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Roosevelt's Navy
FDR as never seen His formative years as Woodrow Wilson’s Assistant Secretary of the Navy, evolving from political neophyte to visionary leader. This is the story of a very different Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the one usually found in the history books. This is a much younger, untested FDR, a physically active, pre-polio FDR, as seen during his early years in Washington, learning the complexities of gaining and exercising power as Woodrow Wilson’s ambitious Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He arrives in Washington as a somewhat shallow, inexperienced political neophyte possessed of little more than a famous name, but by the time he leaves the Navy eight years later he will have transformed himself into a seasoned professional, wise to the ways of power, a visionary ready and eager to take his place on the world stage. FDR’s early years in Washington also include the most tumultuous period in his personal life, when, caught in a difficult marriage, he is forced to choose between his own personal happiness and his towering political ambitions. He must deal at close quarters with Congress, with the Administration, with the military, with big business. Lastly, but crucially, he confronts himself, learning something about his potential, his limitations, and his ambition. Such self-knowledge is perhaps the most valuable single gift that a leader of a democracy can hope for.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
James Tertius de Kay
16 books13 followersJames Tertius deKay is also the author of Monitor: The Story of the Legendary Civil War Ironclad and the Man Whose Invention Changed the Course of History and Chronicles of the Frigate Macedonian. He lives in Stonington, Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 2, 2013
Nice overview of FDR's early life and career. While it is clear the influences his time as asst. Naval Secretary had on his political development, the book feels like it is making a strong casual argument that his experiences directly led to his future political stances. The story seems too simplistic.
February 25, 2017
Quite enjoyed learning about a part of Roosevelt's formative years I knew almost nothing about. The author makes a convincing case that Roosevelt's time in the Navy was formative for how he conducted his presidency and the US during WWII
December 27, 2013
Okay. Something of a mix of potted biography and a discussion of Roosevelt's experience as assistant secretary of the Navy from 1913 to 1920. The author obviously is a major admirer of Roosevelt (and of big government). It's not particularly insightful, the treatment is superficial, the author's historical judgment isn't very keen, and the sources are limited.
As an instance of the sort of shallow historical judgment, we get things like several pages of Roosevelt's affability, humor and good sense in his first electoral campaign in 1910, but then we're told that he was an arrogant young man, apparently on the basis of Frances Perkins' reminiscences published in 1946. Who could put any faith in such a source, especially when it conflicts with all the facts we've actually been given? He also takes at face value a later claim that at some point during his legal career before entering politics Roosevelt told some fellow law clerks the exact offices that he would later hold. Such *vaticinatio ex eventu* is worthless, but the author not only takes this seriously but actually refers to it repeatedly as an indication of his beloved subject's genius.
The author cites a number of knowledgeable contemporaries (e.g., Oliver Wendell Holmes) as saying that FDR wasn't all that bright (p. 15), but rejects this on the grounds of a fairly childish presentation in a high school debate (pp. 16-22). The author is clearly biased greatly in FDR's favor, and his judgment in this regard is pretty unreliable.
The author is fond of concluding sections by saying what FDR learned from these events, but it's all made up by the author. In fact, not only does he frequently "know" what FDR "must" have thought, but apparently he even knows FDR's thinking better than Roosevelt did himself: "Whether Franklin was conscious of it or not, [his] visit to Verdun would permanently redefine his unquestioning admiration for Uncle Ted [i.e., Theodore Roosevelt" (p.232). Seemingly, what this means is that FDR had adopted modern, anti-war sensibilities, even if he didn't know it himself. What conceivable sense does such reasoning make?
The author is apparently a writer on naval topics, and his lack of familiarity with politics sometimes shows, with such absurd statements as claiming that Grover Cleveland was a progressive (p. 42)!
Readable enough, but not very insightful or instructive.
As an instance of the sort of shallow historical judgment, we get things like several pages of Roosevelt's affability, humor and good sense in his first electoral campaign in 1910, but then we're told that he was an arrogant young man, apparently on the basis of Frances Perkins' reminiscences published in 1946. Who could put any faith in such a source, especially when it conflicts with all the facts we've actually been given? He also takes at face value a later claim that at some point during his legal career before entering politics Roosevelt told some fellow law clerks the exact offices that he would later hold. Such *vaticinatio ex eventu* is worthless, but the author not only takes this seriously but actually refers to it repeatedly as an indication of his beloved subject's genius.
The author cites a number of knowledgeable contemporaries (e.g., Oliver Wendell Holmes) as saying that FDR wasn't all that bright (p. 15), but rejects this on the grounds of a fairly childish presentation in a high school debate (pp. 16-22). The author is clearly biased greatly in FDR's favor, and his judgment in this regard is pretty unreliable.
The author is fond of concluding sections by saying what FDR learned from these events, but it's all made up by the author. In fact, not only does he frequently "know" what FDR "must" have thought, but apparently he even knows FDR's thinking better than Roosevelt did himself: "Whether Franklin was conscious of it or not, [his] visit to Verdun would permanently redefine his unquestioning admiration for Uncle Ted [i.e., Theodore Roosevelt" (p.232). Seemingly, what this means is that FDR had adopted modern, anti-war sensibilities, even if he didn't know it himself. What conceivable sense does such reasoning make?
The author is apparently a writer on naval topics, and his lack of familiarity with politics sometimes shows, with such absurd statements as claiming that Grover Cleveland was a progressive (p. 42)!
Readable enough, but not very insightful or instructive.
January 22, 2015
When I listened to the book review on "Roosevelt's Navy" on BookTV, I was amazed at FDR's love for the sea & his knowledge of the Navy. I discovered how, as a boy, he read so much about history and its battles & wars. FDR found out that in order to have a strong military a country, like America, must have a strong Navy. Then, he made up his mind to learn as much as possible about ships & sea power; so, he became a Navy man. And when he ran for president, many sailors voted for him (including my grandfather) because FDR was a Navy man.
When the author read an excerpt from his book, his writing captured the beauty & movement of the ocean. James Tertius de Kay was very knowledgable about ships, the Navy, and sea faring. The author read his book at the Roosevelt Reading Festival. Every year, BookTV has covered this book festival at Roosevelt's Library/ Museum in Hyde Park, New York. This year, the festival was Sat, June 21, 2014; it was finally aired on BookTV: (http://www.booktv.org/Program/16058/2...). Also, here is the link to the festival for more information, if you're interested: (http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/publ...). I discovered if you click on "Agenda" in the center of the page, you will get their book list: (http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/publ...). Enjoy! And if you can find a link to see a replica of FDR's office (or replica of his Oval Office) in Roosevelt's museum, it is worth it. I, especially, loved his desk & Navy recliner, when they showed it on BookTV. It takes you back in time to that era.
(Note: In the review attached to this book, I do not like the phrase "difficult marriage" because it implies excusing FDR for being unfaithful to Eleanor. This part is simply a sad history.)
When the author read an excerpt from his book, his writing captured the beauty & movement of the ocean. James Tertius de Kay was very knowledgable about ships, the Navy, and sea faring. The author read his book at the Roosevelt Reading Festival. Every year, BookTV has covered this book festival at Roosevelt's Library/ Museum in Hyde Park, New York. This year, the festival was Sat, June 21, 2014; it was finally aired on BookTV: (http://www.booktv.org/Program/16058/2...). Also, here is the link to the festival for more information, if you're interested: (http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/publ...). I discovered if you click on "Agenda" in the center of the page, you will get their book list: (http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/publ...). Enjoy! And if you can find a link to see a replica of FDR's office (or replica of his Oval Office) in Roosevelt's museum, it is worth it. I, especially, loved his desk & Navy recliner, when they showed it on BookTV. It takes you back in time to that era.
(Note: In the review attached to this book, I do not like the phrase "difficult marriage" because it implies excusing FDR for being unfaithful to Eleanor. This part is simply a sad history.)
November 8, 2012
I picked this up because it seemed curious that someone would write about FDR's Navy instead of that of Teddy Roosevelt. The part leading up to FDR becoming Asst Secnav was truly awful. I almost closed the book. Besides, any FDR fan knows plenty about his time in that office--his problems with Wilson and Josephus Daniels and the start of the famous Lucy Mercer affair. Had I noticed the author's bio, I would have realized that a naval historian would have many not so common but fascinating things to say. From this book we see FDR's 1.0 version of Lend Lease and his complete understanding of all things Navy. We also see his own experiences putting distance between his ideas and those of his idols--TR, Daniels and Wilson. Granted, the author's intent was to prove that FDRs time as Asst Secnav made him the War President he came to be. Even allowing for the requisite grains of salt, this book adds greatly to understanding FDR. I'm glad I stumbled across it and even more glad that I read it.
May 18, 2012
There are an number of good biographies of FDR,and all cover this period of his life. But, in the main, they tend to give this period short shrift in favor of his Presidential years. This book takes a different look, focusing on how his work in the Navy Department influenced his growth as an administrator and the lessons he learned from observing others. The Assistant Secretary of the Navy (there was only one during those years) was a highly responsible job for one of his years, and he proved to be highly capable. Anyone with an interest in Roosevelt or Naval history will enjoy this highly readable book.
December 22, 2014
This was an excellent book on FDR's less famous career before he got polio. This career was quite similar to TR's. His tour of Verdun during WWI provided him with the wisdom that war was hell and not the romantic version of TR's.
March 19, 2013
Well-written combination of naval history and FDR biography!
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November 5, 2014good read. author did solid research, provided many interesting facts
October 10, 2021
Excellent
Very informative with details that show the impact of early life experiences that relate to the person that he became. I am very happy I was able to get a chance to read it.
Very informative with details that show the impact of early life experiences that relate to the person that he became. I am very happy I was able to get a chance to read it.
June 7, 2020
I never loved this. Just wanted to try something new, i.e. history. Did this nonfiction book really fast forward 19 years to end on a cliffhanger?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews