Author: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Publication Date: 1995
Rating: 4/5
How far the American Democratic Party has plummeted ...
I guess the United States has always been plagued with rampant partisanship on both sides - it's the ugly underside to any democratic nation. But it seems to me there was still such better balance on the political spectrum between right and left. Take Roosevelt, for instance. Sure, the Republicans naturally hated him. The screams of "communist!" would have been no less overused than "fascist!" is today. But while I am a conservative and would, were I American, vote wholeheartedly red today, I think "FDR" was clearly a great leader, a sensible of integrity and wisdom. Furthermore, his respect and sympathy for the people clearly shows that he, like his English counterpart Churchill, meant to do what he knew was best for his country - irrespective of any tribal loyalties that so plague the political culture today. The guy had to deal with both the Great Depression - which, arguably, he handled astutely with the New Deal - and another world war; one the Americans were, till stung in the ass by the Japanese, so reluctant to enter into. And with politics, with its processes and complexities, probably goes above many peoples' head (mine included), Roosevelt took what I think was an admirable approach to sitting down by his recorder and talking to the country, explaining where they were at, elaborating and making accessible his decisions and policies. An iconic communication between a leader and his people, substantially more stylish - God love him - than Trump's rabid Twitter updates.
Roosevelt was the leader the country needed, and it's nice to be reminded that, regardless of political affiliation, a good president is a good president and they should be respected as such. This book, to bring it back, is simply a compilation of his radio addresses. It offers an intimate insight into Roosevelt's thoughts during the 30s and 40s.
