanted to share his very personal life with Nancy - and respects him for it.

I also salute Deaver's work for its assessment of Reagan as bringing about the end of the Cold War, for the little-trumpeted Reagan reaction (or lack thereof) to the shooting down of Korean Air flight 007, thereby isolating the Soviets further. Hopefully, history will follow Deaver in marking this as the non-shot that saved the world from a nuclear winter.

I highly recommend buying this book now; it will become _the_ definitive Reagan assessment in the years to come.

Working with the Gipper
Michael Deaver served as the White House Chief of Staff during most of the Reagan White House years. During that time, and during the previous decade, he came to know and love the man who served first as California governor and later as U.S. President during the 1980's, Mr. Ronald Reagan. In this book, he talks about his relationship with the former president, including how they first met, how they formed a friendship, and how their bond remained strong through Reagan's presidency and beyond.

Deaver first met Ronald Reagan in 1966 when he was about to run for the governorship of California. It was here that Deaver first got to know Reagan from a political standpoint. Before long, however, the friendship grew beyond politics and Deaver and Reagan became friends for life. They didn't always agree on everything, but they were still able to separate the disputes from the fact that they were still friends. Deaver points out that the Reagan he got to know personally was very different from the image that the public was used to. Reagan was popular with the people and was known for his good looks and sense of humor. He was also perceived as very outgoing, but Deaver indicates that this was not really the case at all. Ronald Reagan was actually rather shy and would prefer to talk with only one or two people at a party rather than work the crowd, like a more gregarious type of personality would do. These facts might surprise some readers who always assumed that Ronald Reagan was the life of the party in any social situation.

One thing about this book that makes it a little different from other political books is the fact that it keeps a positive attitude from beginning to end. Unlike other politically influenced books that devote a large number of pages to negative criticism and outright bashing of opponents, "A Different Drummer" remains optimistic. There is really nothing negative in this book, so don't read it if you are expecting to hear Deaver lash out at Reagan's many enemies or talk openly about Iran Contra or other scandals. It isn't that type of book at all. Deaver focuses on Ronald Reagan as a person, and he remains upbeat and optimistic throughout.

Deaver speaks very affectionately about Ronald Reagan, and this fact will turn some people off right away, particularly those who are liberal in their thinking and cannot handle hearing anything positive about Reagan or any other Republican. I admit that Deaver's words can go a little overboard, and they often overflow with excessive admiration. But before a potential reader writes this book off for political reasons, he or she should reconsider. It's true that the book is written about an important political figure, but it isn't really a political book, in the purest sense. It is really a personal book about one man's relationship with a man he admired to the extreme.

I didn't necessarily learn a lot more about Ronald Reagan when I read this book. What I learned instead was the power of friendship. Micheal Deaver has known Reagan for more than 30 years. He has been with the president during his highest achievements (like winning the governor's race and the two election victories for the White House) and during his lowest and most difficult personal crises (like his battle with Alzheimer's disease- a very touching part of the book). And through it all, Deaver has remained a friend. "A Different Drummer" is a nice tribute from Deaver to Reagan, showing how two men can remain loyal and steadfast to the very end. It's not the best book about Ronald Reagan as a whole, since it doesn't cover very much about the president's early life or achievements. But it's a good book about the relationship that formed between these two political allies and how the friendship blossomed and grew over the 30- year period that they worked together. It's full of charm and sincerity, and it makes for a good read regardless of your political affiliation. ... Read more

Book Description

As a young speechwriter in the Reagan White House, Peter Robinson was responsible for the celebrated "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech. He was also one of a core group of writers who became informal experts on Reagan -- watching his every move, absorbing not just his political positions, but his personality, manner, and the way he carried himself. In How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life, Robinson draws on journal entries from his days at the White House, as well as interviews with those who knew the president best, to reveal ten life lessons he learned from the fortieth president -- a great yet ordinary man who touched the individuals around him as surely as he did his millions of admirers around the world.

Reviews (43)

Throroughly enjoyable and inspirational!
This is the first book I've read about Ronald Reagan and I will definitely seek to discover more about our 40th President.

It is amazing how Peter Robinson's memories and experiences are intertwined to present a picture of man who proved that an individual can indeed change the world.

I found myself writing down quotes from the President and insights from Robinson so that I could further reflect on how I too could learn from the example that President Reagan set, not just as a leader but as a Godly man.

This is not just a book about the 40th President, but a book about just how influential certain people, with whom our life paths are intertwined, can be, if we allow it. By describing the consistent goodness of this man, Ronald Reagan, and by focusing on him as a person, I felt as if I too could sit down at Reagan's ranch under a live oak and feel comfortable.

I also liked how Robinson deeply reflected on the profound influences that Reagan had on all with whom he came into contact.And although Reagan's own children had difficulty being close to him, I believe Robinson's book shows us how Reagan, through his life's daily example of belief in the goodness of man, can be a "father" somehow to us all.

In a time where now our own fellow Americans themselves are trashing our county's values and objecting to life here in the U.S (which I believe Reagan would be completely shocked about), this book is a reminder of who we all can be in the sphere in which we live.Peter Robinson, we want more from you!Keep writing!

It is truly a book that is so much more than meets the eye at first glance!

This book changed MY life.
The moment I saw Peter Robinson on a television program touting this book, I knew I had to own it. While I was a child growing up during the Reagan administration, even then I was keenly aware of how great and enigmatic the fortieth president was. This book did give an excellent insider's view of the Reagan White House, including great stories and 'naming names' if you will. Yet Robinson also explored Reagan's weaknesses - his trouble connecting with his children as well as trusting those under him during Iran-Contra, even though his gut told him otherwise.

Bottom line - As great as Ronald Reagan was, he was still human with faults and imperfections all his own. The important lesson is not what happens when you fall - we all do - but how you respond. Reagan came back from an assassination attempt and political scandal. He had a job to do and a Cold War to win. You need only to look at the people who lined the streets and filled the rotunda during the week of remembrance to see the result.

a young man's hero
No matter your politics HOW RONALD REAGAN CHANGED MY LIFE is worth reading, worth learning from. Peter Robinson has a fluency & articulateness that is both charming & informative. What he has to tell, to teach, is eminently useful as we go about our lives earning our quota of daily bread, & perhaps most importantly, how to live a fully savored & flavored life.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends HOW RONALD REAGAN CHANGED MY LIFE as a keeper. A book every young professional could do with reading. It is profound & humorous, interesting & whimsical, filled with vignettes & cameo appearances, history & philosophy...all written with a light touch.

How did Reagan do it?
The central question of Robinson's book is, "How did Reagan do it?"

Robinson's personal observations while working for President Reagan along with interviews with friends and associates provides insight into the virtues and character of Ronald Reagan from which we can all learn. A prospective view, as it were, of Reagan's life for use today.

Robinson assumed Reagan's serenity was a result of his luck in life's lottery. A closer examination of the facts revealed a different case. Reagan's father was an alcoholic in a small Midwestern town at a time when the children of alcoholics "suffered a particular kind of hell."

Reagan's first wife, Jane Wyman, divorced him resulting in "the worse trauma of Reagan's life."

And then his movie career ended in his early forties leading to a television career (then considered a lesser medium) because he "needed the work."

Robinson's conclusion? "He was serene because he's been unlucky, learning to bring good from bad so thoroughly that he retained his equanimity even after an attempt on his life."

Through a series of aphorisms Robinson draws lessons from the life of Ronald Reagan: "When life buries you, dig." "Do your work." "Life is a drama. Do something." "A bias for action." "Words matter." "You have a head. Use it." "Easy does it." "Laughter is a profession of faith." "Say your prayers." "You matter."

Reagan's former work as a lifeguard and actor figured prominently in the development of his character. As a lifeguard he had saved the lives of seventy-seven swimmers in the Rock River. In contrast to Marxism's belief in the inevitability of history, Reagan had personal experience that one person can make a difference in the lives of others and in history.

As an actor Reagan became accustomed to the idea of alternative endings.A fellow speechwriter put it this way, "He understands open-endedness and contingency. He sees life is a drama in which a lot of scenes still haven't been written."

During Robinson's tenure at the White House there was posted on aWhite House bulletin board a card which read, "Pray as if everything depended on God. Work as if everything depended on you."

This unattributed aphorism of faith and free will was first coined by St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. Robinson writes of that motto, "That, I thought, was a neat summary of the way Ronald Reagan led his life, and ever since I've recognized that habit or pattern of life as an ideal."

The United States was blessed to have Ronald Reagan serve as our fortieth President. As his old adversary Mikhail Gorbachev stated, "If someone else had been in his place, I don't know if what happened would have happened."

My son's middle name is Reagan
As I am writing this review I am listening to the Reagan Funeral.When I read this book written by Mr. Robinson I was inspired beyond all measure.My wife and I were expecting our first child and I told my wife due to the writing of this book we will name our son witht he middle name Reagan.She agreed!This book opened my eyes and my heart to a world from which I lived in, but could not comprehend.Mr. Robinson thank you for writing such a book!Mr. Reagan thank you for your leadership.My son was born May 26, 2004, and his name is Luke Reagan Burkholder. ... Read more

Book Description

Previous Praise for Nathaniel Branden"Relentlessly revealing. . . the myth of Ayn Rand gives way to a full-sized portrait in contrasting colors, appealing and appalling, potent and paradoxical. . . . it takes a special kind of nerve to write such a book."--Norman Cousins, author of Head First and The Healing Heart

Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged is one of the most influential books of the twentieth century-its popular impact ranked second only to the Bible in a major poll. Millions know Rand as one of this century's great thinkers, writers, and philosophers, yet much about the private Ayn Rand remains shrouded in mystery.

Who was Ayn Rand?

My Years with Ayn Rand charts the course of the clandestine, tempestuous relationship between the enigmatic author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead and Nathaniel Branden-her young disciple and future pioneer of the self-esteem movement. In this book, discover the real Ayn Rand through the eyes of the man who became her soul mate and shared her passions and philosophical ideals.

Their tragic and tumultuous love story began with a letter written by Branden as an admiring teenage fan and Anded, more than twenty years later, with accusations of betrayal and bitter recriminations. My Years with Ayn Rand paints an unforgettable portrait of Ayn Rand-whose ideas, even today, can generate a maelstrom of controversy. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Riveting autobiograpy/socio-intellectual history.
Persons who know the facts of the Objectivist movement's history (facts primarily ignored by the Michael Paxton film) will know that it was Nathaniel Branden who was the prime architect of the movement. Through courses offered by Nathaniel Branden Lectures, later Nathaniel Branden Institute, the philosophy of Objectivism qua philosophy was first taught to the world.

Those familiar with the basic outlines of Nathaniel Branden's eventful life will also know: that he and Ayn Rand met and became friends when he was going on 20 and she was 45; that some years later they began an affair with the consent of their respective spouses; that the dramatic end of their personal and professional relationship in 1968 had explosive effects for the entire Objectivist community.

Branden has previously told the story of his life and relationship with Ayn Rand in the controversial memoir *Judgment Day* (1989). The present memoir is an extensively revised and updated version of the earlier book. Even readers who have read (and reread) *Judgment Day* will be fascinated by the new insights to be gleaned. *My Years with Ayn Rand* is as spellbindingly written as the previous work but it presents a richer, more complete account.

This is a not-to-be-missed by anyone interested in Objectivism -- or simply interested in the engrossing story of some remarkable people.

Where it all began!!
Right now, there is an Ayn Rand explosion. Not only is Rand slowly gaining steam amongst academic thinkers, she is all over popular culture. There has been two successful fims ('The Passion of Ayn Rand' based on Barbara Branden's biography and the Oscar noiminated 'Ayn Rand: a Sense of Life.') Both the Ayn Rand Institute and the Objectivist Center- think-tanks devoted to Ayn Rand's objectivism- are experiencing huge popularity. Heck, today- Aug. 26, 02- C-SPAN will re-air the Ayn Rand episode of their American Writers series. The viewer request was through the roof. So why, with all her idiosyncratic views, can't we seem to get enough?

This biography goes a long way in answering that question. Nathaniel Branden, Rand's first 'intellectual heir', takes us on his journey with this enigmatic figure, Rand. From when they first met- he as a college student, she as the successful author of the Fountainhead- to thier intellectual partership and ultimately thier misguided affair. The most interesting part of the book, I feel, is the cacophonic break between Branden and Rand, forcing Branden to reevaluate his life and principles.

It would've been easy for Branden, now a successful psychologist, to handle this book badly. It could've wound up being a bitter memoir about what some have called a 'cult'. Or, it could've centered on a philosophical diatribe of Randian thought. Fortunately, it does neither. It is written almost as fiction. The players, even those Branden clearly doesn't like, are treated with respect and empathy. He also writes with remarkable honesty- clearly a sign of a man who's given much time to self-reflection. Yes, there are spots where Branden does get down on Rand. Her philosophy is also touched on, in part. None of this, however, is induldged in to a fault. What we get is the story of a man in a unique, magnanimous, and ultimately life-defining situation. This is one of the few books I've read that I found perfectly enjoyable- emotionally and intelectually- from beginning to end. Also read 'Confessions of a Philosopher" by Bryan Mcgee.

Well-written and interesting
Despite the controversy throughout the Objectivist movement regarding Nathaniel Branden, this book is a must-read for those interested in the rise of Objectivism. While giving Ms. Rand high praise where it is due, Branden is also critical of Rand's behavior in some circumstances. However, as a Rand fan myself, I found his criticisms to be matter-of-fact and without loaded words or innuendos.

This book should be read by the open-minded thinker who can accept that to be a brilliant philosopher is not to be without flaws. I began reading this book as a great admirer of Rand's, and I am still one to this day. But now I have a greater understanding of who she was as a person in addition to an understanding of her wonderful ideas. This book (as well as Barbara Branden's biography of Ms. Rand), should not be missed by any Objectivist.

Insincerity Reigns Supreme
This book is painful to read, not because of what it says about Rand, but because of the obvious dishonesty on every page. This is a pack of lies from a professional liar. Thoroughly refuted by scholars like James Valliant, this book will go the way of the dodo.

Bad Fiction
There is no "mystery" to Rand's life. She has written volumes about all her ideas and her character. Branden has very little intellectual capacity left and does not even embrace Objectivism, but tries to undermine reason, virtue and value in the name of "Objectivism".
This book is one of the worst works of fiction I have ever read. If you want to know about Rand's life read Atlas Shrugged, The Fountainhead, or for non-fiction; Capitalism The Unknown Ideal, The Romantic Manifesto, The Virtue of Selfishness or Objectivism:The Philosophy of Ayn Rand. For more reading pick up any of her articles written for the New York Times.
It is frightening that a person that has been removed from Rand's life because she discovered him to be without virtue and a liar can then claim to "know" her better than anyone and that others would want to read his book and take it as Truth. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good, solid biography of an important but overlooked America
Theodore Roosevelt Jr.: The Life of a War Hero
by H. Paul Jeffers is a solid, well-researched biography of a man whose accomplishments would have been more widely publicized if not for the famous name he had to bear in life. Roosevelt, Jr was a man with a strong personality and great capability who made his own mark on the first half of this century through his public service and experiences in both world wars. Jeffers sets Roosevelt, Jr in the context of his famous family and then proceeds to make a strong case as to why he deserves to be remembered in his own right. In "Mornings on Horseback," David McCullough described how Theodore Roosevelt, Sr grew up in a close and insular family that provided strength and love to each member. Clearly, the senior Roosevelt brought this lesson to his own family which spurred them on to great accomplishments. Recommended.

Jeffer's Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.: Life of a War Hero
In general, this is a good biography and reference source on Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The bibliography of suggested readings by and about Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. is the most comprehensive one I've found. My only criticism is that whole sections of this book appear to consist of re-workings of two earlier books on Roosevelt -- Edward Renehan's The Lion's Pride and Mrs. Roosevelt's memoir, The Day Before Yesterday. Those who have already read the two earlier books may feel somewhat let down by the lack of new information. Otherwise, this is book is enjoyable and uplifting. The many anecdotes of Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.'s courage, common sense and humanity (not to mention his complete lack of self-absorption) are encouraging and make this book worthwhile.

Like father, like son...
I have waited a while for a biography of TR, Jr. I have read "The Lion's Pride" (highly recommend this as well). Although the first few chapters of the book talks more of TR than his son, it is an overall very interesting read. I find it amazing how much TR, Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about an amazing man who led an extrordinary life.

Not the Morris/McCullough-quality!
I enjoyed the book regarding TR Jr.'s time as governor of Puerto
Rico and the Phillipines and World War I & II because I didn't know much about his life during these periods (except what Ed Renehan and Sylvia Morris wrote in their books). What I did not like about Jeffers' book are a few errors he put in, which could have been avoided by better research: For example, he wrote a few times (like on page 28) that TR (the president)said that he feels "as fit as a bull moose" in 1898! As far as I know this expression was coined only in 1912 when a mad man tried to kill TR in Milwaukee. He also writes twice that "The Roosevelt family of Sagamore Hill" was written by Mr. Harbaugh (pages 16 and 30). We know that Hermann Hagedorn wrote this great book!
It is amazing how many qualities of TR we can find in his oldest son! Jeffers book is a good read, but from my point of view not the great narrative as we know it from Edmund Morris or David McCullough!

Generally quite good
I enjoyed this book for the most part and found it largely accurate. There are a few little glitches, however. For example, TR Jr. is NOT, as the book suggests, buried at Sagamore Hill. He is buried at the American Cemetery, Normandy. That being said, Jeffers has generally done a very good job of summing up a fascinating man. For those interested in TR and his children, I'd also recommend Edward Renehan's THE LION'S PRIDE: THEODORE ROOSEVELT AND HIS FAMILY IN PEACE AND WAR, published by Oxford University Press and available through Amazon. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A highly recommended study of a beloved personal retreat
Ronald Reagan And His Ranch: The Western White House 1981-1989 is a solidly written, vividly presented, behind-the-scenes insider look at the ranch owned by the Reagans during Ronald Reagan's tenure as President of the United States and which came to be nicknamed by the press as the "Western White House". From the security difficulties the ranch posed for the secret service, to humorous anecdotes, to visits by famous and powerful people, and enhanced with black-and-white as well as color photographs, Ronald Reagan And His Ranch is a unique contribution to school and community library American History, and a highly recommended study of the beloved personal retreat of one of America's most popular 20th Century presidents. ... Read more

Book Description

“We were sure that we would win, that we should score the first great triumph in a mighty world-movement.”—Theodore Roosevelt, 1904

Americans like to think they have no imperial past. In fact, the United States became an imperial nation within five short years a century ago (1898-1903), exploding onto the international scene with the conquest of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, and (indirectly) Panama. How did the nation become a player in world politics so suddenly—and what inspired the move toward imperialism in the first place?

The renowned diplomat and writer Warren Zimmermann seeks answers in the lives and relationships of five remarkable figures: the hyper-energetic Theodore Roosevelt, the ascetic naval strategist Alfred T. Mahan, the bigoted and wily Henry Cabot Lodge, the self-doubting moderate Secretary of State John Hay, and the hard-edged corporate lawyer turned colonial administrator Elihu Root. Faced with difficult choices, these extraordinary men, all close friends, instituted new political and diplomatic policies with intermittent audacity, arrogance, generosity, paternalism, and vision.

Zimmermann's discerning account of these five men also examines the ways they exploited the readiness of the American people to support a surge of expansion overseas. He makes it clear why no discussion of America's international responsibilities today can be complete without understanding how the United States claimed its global powers a century ago.
... Read more

Reviews (10)

All Americans Should Read This!1
"Americans like to pretend that they have no imperial past. Yet they have shown expansionist tendencies since colonial days." (Zimmermann, 17) So begins chapter 1 of First Great Triumph, Warren Zimmermann's book chronicling the rise of America to world power status and the five men that he credits with that accomplishment. Zimmermann's book states emphatically that contrary to popular belief, America has been an imperialist state since the beginning. Zimmermann seeks to show that not only did the United States seek to create an overseas empire; we did so enthusiastically, rather than reluctantly.
In his book, Zimmermann acknowledges that in many ways the tide of history was pulling America toward the role of imperial power. The American frontier had closed, the Indian wars were over and now the American expansionist impulse needed a new direction the once powerful Spanish empire entered the final period of its inevitable decline. Many influential Americans argued that the expansionist impulse was by definition, a violation of the basic American principles of freedom, and self-determination. Such was not the case with the five heroes men detailed in Zimmermann's book.
Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Elihu Root and John Hay, were all imperialists. In part one of his book, Zimmermann provides biographical sketches that, while brief, give full accounting of each of these men and how each became a driving force in the growth of American foreign policy at that most critical point in history.
Zimmermann draws from over 190 sources, many the works of prominent American historians. He also draws heavily from the words, both written and spoken, of his five central figures. Zimmermann's own experience as a diplomat give him a keen understanding of the relevant geopolitical questions and his qualities as a writer provide the reader with a very engaging account of these men and their times.
Zimmerman's narrative provides a clear path for the reader to follow to understanding his central theme. The biographies contained in the first part of the book, use the words and actions of the central characters to prove his point. From their early lives, each of the five seems destined to play some role in the growth of the American nation. The way that Zimmerman weaves their stories together, illustrates the fact that in reality, very little of the American rise to global power was accidental.

History at Its Best!
This is history at its best -- well written, thoroughly researched, and interesting to read. The principle characters come alive. It's an ambitious undertaking, too, to describe this chapter in our history. Zimmermann not only discusses the emergence of the United States onto the world scene as a major player, but also interweaves five amazing men: John Hay, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Elihu Root, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt. I was familiar with them, but he makes them real. You get into their point of view, their successes and foibles, and their backgrounds and their struggles.

I had wanted to read about World War I and the formation of the Arab states as we know them today. Paris 1919 would be a good start. I decided to read this first, though, as a run-in to Paris 1919. What I discovered is that not only did this period posture the US as a world player, but also the striking similarity between the Spanish-American War and the War in Iraq. More about that later.

Zimmermann begins by describing the lives, philosophies, and contributions of these five men whose contributions were pivotal. These are not definitive biographies, to be sure, but rather a series of monographs that are delightful in their brevity and depth. The rest of the book provides an excellent history of the war with Spain -- going into detail about Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines -- along with our seizure of Guam and Hawaii. Along the way he touches on a wide variety of other persons, US and foreign.

The only downside is the lack of maps. They would help substantially, but their absence does not unduly detract from the strengths of the book. For example, there is fascinating detail regarding treaty negotiations with Spain and the debate within the US Senate for ratification. Zimmermann even gives insight into personalities in the Spanish ruling circles and how they affected Spanish actions.

There were a variety of reasons for the US to expand its thinking past its ocean boundaries. Quoting Mahan, "[our] growing production, public sentiment, a geographic position between two old worlds and two oceans, the growth of European colonies in the Pacific, the rise of Japan, and the peopling of the American West with men favoring a strong foreign policy" (115).

I always thought imperialism was driven more by economic motives (markets) and diplomatic and military motives (national power). Imperialism is not necessarily aimed just at less developed societies, but also between Western and regional powers. Still, I can see Zimmermann's point when he says, "Such a cultural atmosphere was extremely conducive to imperialist initiatives, because imperialism -- like Anglo-Saxonism, social Darwinism, and manifest destiny -- was also based on the principle of racial inequality" (37). Maybe "also" is the key word. Having said that, he also makes the point, "Three of America's earlier wars had been fought for specific principles: political liberty in 1776, freedom of the seas in 1812, and preservation of the Union in 1861. The Spanish-American War was the first in which Americans were activated in large part by the way a foreign government treated its subjects" (251).

This is where Zimmermann's analysis gets quite interesting for today's environment. Much has been made recently comparing the War in Iraq and where it may lead us to Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War. In reading this book you come to find out that the true comparison is the Spanish-American War. The parallels are numerous. Here are a few examples:

"...left unresolved [was] the crucial issue of who would inherit Cuba from Spain. Would it be the United States or the Cuban people? That fatal ambiguity has scarred American relations with Cuba ever since" (264).

"The Spanish had courage, but not the kind of courage that leads to victory" (283).

"If we turn this war, which was heralded to the world as a war of humanity, in any sense into a war of conquest, we shall forever forfeit the confidence of mankind" (337).

"The first years of American occupation of the Philippines were marked by full-scale war...'The people whom we liberated down there have turned against us.' From the outbreak of violence...it took the US more than three years to subdue what was to the Americans an insurrection and to the Filipinos a war for independence. At its height the American troop presence constituted three-quarters of the entire US Army. Casualties on both sides far exceeded the killed and wounded in the three weeks of fighting in Cuba." (386)

"'To leave the islands at this time would mean that they would fall into a welter of murderous anarchy. Such dereliction of duty on our part would be a crime against humanity.'" (404)

Zimmermann's insights go on and on. There is much that is different between then and now, but it's clear that the Spanish-American War has much for us to learn in our current foreign paths.

Zimmermann sums up his message of his book the best. "In retrospect, the twentieth century, for all the brilliance of its intellectual and technological accomplishments, was a time of violence and horror unprecedented in world history...The threat posed by Hitler's Germany became the major international preoccupation from 1933 until the German defeat in 1945. The threat of Stalin's Russia succeeded it as the main concern. Neither challenge could have been dealt with successfully without the full engagement of the US. The imperial initiation at the end of the nineteenth century had prepared Americans for the great power role that, in the twentieth century, only they could play." (482)

This is one of the best accounts of US history that I've read. I'd give it six stars if I could.

America's First Empire
This book by a former U.S. Ambassador is an elegantly-written history of the Spanish-American War of 1898, when the United States acquired colonies in the Caribbean and the Pacific and emerged as a major world power. The nuanced, balanced narrative deals with "big picture" geopolitics and historical trends but never loses sight of the human factor or the role that ego and personal ambition played in America's rise to power. Zimmerman doesn't flinch from concluding that American troops committed atrocities in the Philippines or that our acquisition of Hawaii and the Panama canal zone was little more than theft. At the same time, he avoids ahistorical condemnations of turn-of-the-century imperialism. His book will leave leftwing revisionists and flag-waving rightists equally disappointed -- surely a sign of scholarly achievement.

"First Great Tiumph" brims with insights into diplomacy and politics, based on Zimmerman's many years in the U.S. foreign service. Indeed, many parts of the book are eerily topical, such as the discussion of how war-lover Theodore Roosevelt seized on the sinking of the battleship Maine as a pretext for a war in Cuba. The book was published prior to the non-discovery of the much-hyped WMDs in Iraq but the parallels to current events are there for any intelligent reader to see. I gave the book four stars instead of five only because the "multi-biographical" approach is a bit contrived and results in the inclusion of much unnecessary biographical material in the first section of the book.

Timely reminder of our imperial past ... and present
A century after the events Warren Zimmerman describes, questions of "American empire" are once again being debated. That makes this book a particularly timely and instructive one.

The book's structure has been described in many of these reviews: five biographies, about 40 pages each, and then a longer section weaving together the issues and events of these men's lives into the large drama of the growth of American imperialism. Though the book's length is certainly not unmanageable -- in fact, it would be hard to do this topic justice in a much smaller book -- one drawback of frontloading the biographies is that some of the details of the men's lives tend to be forgotten by the time they reappear later on in the narrative. Mahan, in particular, appears only sporadically in the second half of the book, although his influence on the other men can still be felt.

Zimmerman focuses his narrative, obviously, on these five men and their influence on their nation and the world. The author perhaps agrees with Henry Cabot Lodge, whom he quotes on page 184 as writing, "The personal qualities and individual abilities of public men ... make the history and determine the fate of nations" (ellipses in original). This "methodological individualist" tack is a refreshing approach in a discipline that these days is so mired in "social movements" and "impersonal forces" that the critical -- even indispensable -- roles of individual men and women is often forgotten. While America may yet have become an imperial power without these five men, Zimmerman makes a strong case that Roosevelt, Mahan, Lodge, Root, and Hay, by their own will, channeled America's might and power in the direction of their choosing. It's a direction we're still, by and large, moving today.

While the five biographies in the first half of the book are all useful, insightful, and well written, they're really mostly prologue. It's the second half where most of the action, drama, and even excitement can be found. Zimmerman does a fine job of charting the drive for empire, the various obstacles that our five subjects had to overcome, and the long-term consequences of it all.

Zimmerman doesn't play favorites. Although his approach to the rise of empire is generally positive, it is balanced and nonjudgmental: his discussion of the annexation of Hawai`i, for example, makes it clear that the coup against the native monarchy was little more than theft. At the same time, though, he does not idealize the pre-colonial era or downplay that monarchy's undeniable corruption. He is clear-eyed about the costs of empire-building, doesn't shy from naming certain American actions in Cuba and the Philippines the "atrocities" they were, charts successes and failures honestly, and makes painfully clear the disconnect between America's high-minded rhetoric and our often base conduct. In what may be the nearest our author comes to outright denunciation, he is very hard on Theodore Roosevelt's "spurious euphoria" about the glories of war and TR's general bloodthirstiness (pp. 416-7).

I would have liked to see a little more discussion of the opposition to war mounted by the "goo-goos," though Zimmerman's discussion, as far as it goes, is sound. This ground has also been covered well by Robert Beisner's "Twelve Against Empire" (1968), a work I recommend and which is listed in Zimmerman's bibliography.

Even today, there seems to be reluctance in some quarters to see the United States as an imperial power. But we became one a century ago, and remain one today. While our intentions, and certainly our rhetoric, may have been (and be) more idealistic than those of other empires, the real-world consequences have been largely the same. As an introduction to how and why the American empire was born, a primer to how we got to where we are today, and a reminder of the power individuals have to shape the world, Zimmerman's "First Great Triumph" is not to be missed.

Expedient, Inspired, or Both?
Zimmermann has written six separate but related books and then combined them in a single volume. The first five comprise Part One and are brief but exceptionally informative biographies of John Hay, Alfred T. Mahan, Elihu Root. Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt; the sixth is a brilliant analysis of how these five men, together, achieved achieved for the United States "the first great triumph" of its global expansion or as Zimmermann describes it, "the birth of American imperialism." As he explains in the Introduction, "These five men were remarkable by any measure. Two of them, Roosevelt and Root, won the Nobel Peace Prize. All were intellectuals and thought of themselves as such. All except Root were notable authors. Roosevelt wrote thirty-eight books, and Lodge twenty-seven, mostly on themes of American history....Mahan produced an analysis of the influence of seas power that profoundly affected American policy and became required reading in the British, German, and Japanese navies. Root, who had been one of the most talented corporate lawyers of his time, became after his government service a forceful advocate of the rule of law in international relations." Remarkable indeed by any measure.

In Part Two, Zimmermann shifts his reader's attention to a period extending from 1898 until 1909 when, through the collective and coordinated efforts of the five men and their associates, the United States acquired Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, and Panama. When explaining the legacies of this brief but productive period, Zimmermann observes; "First, they created an authentic American imperialism that was confident in its objectives but modest in its application....The second legacy of the founders of American imperialism was their preparation of the United States to be a great power. Pragmatic as they were, Roosevelt and his friends understood that they were embarked on a grand adventure. The 'first great triumph' that Roosevelt fore-saw on the troopship to Cuba did indeed become a 'world movement.'...Third, these five imperialists produced the first comprehensive assertion of U.S. security interests abroad....The fourth legacy of the founders was the creation of two foreign policy priorities, human rights and stability, that have remained in tension with each other ever since....The fifth consequence of the work done by the men who launched America as a great power was to strengthen the American presidency. All five were followers of Alexander Hamilton and believers in activist government."

I was fascinated to learn how all this was accomplished, especially during such a brief period of time. Of course, as Zimmermann explains, "the five imperialists" encountered staunch and formidable opposition. However, they wholly agreed with an opinion expressed by journalist John O'Sullivan that during the "era of American greatness" their nation was "destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles." (1839) Hence the origin of what has since been known as the concept of Manifest Destiny. Those seeking to understand the current state of our nation's relations with other countries throughout the world will find Zimmermann's book especially informative. ... Read more

Book Description

A thorough, illustrated biography discussing the president's childhood, his career, his family, and his term as President of the United States. Includes a time line and glossary. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A solid introductory juvenile biography of F.D.R.
Given the format of the Our Presidents series author Melissa Maupin was going to face a challenge telling the story of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Usually these books devote a chapter to each term of office served by a president and since Roosevelt was elected to the White House four times this was going to present a problem. But Maupin goes with the best approach and divides the Roosevelt presidency into two halves, the first dominated by the Great Depression and the second by World War II. The opening chapter looks at Roosevelt's early life ending with his marriage to his fifth cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt, while the second looks at his political career, his paralysis from polio, and his election as governor of New York. Then Maupin focuses on the New Deal as FDR's response to the Great Depression and World War II as the Fight for a Free World. From the former young readers will get an appreciation for the ways in which Roosevelt changed the relationship between the government and the people, while from the latter they will understand how he was ahead of the nation in terms of being prepared for America to enter the war.

For the main part Maupin focuses on covering the biographical details of Roosevelt's life, but she also manages to provide some evaluation of the key ideas and events of the period as well. The result is a solid introduction to Franklin D. Roosevelt for young readers. This volume is illustrated with black & white photographs from FDR's personal and political life, there are informative sidebars on daily life during the Depression and Eleanor Roosevelt as a new kind of first lady, and the margins are filled with Interesting Facts (e.g., FDR graduated from Harvard in three years), As with the rest of the series the back of the volume has a Time Line that stretches from FDR's birth in 1882 to Eleanor's death in 1962, a glossary of over a dozen terms, a page of presidential facts, Internet sites and books for Further Information, and an index.
... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (5)

Bully! Nice little read for fans of TR.
I was a bit concerned when I purchased this book -- it seems that lately Theodore Roosevelt is included in book just to increase its "sale-ability". When TR receives attention at all, it is as a foil for the postmodern sensibilities of the author, who is usually a college professor. Well, Eric Rauchway is a college professor, and I am a sensitive, protective fan of TR, and I will submit that I found this book interesting, fun to read, and free of anti-TR bias. In fact, I learned an awful lot about the McKinley assassination (and assassin) that I had never encountered in the many TR biographies I have read. Besides being a fan of TR, I am a clinical psychologist, and I will attest that the author's foray into amateur forensic psychology is, overall, pretty commendable. Bully!

The birth of the Progressive era...
Do not be too misled by the title of this book...this is really a thesis on the initiation of the Progressive period of our government and not a study dedicated to the assasination of President William McKinley. True, author Eric Rauchway uses McKinley's assasination as the hinge-point for this theory, but this work delves deeply into the idealogical origins of the movement and also, as a secondary objective, attempts to examine the potential insanity of assasin Leon Czolgosz. Once Czolgosz admits to shooting McKinley, Rauchway tries to rationalize Czolgosz's admission under the "anarchy" umbrella and to show this philosophy as a social disorder...a disorder driven by McKinley's percieved obstruction