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bargainsleuth's review
5.0
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I’ve read more than 60 books on the Roosevelt family, some of them good, some of them great, some of them hyper-focused on a short period of time, some of them sweeping sagas covering their entire lives. I’ve watched Ken Burns The Roosevelts 7-part series about 75 times in the past 8 years. But I’ve never read a book that focused on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s battle with polio and how that shaped him as a man who could be president
Darman writes a compelling book, even though I’m very familiar with the subject and many of the stories told I was already familiar with. FDR spent most of his life as a privileged, charming, elitist lightweight whose only suffering was the loss of his father when he was 20. His mother pampered him babied him, bathing him until he was 9 years old. Sara Delano Roosevelt was a hovering mother who thought her child could do no wrong; her world revolved around Franklin. Having such devoted attention to oneself made Franklin very self-assured, if a bit shallow.
Getting to know his fifth cousin, Eleanor, changed Franklin Roosevelt. She was a woman of substance despite her seemingly privileged upbringing. Having a shallow mother prone to headaches and an alcoholic father meant that Eleanor did not have the same safe, sheltered early life. Her parents and one of her two brothers died when she was 9 and 10, leaving her orphaned. Raised by her maternal grandmother, she lived with uncles who liked to drink too much and shoot at people walking outside the house. Three padlocks were installed on her bedroom door to keep the uncles out. It was at finishing school when Eleanor was 15-18 that she learned of a life of service. She often volunteered to help out the less fortunate, and introduced Franklin to the poor living conditions of some of New York’s residents.
But that didn’t make Franklin any less carefree, and his privilege led to careless acts. He was ambitious and hoped to follow his distant cousin, and Eleanor’s uncle, Theodore, to the White House. But he had an affair with Eleanor’s former social secretary, Lucy Mercer, and was rarely around for his five surviving children (one child died at aged 7 months.) Eleanor said she’d give him a divorce, but his mother chimed in and said if he got a divorce, she’d cut him off financially. So they remained married, a political partnership with affection, but no longer love.
Franklin was nominated for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket for President in 1920 with James Cox, but lost in a big way. However, he knew that the exposure he got from the race, and the name recognition, as well as the choices he made in the future could point him toward the presidency.
It was the summer of 1921 when Franklin was stricken with infantile paralysis, polio, and his life forever changed. Unlike many who had gotten the disease, Franklin was never to regain his ability to walk. But he and his team of conspirators weaved a web of deception to the American public, making it seem he was on the mend. Through the next 11 years, Franklin learned to “walk” with leg braces, a cane, and firmly clutching the arm of a helper, usually his son James. No one ever saw him in a wheelchair.
The trials and tribulations of Franklin’s “wilderness years” are explored in detail. It was through his suffering that he finally got some empathy for his fellow man and made him the man who could be president. Just like his cousin Theodore’s trip to the Badlands following the death of his wife and mother made him the man who was one of the most popular and effective Presidents of all time, the fight to regain his ability to walk and talking to other polio patients made Franklin President material.
This was a really good read, making familiar material fresh, and revealing some stories that I had never heard before about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. And to think, the general public never knew he was a cripple. It’s sad to say that I don’t think the American public would elect a person with a disability today, just like they wouldn’t back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Considering the many attacks by Republicans about Franklin’s mental state (they claimed that the polio virus had damaged his brain as well as his body), I’m fairly surprised that the accusations didn’t stick, as they would in this day and age. And what we ended up with was the third best president of all time (behind Lincoln and Washington.)
I’ve read more than 60 books on the Roosevelt family, some of them good, some of them great, some of them hyper-focused on a short period of time, some of them sweeping sagas covering their entire lives. I’ve watched Ken Burns The Roosevelts 7-part series about 75 times in the past 8 years. But I’ve never read a book that focused on Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s battle with polio and how that shaped him as a man who could be president
Darman writes a compelling book, even though I’m very familiar with the subject and many of the stories told I was already familiar with. FDR spent most of his life as a privileged, charming, elitist lightweight whose only suffering was the loss of his father when he was 20. His mother pampered him babied him, bathing him until he was 9 years old. Sara Delano Roosevelt was a hovering mother who thought her child could do no wrong; her world revolved around Franklin. Having such devoted attention to oneself made Franklin very self-assured, if a bit shallow.
Getting to know his fifth cousin, Eleanor, changed Franklin Roosevelt. She was a woman of substance despite her seemingly privileged upbringing. Having a shallow mother prone to headaches and an alcoholic father meant that Eleanor did not have the same safe, sheltered early life. Her parents and one of her two brothers died when she was 9 and 10, leaving her orphaned. Raised by her maternal grandmother, she lived with uncles who liked to drink too much and shoot at people walking outside the house. Three padlocks were installed on her bedroom door to keep the uncles out. It was at finishing school when Eleanor was 15-18 that she learned of a life of service. She often volunteered to help out the less fortunate, and introduced Franklin to the poor living conditions of some of New York’s residents.
But that didn’t make Franklin any less carefree, and his privilege led to careless acts. He was ambitious and hoped to follow his distant cousin, and Eleanor’s uncle, Theodore, to the White House. But he had an affair with Eleanor’s former social secretary, Lucy Mercer, and was rarely around for his five surviving children (one child died at aged 7 months.) Eleanor said she’d give him a divorce, but his mother chimed in and said if he got a divorce, she’d cut him off financially. So they remained married, a political partnership with affection, but no longer love.
Franklin was nominated for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket for President in 1920 with James Cox, but lost in a big way. However, he knew that the exposure he got from the race, and the name recognition, as well as the choices he made in the future could point him toward the presidency.
It was the summer of 1921 when Franklin was stricken with infantile paralysis, polio, and his life forever changed. Unlike many who had gotten the disease, Franklin was never to regain his ability to walk. But he and his team of conspirators weaved a web of deception to the American public, making it seem he was on the mend. Through the next 11 years, Franklin learned to “walk” with leg braces, a cane, and firmly clutching the arm of a helper, usually his son James. No one ever saw him in a wheelchair.
The trials and tribulations of Franklin’s “wilderness years” are explored in detail. It was through his suffering that he finally got some empathy for his fellow man and made him the man who could be president. Just like his cousin Theodore’s trip to the Badlands following the death of his wife and mother made him the man who was one of the most popular and effective Presidents of all time, the fight to regain his ability to walk and talking to other polio patients made Franklin President material.
This was a really good read, making familiar material fresh, and revealing some stories that I had never heard before about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. And to think, the general public never knew he was a cripple. It’s sad to say that I don’t think the American public would elect a person with a disability today, just like they wouldn’t back in the 1930’s and 40’s. Considering the many attacks by Republicans about Franklin’s mental state (they claimed that the polio virus had damaged his brain as well as his body), I’m fairly surprised that the accusations didn’t stick, as they would in this day and age. And what we ended up with was the third best president of all time (behind Lincoln and Washington.)
bclark8781's review
5.0
I thought this was a terrific book. I don't think that I have read any of the many biographies of FDR, but Darman does a great job giving a fine if not overly detailed (for there are PLENTY of other books that go into exquisite minutiae about his life) telling of his life from birth till, really, the early days of his presidency. Darman's central thesis, which he lays out in a convincing manner, is that FDR's bout with polio that changed his life permanently was the key to his transformation from a charming if somewhat shallow politician to the towering figure whose empathy and compassion for "the common man," led not only to his elections as president but to his heroic efforts to make all Americans, whether rich or poor, believe in themselves and their country again.
amandag0515's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
It has to be a rare occasion that I give a memoir 4 stars, even though I enjoy them immensely. Stepping into another persons mind and actions is a very intimidating place to be, but this author nails it. The majority of the book reads smoothly like a non-fiction novel, not like a history book or historical recollection at all.
I truly reveled in the moment-to-moment movement through the book and the in depth perspective into Roosevelt’s life. Revealing facts I never knew, and explaining events in history in a gripping way, this recollection is a keeper for sure.
I truly reveled in the moment-to-moment movement through the book and the in depth perspective into Roosevelt’s life. Revealing facts I never knew, and explaining events in history in a gripping way, this recollection is a keeper for sure.
oceanwriter's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This isn't so much a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as it is a prelude to his presidency. Most of the focus is on his battle with polio and how he used this challenge to shape himself into the man we look back upon today.
I knew a fair amount about FDR going into this book, but I'd never known about his life before his illness to such a great extent as illustrated here. Though to begin with the pacing is strange, going back and forth between different eras of both his and Eleanor's lives, towards the middle it finds steady footing, telling the story in a more linear timeline. Becoming FDR is an up close and personal account of life in the Roosevelt home through infidelity, illness, and politics.
There are also some mentions of those involved with the Roosevelts, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Howe, friends of Eleanor's (among others), as well as quotes from Franklin and Eleanor's children. These interactions paint a broader picture of FDR through his social circle and family.
Informative and a relatively quick read, this book is a great accent to history book collections.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing a free digital ARC to read and review.
I knew a fair amount about FDR going into this book, but I'd never known about his life before his illness to such a great extent as illustrated here. Though to begin with the pacing is strange, going back and forth between different eras of both his and Eleanor's lives, towards the middle it finds steady footing, telling the story in a more linear timeline. Becoming FDR is an up close and personal account of life in the Roosevelt home through infidelity, illness, and politics.
There are also some mentions of those involved with the Roosevelts, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Louis Howe, friends of Eleanor's (among others), as well as quotes from Franklin and Eleanor's children. These interactions paint a broader picture of FDR through his social circle and family.
Informative and a relatively quick read, this book is a great accent to history book collections.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing a free digital ARC to read and review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Infidelity
Moderate: Racism
More...