Review Summaries

• Praised across major publications as a definitive work of American biography. Critics particularly valued Ward's willingness to portray FDR's private life—including his distant relationship with his children and his uneven marriage to Eleanor—with frankness alongside the triumphs of his public career. The depiction of Roosevelt's struggle with polio was widely singled out as especially moving.

Reviews

• First Class

  highly detailed but wonderfully readable. An incredible tour de force recounting the live and times of fDR, his friends and family.

• A masterful work...

  I have discovered that two of the finest books written about Franklin Delano Roosevelt were written by Geoffrey C. Ward. The first, Before the Trumpet, covers FDR's life from his birth to his marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905. The second book, A First Class Temperament: The Emergence of Franklin Roosevelt, 1905-1928 is just as meticulously researched and wonderfully written as Before the Trumpet. A First Class Temperament ends when when FDR is first elected governor of New York, and it is fascinating to read so much about the time before FDR became president. If Before the Trumpet details those influences that made FDR the man he became, A First Class Temperament covers those factors in his life that made him one of our most influential leaders. The key events in A First Class Temperament include his early forays into politics, his desire to follow in the footsteps of his distant cousin Teddy Roosevelt, and his battles with Tammany Hall. Quite a bit of time is dedicated to his stint as Assistant Secretary of the Navy in the Woodrow Wilson administration. During this time, Eleanor Roosevelt discovered the infidelity of her husband with her social secretary, Lucy Mercer. This event caused a change in the dynamics of their marriage and allowed Eleanor more freedom to take on the causes that were important to her. During the years covered, FDR will meet many individuals who will play an important part in his administration including Louis Howe, Frances Perkins and Marguerite LeHand. And then there is his contracting polio and his unsuccessful fight of many years to fully recover. This not only made Roosevelt a different man, but again, it helped push Eleanor to become more independent and more politically active. One aspect of Roosevelt's life that I found particularly interesting was his time spent as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. I always thought that Roosevelt looked down his patrician nose at Naval Secretary, Josephus Daniels. FDR thought that the North Carolina newspaper editor was a bit of a country bumpkin. Yet Ward shows us that although Daniels had no naval experiences, he was shrewd when it came to the DC political game and he had much to teach his young charge. “Years of political experience had taught the older man the ways and means with which to deal effectively with Congress; he spent much of his time as Secretary on the Hill, doing the sort of amiable, indispensable lobbying on the Navy's behalf that the impatient, impulsive younger man would then have found impossible.” Daniels gave us young assistant many lessons in dealing with Congress, admirals, and big business. It was also compelling to read about his struggle against polio. This often debilitating disease turned him from “a spoiled, self-absorbed youth cut short by an illness whose searing impact somehow transformed its victim into a thoughtful and compassionate leader.” This change gave him the empathy to deal with those less fortunate and was a important lesson leading up to the Great Depression. I was privileged to see Geoffrey C. Ward not too long ago for an author talk with Ken Burns, promoting their mini-series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. Ward spoke of the steady stream of questions that people ask him about when he is going to finish his biographical work on FDR. His answer was that the mini-series and companion book are the ending. For our sake, I hope not! I don't think that anybody has done FDR better than Geoffrey C. Ward.

• Detailed story of FDR

  History buffs and FDR students will enjoy this book by Ward. More than what you saw in the PBS/Ken Burns series. Not to denigrate the film but this book really grinds down to more information and learn many things you didn’t know.

• FDR biography

  I found this bio to be comprehensive and entertaining . The print was a bit small for my aging eyes but Iwould recommend it to anyone with an inquisitive mind. I bought it with two other bios about FDR and was fascinated by the total man foibles, especially with women ,and all.

• Meeting FDR

  I spent most of the summer reading this wonderful book. I only read it on the weekends relaxing on my porch and was always anxious to reacquaint with the young man who would become FDR. It is a testament to this biography that after reading almost 800 pages I was sorry to see it end. With all this praise one might think that I understood FDR. I finished this book no less able to draw a conclusion about the man who would lead our country through two of its greatest crisis. Question abound in my mind that probably can never be answered. The first and most difficult question is what was so special about this man that he could lead. As this book points out he was not a giant intellect,nor a hard worker or even a visionary. Somewhat like our current President he muddled through his youth. Most of what he accomplished was a result of his family name. The easy answer is that polio changed him. That is not satisfying when it is recognized he is nominated for Vice President before he got sick. I remain uncertain and Mr. Ward does not really help in answering the unanswerable other than possibly in his prologue. From reading this book one might come to the conclusion that FDR did not really relate to anyone. He lived a distant life from his wife and children. Possibly it was only Lucy Mercer who reached him. He was dominated by his mother but even there he was independent. LOuis Howe and Missy Le Hand were totally devoted to him but it does not appear he spent much time with Missy when she become ill. His battle with polio is beautifully told. I take away from that his ability to be optimistic and positive against all odds. He showed perserverance but only really when his ambition was involved. Yet even in this case he chose to spend his time in Warms Springs somewhat removed from the other visitors and did not spend time with him family. As the above review shows, a First Class Temperment is a wonderful book because it presents the subject in tremendous detail. It does not draw conclusions. Mr. Ward introduces us to FDR in transition. We meet him and see him grow. We see what kind of president he will be. I admire FDR. I am not sure that I like him much. I know I loved the journey and thank Mr. Ward for setting it out for us. I hope that Mr. Ward will read the review and maybe indicate what he thought of his subject. Maybe he will even write the next volume. For me I will continue my education by rereading No Ordinary Times, Conrad Black's biography and Arthur Schlesinger"s 3 volume set. I doubt it will answer any of my questions but I look forward to the experience. Geoffrey Ward thanks for the experience.

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