Reviews

"A fresh and readable account of the most important presidency of the twentieth century, this book will interest general readers and scholars alike. McJimsey's incisive analysis of the social and economic policies of the FDR years helps us understand the relevance of the New Deal to our own time."--Patrick J. Maney, author of The Roosevelt Presence: The Life and Legacy of FDR"McJimsey provides not only a highly readable synthesis of what has become a voluminous and complex literature, but also an insightful reinterpretation stressing the relationships between Roosevelt's governance and the evolution and implementation of an American pluralism. A welcome addition to a distinguished series."--Ellis W. Hawley, author of The Great War and the Search for a Modern Order

"In this useful volume, McJimsey masters the prolific literature on America's only four-term President. McJimsey addresses FDR's energetic performance and, appropriately, includes a chapter on wife Eleanor's equally energetic--and even more empathetic--performance as America's greatest First Lady."--Library Journal"A very thorough and careful study of Roosevelt as President."--Times Literary Supplement"McJimsey's work has the power to affect our view of FDR."--Journal of American History"McJimsey manages to consider the voluminous literature on Franklin D. Roosevelt and yet say something fresh about one of the most intensely studied presidencies. This readable yet sharply analytical treatment portrays FDR as a pluralistic leader who won support from diverse segments of the American public, and whose creative approach generated complex programs that yielded ambiguous results."--Choice