To be published this Nov: "Traitor to His Class: The Life and Radical Presidency of FDR"

[brentspeak]

(No, I'm not the author, nor do I work for the publisher. But I am a big FDR fan, looking forward to the publication of this book).

Product Description

"Traitor To His Class: The Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt"

by H.W. Brands (author)

Publisher: Doubleday (November 4, 2008)

Drawing on archival materials, public speeches, personal correspondence, and accounts by family and close associates, the acclaimed bestselling historian and biographer H. W. Brands offers a compelling and intimate portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s life and career, revealing the inner strengths as well as the unerring political instincts that shaped him, and helped to save America in its darkest hour.

Born into wealth and privilege, FDR became the nation’s greatest champion of the poor and down-and-out. Brands examines the role of FDR's uncle Theodore Roosevelt in the shaping of Roosevelt’s political aspirations, and the powerful influence of his dominating and overly protective mother. He explores the, at times, prickly resistance and unusual partnership between FDR and his wife, Eleanor. Most of all, the book traces in breathtaking detail FDR’s revolutionary efforts with his New Deal legislation to alter the very fabric of the American economy in order to save it, his forceful—and cagey—leadership up to and during World War II, and his lasting legacy in creating the foundations of a postwar Europe.

This year’s presidential hopefuls have eagerly invoked Roosevelt’s leadership and vision in their campaigns. TRAITOR TO HIS CLASS brilliantly captures the qualities that have made him a beloved hero and a pivotal figure to millions of Americans.

http://www.amazon.com/Traitor-His-Class-Presidency-Roosevelt/dp/0385519583

[yourout]

1. Saviour of America is a more fitting title.

[midnight]

2. I like that photo. He shows he had spunk......

[Faygo Kid]

4. I HATE spunk. (Love FDR, though - Ed Asner, too).

[musette_sf]

3. presumably the post mortem bio on Georgie Butch

will be titled "Traitor To His Country".

[villager]

5. America's last actual President.

n/t

[Fenris]

6. Brands always makes interesting arguments

Even if in some cases one can find flaws in them (read: 'The Strange Death of American Liberalis').

[jimshoes]

7. Sounds like this guy would have been

rooting for the Redcoats too.

[brentspeak]

8. I think you misunderstand

At the time, FDR was famously called a "traitor to his class" by RW opponents of the New Deal. Thereafter, the expression "traitor to his class" has been used as something of a term of respect for FDR.

[jimshoes]

13. Ah, the title threw me,

It sounded as if the writer is going to slam FDR for his stances on the poor in America. In some cases I guess you can't judge a book by its cover. I withdraw the criticism. :)

[brentspeak]

15. On an unrelated note...

...are those Chucks in your avatar? :thumbsup:

[jimshoes]

16. Not that I'm aware of

I thought they were Red Ball Jets to be honest. (Back from the 50's & early 60's)

[eleny]

9. thx!

[roguevalley]

10. he's my hero, he and his wife. I will buy it.

[Canuckistanian]

11. A patrician multi-millionaire who enjoyed yachting

Yep, kind of an unusual type of person to be considered the champion of the lower classes.

[intheflow]

12. I met this guy in last week.

He was in his mid-to-late 60's, telling my date and I that people of our generation (mid-40's) needed to keep working to pay for his social security. Ten minutes later, in an unrelated conversation, he said something about not agreeing with FDR's politics. (He was retired from the stock market, himself.) I couldn't believe that this man, who took his wife to this expensive restaurant once a week, was whining about loosing his social security, an FDR program. The hypocrisy was staggering. :grr:

I'll look for this at my library. Thanks for the head's up.

[brentspeak]

14. self-kick

:kick: