Book Description

One of the most important women of the American Century, Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) was also one of its most prolific letter writers. Yet never before has a selection of her letters to public figures, world leaders, and individuals outside her family been made available to general readers and to historians unable to visit the archives at Hyde Park.

It Seems to Me demonstrates Roosevelt's significance as a stateswoman and professional politician, particularly after her husband's death in 1945. These letters reveal a dimension of her personality often lost in collections of letters to family members and friends, that of a shrewd, self-confident woman unafraid to speak her mind.

In her letters, Eleanor Roosevelt lectured Truman, badgered Eisenhower, and critiqued Kennedy. She disagreed with the Catholic Church over aid to parochial schools, made recommendations for political appointments, expressed her opinion on the conviction of Alger Hiss. Some letters demonstrate her commitment to civil rights, many her understanding of Cold War politics, and still others her support of labor unions. As a whole this collection provides unique insights into both Eleanor Roosevelt's public life, as well as American culture and politics during the decades following World War II. ... Read more

Book Description

The leadership of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt dramatically reshaped the political landscape of our nation, from TR's Square Deal to FDR's New Deal and wartime leadership to Eleanor Roosevelt's pivotal role in the early days of the United Nations. The Three Roosevelts is the first biography to combine the intertwining lives of these three leaders, who emerged from the closed society of New York's Knickerbocker elite to become unwavering enemies of economic privilege and the most prominent American political family of the twentieth century. As Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning author James MacGregor Burns and acclaimed historian Susan Dunn follow the evolution of the progressive Roosevelt political philosophy, they illuminate how Theodore's vision and example would inspire the careers of his fifth cousin Franklin and niece Eleanor. The Three Roosevelts traces TR's transformation from Harvard-bred socialite to Republican reformer, president, and Bull Moose radical who declared war on the "wealthy scoundrels" and plutocrats. Franklin Roosevelt would continue this crusade as he closely followed TR's example, imitating his career track to the White House. After FDR's death, Eleanor carried on the progressive Roosevelt legacy through personal activism and advocacy, becoming a tireless champion of the rights of women, minorities, and the poor. Insightful and authoritative, The Three Roosevelts is a fascinating portrait of three of America's most forceful leaders, whose legacy is as controversial today as their vigorous brand of progressive politics was in their own lifetimes. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Interesting Writing. Pulitzer Prize Biographer.
This book caught my attention when it received rave reviews from major newspapers, magazines, and critics when it came out (which you can find on the Internet). The writing is interesting and moves along smoothly. James MacGregor Burns knows his material well. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of FDR.

The theme and emphasis of this book is that the three Roosevelts came from very elite and rich of the elite and rich, and yet battled concentrated wealth and attacked the plutocrats. Because of this theme, the book is slightly geared to that perspective.

The book begins with the solemn scene of President Lincoln's funeral procession, which Theodore Roosevelt as a child watched from an upscale residence. The book then shows how Theodore Roosevelt was influenced by Lincoln's presidency.

Despite coming from an elite social class (and young Theodore Roosevelt did view himself as elite), he rejected living only the life of comfortable luxury to do what he thought was right. On the one hand he was rich, educated at Harvard, an intellectual, a writer, mixed with the elite class, and conservative. On the other hand he was progressive, a tough guy, a rough rider, and created government for the benefit of the country as a whole. His intellectualism (masked behind his tough guy persona) brought him into contact with smart ideas of good government.

Theodore Roosevelt acted boldly in some circumtances, while in other circumstances he acted compromising (like a skillful politician.) This was very much in the model of Lincoln who moved at first to only protect the union, seemingly acted in a compromising way (like a skillful politician) until the war seemed to be under control, and then made his masterful move to abolish slavery - a truly magnificent achievement.

Many aspects are Theodore Roosevelt's presidency are not mentioned, such as his vibrant policies in foreign affairs. That is beyond the theme of this book, which emphasizes his very progressive views, which laid the groundwork for the New Deal.

The book shows that Franklin Roosevelt followed the path of Theodore Roosevelt. Like T.R., FDR was born into a rich, elite social class. He entered politics, became under-secretary of the Navy, and then governor of New York. T.R. was in FDR's wedding to Eleanor Roosevelt, who was from T.R.'s family circle. And he used masterful political skills as president like T.R. (and Lincoln), except that FDR took the power and achievements of the presidency to an all-time high, transforming that office into the "imperial presidency."

FDR's presidency is covered fairly well for a concise biography like this. Readers wanting a more thorough understanding should read Conrad Black's "Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Champion of Freedom" or William Leuchtenburg's "Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal."

The book shows that Eleonor Roosevelt was a tireless champion of issues for ordinary people and the disadvantaged. She took up causes that her huspand politically could not. She championed the anti-lynching law when FDR had to be silent or risk losing his political coalition. She astounded a group of impoverished workers on strike by showing up to their gathering to show her support. Here was a well-dressed lady of the highest education and refinement showing up without security to show her support for their cause.

The biography of Eleanor Roosevelt is where the book really shines. There are no other concise biographies of her that rise to this level of excellence.

All three Roosevelts (Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor) made "The Time 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century" list. FDR was ranked the runner-up most important person of the 20th Century. (Einstein and Gandhi were the other two of three people singled out for the top spot).

This enjoyable book is a great way to learn about the three Roosevelts. Just keep in mind that the theme of the book slightly overemphasizes their progressive/liberal aspects and omits other aspects. Recommended, especially for the Eleanor Roosevelt biography.

If you want a superb biography of the Roosevelts that is somewhat concise and a pleasure to read, this book is for you.

In response to the reviewer who states that Burns is a New Dealer and biased, I say that it is not true. Burns is very fair and accurate in this book, and I feel he is very professional and unbiased in his approach to history. For example, I read a newspaper article where he said that Ronald Reagan was a great or near-great president because Reagan was a transformational leader. You would never hear a biased New Deal liberal say something like that. Also, I never read anything to suggest that Burns is a New Dealer. That was a little before his time. He's a historian. His biography of George Washington is also very good.

On the back cover is a glowing review of this book by David Gergen, a Republican and a former advisor to presidents Nixon and Reagan. Also on the back cover are glowing reviews by historians/biographers Robert Dallek, David McCullough, and Blanche Wiesen Cook, who each wrote a book on at least one aspect of one of the three Roosevelts.

"The Three Roosevelts" is simply a terrific book and a great way to learn about the three Roosevelts without having to read three lengthy biographies. I highly recommend it to anyone from high school age and up. It also strikes me as a book that would make a great gift.

FANTASTIC BOOK
This novel was immensely informative and entertaining. I am an English teacher who reads a lot, and I could not put it down.I loved the descriptions of leaders such as Huey Long and Gerald Smith and the isolationist movement.It was also impressive that it was so well-balanced and avoided sensationalism and cheap shots.The authors did not take sides or make quick judgments.You must read this book.My two favorite sections were the descriptions of the New Deal and the class struggle in New York during TR's time.

Politics: Art of the Best Possible Compromise
James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn, Democrats by conviction, give an unequal account of the life of three Roosevelts by dedicating most of their biography to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. MacGregor Burns and Dunn show their audience how these three patricians left behind a relatively easy life to descend into the arena of politics. Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had to overcome their prejudices about other classes, religions, ethnicities and races to get an understanding of the issues at hand and, at times make, painful compromises to get things done. MacGregor Burns and Dunn explain to their readers that the three Roosevelts have ultimately left an indelible imprint on the psyche of the nation by each setting an example of transformational leadership. On the domestic front, the country has been working on the best possible reconciliation of the respective interests of business, labor and consumers as well as the rights and duties of its respective races and ethnicities. Abroad, the country has weighed the pros and cons of an interventionist policy on a case-by-case basis to safeguard its vital interests, and to advance the cause of a world that espouses the values of responsible democracy and capitalism.

Three Roosevelts "In the Arena"
An interesting fact of American politics - that many of our Presidents came from the "upper class" of American society - is the central premise of "The Three Roosevelts: Patrician Leaders Who Transformed America." In this book, co-authors James MacGregor Burns and Susan Dunn examine the role played in American history by arguably the most influential "patrician" family of the twentieth century - the Roosevelts of New York.

"The Three Roosevelts" is essentially a book containing short political biographies of Theodore, Franklin, and Eleanor Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt (TR) became one of our greatest Presidents. Early in life, his sense of "noblesse oblige" caused him to choose a career in politics rather than a life as a member of the wealthy elite.He was elected, in turn, state representative; then governor of New York,as a Republican. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the McKinley Administration.Three years later, he was elected Vice President of the United States, and succeeded to the Presidencywhen President William McKinley was assassinated on September 14, 1901. His seven years as Chief Executive were some of the most successful of any Chief Executive up to then.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was a young man who appeared to have little of his cousin Theodore's intellectual acumen, driving ambition, or ideological bent. Franklin followed his famous cousin into politics, but unlike his cousin, Franklin became a Democrat. Like Theodore, Franklin's political career advanced steadily. In rapid succession, he was elected State Assemblyman, then State Senator. By age 31, he had been appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson.

In 1921, FDR was stricken with polio, which paralyzed him from the waist down. In 1928, after a seven-year hiatus from politics, FDR was elected Governor of New York. His two two-year terms were highly successful, but by then FDR already had his eyes on the biggest prize of them all: the Presidency.

From 1929 to 1932, during the early years of the Great Depression, FDR proved himself a capable governor ofNew York.By 1932, after three years mired in the Depression, Americans were ready for a change. They elected FDR - the man promising Americans a "New Deal" - as President of the United States.

The vast majority of "The Three Roosevelts" is taken up with an account of FDR's "transformation of America" during the Great Depression. Here, Burns and Dunn portray Roosevelt as a man employing a pragmatic approach to governance... try whatever works! Congress passed a body of legislation that was tremendous in scope. For the first time, the Federal government actively intervened in American life in an effort to make life better for all. The modern welfare state was born.

The third of the "three Roosevelts" - Eleanor (ER) - was an integral part of her husband's political success.After her marriage to FDR, Eleanor remained indifferent toward politics, although she steadfastly supported her husband's political ambitions.As FDR's political career progressed, so did Eleanor's interest in politics. In fact, she was much more of an ideologue than Franklin. Burns and Dunn imply that Eleanor grew to have a tremendous influence on Franklin, possibly pulling him more and more to the left of center during his Presidency.

On April 12, 1945, after thirteen years as President, years which saw the United States struggle out of Depression and stumble into a world war, Franklin D. Roosevelt died.He had helped build the modern welfare state, and had guided the United States to a position of victory in the Second World War.

In the years following FDR's death, Eleanor Roosevelt continued to be a major influence on American politics. Through her nationally syndicated newspaper column "My Day," ER continually interjected her ideas and opinions into the national debate. She was appointed as an American delegate to the first organizational meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. Later she would serve on a UN commission that authored the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. She championed the cause of equal rights for all Americans, and was vocal in her support of the new nation of Israel.

When "The Three Roosevelts" appeared in bookstores in the spring of 2001, I eagerly bought a copy. This was the first book I'd seen in over twenty years that was written by James MacGregor Burns, the historian best known for his two volume biography of the 32nd President - "Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox" and "Roosevelt: The Soldier of Freedom."

My hope was that Burns and co-author Susan Dunn would provide a penetrating examination of what caused this trio of extraordinary individuals to leave behind the values and traditions of their 19th century "patrician" class, in favor of a progressive and at times socialistic political agenda. It is a question left largely unanswered. "The Three Roosevelts" remains a book very long on biographical information and very short on historical analysis.

The authors show an almost complete lack of objectivity toward their subjects. Burns is well known as a liberal "New Deal" Democrat, and his political bias shows on practically every page. He is ably abetted by Dunn. The result:"The Three Roosevelts"is practically a paean of praise to TR, ER, and especially FDR. Criticisms of the "three Roosevelts" are few, and even those are largely muted.Burns and Dunn's unabashed, gushing admiration of the "three Roosevelts" is annoying, and limits the usefulness of the book as an objective study of these fascinating characters in American history.

What's the common theme?
Trodding the well worn path of assessing the administrations of TR and FDR, and the historical significance of THE THREE ROOSEVELTS naturally means covering some very familiar territory. Teddy the extroverted outdoor adventurer; FDR - complex, secretive, manipulative, and Eleanor the activist. So what's new? The authors offer the view that without the three, the course of 20th century US history would have been vastly different. "The genius of these three leaders lay in their recognizing the needs of the people early on, sensing their political mood, mobilizing their support, and then - above all - acting" The common theme then is that the THREE ROOSEVELTS "charted the course of progressive reform in America." They brought "transformational change".

It's a nice try and the book does explore some possible common motives that drove these three activists. Family, culture and the social environment all have some role to play. As a result the biographical sketches provided on each is sufficiently detailed. The problem with the theme is that the two men - their personalities, the way they governed, and their administrations - were more unalike than similar. TR was somewhat puritanical, FDR something else entirely; TR's side of the family was traditionally Republican while FDR is an icon of the liberal democratic tradition; FDR governed through "brain trusts", of personal followers (the first example of modern-day "cronyism" some argue) wheras TR delegated and relied heavily on a very strong cabinet.

Overall the author's portray all three in very favorable terms, moreso FDR and Eleanor; not as much time is spent on Teddy. Negative views of FDR's latter terms, such as in THE NEW DEALER'S WAR by Thomas Fleming, will not be on these author's reading lists. Contrary to such books, here FDR is not seen as weak or ineffective following his 4th term victory in 1944. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles was one of the rising stars of FDR's administration. The president viewed Welles as indispensable, referring to him as "the only man in the State Department who really knew what was going on." And yet, at the height of World War II, he was forced to resign, as scheming colleagues (including Secretary Cordell Hull) spread rumors about Welles's alleged sexual solicitation of a male train porter in 1940.

Something happened on that train; Roosevelt believed that the rumors were true, but, valuing Welles's expertise, he refused to cut his lifelong friend loose until the situation became politically impossible to ignore. This biography, written by Welles's eldest son, is understandably circumspect, concluding that a combination of exhaustion, wartime stress, and heavy drinking "let the bisexual nature latent in his nature burst their bonds." After his retreat into private life, Welles fell into the clutches of his valet, "a psychopathic bisexual ... whose hard drinking and turbulent influence hastened Welles's rush to self-destruction." (Shades of Harold Pinter!)Drawing extensively upon his father's papers, the author does an admirable job of rehabilitating Welles's reputation as a brilliant executor of American foreign policy, and skillfully portrays the cutthroat competition among members of the Roosevelt team, a competition in which he finally could not bring himself to take part. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

History through the eyes of family ties.
When I picked up this book, I didn't even kow who Sumner Welles was (don't ask how I ended up reading this one). I found that this book provided an excellent description of Welles contribution to foreign policy in the US during the Rooselvelt administration. All of Welles' official accomplishments were clearly described and outlined. Where I found difficulty with this book was when it went into detail about Welles' personal life. It was clear that the author (Welles' son) was trying to be very objective about his father's life. However the book fluctuates between being very objective about Welles -- mostly on the more controversial aspects -- and revealing too much detail about small seemingly inconsequential events about which the author seems to have included simply because he was there. This book also has a tendency to apply villain or saint status to everyone but Welles. Roosevelt could do no wrong, and Hull, Bullitt, and van Hamme were all selfish evil men who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted. I doubt that in reality, things were that black and white. However, coming in knowing very little about these people, I was very interested in learning about the influence Welles had in World affairs during WWII and the discord that seems to have existed in the US government during this time. ... Read more

Book Description

The story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, the times in which they lived, and the history they made together, as seen through the displays at the Roosevelt family home and Presidential Museum in Hyde Park, NY. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Useful In the Classroom
As a middle school instructor of U.S.history I found Mr. Padowicz's taped presentation: Seeing the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home & Museum to be a valuable teaching tool. His "tell it like it was" approach was refreshing and my students seemed to appreciate his honest and open approach to the many complex facets of the Roosevelt's lives and accomplishments.

In or out of the classroom I highly recommend Mr. Padowicz's book on tape having found it to be both entertaining and informative.

A genuine "theatre of the mind" quality audiobook production
This six hour, five cassette audiobook presentation of Julian Padowicz's experiences and observational commentary showcases the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt museum and home. Julian describes their lives, the history that surrounded them, and the history they made. Listeners will learn about such contemporary notables as Sara Roosevelt, George VI and Elizabeth of Britain, Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Howe, Lucy Mercer, Al Smith, Harry Hopkins, and many, many others. The times and circumstances of the innovative 32nd American president include the Great Depression, the new Deal, World War II, and the personal drama of disability and marital challenges. This highly recommended "theater of the mind" format is superbly recorded and provides listening that is as entertaining as it is informative. ... Read more

Book Description

The principal orchestrator of the passage of women's suffrage in Texas, a founder and national officer of the League of Women Voters, the first woman to run for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas, and a candidate for that state's governor, Minnie Fisher Cunningham was one of the first American women to pursue a career in party politics. Cunningham's professional life spanned a half century, thus illuminating our understanding of women in public life between the Progressive Era and the 1960s feminist movement. Cunningham entered politics through the suffrage movement and women's voluntary association work for health and sanitation in Galveston, Texas. She quickly became one of the most effective state suffrage leaders, helping to pass the bill in a region where opposition to women voters was strongest. In Washington, Cunningham was one of the core group of suffragists who lobbied the Nineteenth Amendment through Congress and then traveled the country campaigning for ratification. After women gained the right to vote across the nation, she helped found the nonpartisan National League of Women Voters and organized training schools to teach women the skills of grassroots organizing, creating publicity campaigns, and lobbying and monitoring legislative bodies. Through the League, she became acquainted with Eleanor Roosevelt, who credited one of her speeches with stimulating her own political activity. Cunningham then turned to the Democratic Party, serving as an officer of the Woman's National Democratic Club and the Women's Division of the Democratic National Committee. In 1928 Cunningham became a candidate herself, making an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.An advocate of New Deal reforms, Cunningham was part of the movement in the 1930s to transform the Democratic Party into the women's party, and in 1944 she ran for governor on a pro-New Deal platform. Cunningham's upbringing in rural Texas made her particularly aware of the political needs of farmers, women, union labor, and minorities, and she fought gender, class, and racial discrimination within a conservative power structure. In the postwar years, she was called the "very heart and soul of Texas liberalism" as she helped build an electoral coalition of women, minorities, and male reformers that could sustain liberal politics in the state and bring to office candidates including Ralph Yarborough and Bob Eckhardt. A leader and role model for the post-suffrage generation, Cunningham was not satisfied with simply achieving the vote, but agitated throughout her career to use it to better the lives of others.Her legacy has been carried on by the many women to whom she taught successful grassroots strategies for political organizing. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt introduced the social programs of the New Deal to the people of America.Laboring under the economic collapse known as the Great Depression, people needed jobs, many were homeless, and more lived in dire poverty.This was graphically true in rural areas.One such was Scotts Run, a stretch of coal mining land in West Virginia that caught the attention of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.She determined to help the people there by creating for them a new, self-sufficient community called Arthurdale.

Eleanor Roosevelt had grown up in wealth and privilege, but her life had been full of personal hardships.Energetic and determined as a first lady, she was a lightning rod for critics who thought that her "pet project" couldn't work - but she held fast and proved them wrong.To the refugees from the mines, Arthurdale was the answer to their dreams.Here were tidy homes with furniture and indoor plumbing; a place for planting gardens, sending children to school, learning new trades in new industries, and working together for the good of the community.Arthurdale, nestled in the green hills of West Virginia, changed the lives of its first families forever.

This is the story of the unlikely relationship between a president's wife, the poorest of the poor, and the dream they shared.It is told in part by those who were once children in Arthurdale, and will give young readers an unusual slant on Depression-era history.

A Linnet Book. Grades 5-8, xvi, 110 p., illus., notes, bibliog. Library binding, 0-208-02504-9, $22.50. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

no information on this book provided
The reviews listed with this book are for other books, not this one.You missed a good chance for an order because I couldn't evaluate this book.

NOTICE OF ERROR - PLEASE READ BELOW
Please check the reviews for this book - the last two posted are not for this book! I was just browsing and noticed the error. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document, covering the life and work of (Anna) Eleanor Roosevelt, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thomson Gale. The length of the entry is 501 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

Amazon.com

Steve Neal has collected, in Eleanor and Harry, the correspondence between Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. The 254 letters were written between April 16, 1945 (four days after FDR's death), and mid-December, 1960 (23 months before Eleanor Roosevelt's death). While many of the letters are brief and quotidian, a good number of them concern large issues, both global and national, among them the restoration of post-war Europe; the Korean War; the role and effectiveness of the nascent United Nations (Roosevelt served the Truman administration as a member of the U.S. delegation to the General Assembly); the fraught, mercurial jostling of the cold war; and Democratic Party appointments. Though the two hardly saw eye-to-eye on all issues, their letters were unfailingly respectful. Neal provides a context for many of these letters, which he arranges chronologically. As well, he has written a brief introduction and epilogue, and a helpful, if basic, bibliography. --H. O'Billovich ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A great book to read following a Truman biography
This book is a compilation of letters exchanged between Harry Truman and Eleanor Roosevelt during Truman's presidency.The book has an easy-to-read style largely because the author adds dialog to explain the situations, events, and results of what the letters mention.By using this dialog-letter combination, a great deal of history is presented in an entertaining manner.

I would highly recommend this book as a followup immediately after reading the biography Truman, by David McCullough.With a little bit of Truman history, not only will you find this book a great source of behind the scenes information, you'll also discover that the letters written by Eleanor Roosevelt are a joy to read.She was truly a gifted writer with the ability to put emotions and thoughts into the written word in a manner that could be described as artistic.

Historic Friendship
I read this book in no time. In the good old days of great letter writing, these two protagonists enjoyed a rich and historic friendship. Although sometimes on the opposite sides of issues, the friendship betwen former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and President Harry Truman was a rich and ultimately fascinating exercise in camaraderie and mutual aid.
From reading these fascinating letters, it is obvious that these two old friends actually enjoyed talking and exchanging ideas and opinions.

This book, as edited, weaves a moving and extremely interesting story, reading very much like a good biography.
I highly recommend this book, a good example of history making exciting reading.

Eleanor and Harry
Steve Neal has compiled some 250 letters between Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Truman when he took office after the death of Franklin Roosevelt.In this small but thoughtful book, Neal combines commentary pertinent to the times or to the letter itself.While they disagreed on many things, he repeatedly asked her to write to him with her thoughts on events of the day, which she did and with great candor.President Truman was the first to call Mrs. Roosevelt "First Lady of the World."I heartily recomment this book to those who wish to know these two great people a bit better. ... Read more

Book Description

The "Easy Biographies" series focuses on the childhood and young-adult years of famous men and women who overcame obstacles to achieve greatness. Inspirational and informative reading for students with big dreams. ... Read more