Young Mr. Roosevelt: FDR's Introduction to War, Politics, and Life

by Stanley Weintraub

In Young Mr. Roosevelt Stanley Weintraub evokes Franklin Delano Roosevelt's political and wartime beginnings. An unpromising patrician playboy appointed assistant secretary of the Navy in 1913, Roosevelt learned quickly and rose to national visibility in World War I. Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1920, he lost the election but not his ambitions. While his stature was rising, his testy marriage to his cousin Eleanor was fraying amid scandal quietly covered up. Ever indomitable, even polio a year later would not suppress his inevitable ascent.

Against the backdrop of a reluctant America's entry into a world war and FDR's hawkish build-up of a modern navy, Washington's gossip-ridden society, and the nation's surging economy, Weintraub summons up the early influences on the young and enterprising nephew of his predecessor, “Uncle Ted.”

Genres: Biography, History, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction, Us Presidents

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Weintraub was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 17, 1929. He was the eldest child of Benjamin and Ray Segal Weintraub. He attended South Philadelphia High School, and then he attended West Chester State Teachers College (now West Chester University of Pennsylvania) where he received his B.S. in education in 1949. He continued his education at Temple University where he received his master's degree in English “in absentia,” as he was called to duty in the Korean War.

He received a commission as Army Second Lieutenant, and served with the Eighth Army in Korea receiving a Bronze Star.

After the War, he enrolled at Pennsylvania State University in September 1953; his doctoral dissertation “Bernard Shaw, Novelist” was accepted on May 6, 1956.

Except for visiting appointments, he remained at Penn State for all of his career, finally attaining the rank of Evan Pugh Professor of Arts and Humanities, with emeritus status on retirement in 2000. From 1970 to 1990 he was also Director of Penn State’s Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies

Reviews

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book for enthusiasts of politico/military history. Much has been written about Franklin Delano Roosevelt's later years. He was arguably the greatest statesman America ever produced, but not too much is known of his earlier history. This well researched account helps to fill in the gap

A nephew of Theodore Roosevelt, a former President, and married to his fifth cousin, the formidable Eleanor, he had all the right credentials for high office, but did he have the background experience necessary to take on the task he would eventually be elected to, for a record four times, amid the Great Depression and World War 2.

Born into a wealthy family, he grew up surrounded by privilege. Although he studied law at Harvard and Columbia University, he set his sights on greater glory than the law could produce.
In 1910 he ran for the New York State Senate, as a Democrat, unusual in a family of Republican tradition, and was elected.

An important influence in his life at this time was the rather scruffy, but able and loyal, Louis Howe, who was his right arm for many years.

During the 1912 National Democratic Convention, FDR supported Woodrow Wilson in his Presidential campaign, and on his election was rewarded with the appointment of Assistant Secretary of the Navy, a job he did exceedingly well, being an enthusiastic and competent seaman himself. In the run up to America joining the Allies in WW1 he campaigned vigorously for the preparation for the coming war against much opposition and indeed "wanted himself to get into the action but was not allowed as he was considerable too valuable as Assistant Secretary.

A handsome man, and banished from Eleanor's bedroom after her sixth pregnancy, he started an affair with his wife's social secretary, Lucy Mercer. When Eleanor discovered the liaison, she threatened divorce unless the affair ceased, although the relationship continued in secret.

In 1920' FDR accepted nomination for Vice President but was thrashed at the polls, although it gave him the national exposure that would be invaluable in his future.

[Jim Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and covers his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, in the main (though the pre-assistantship period was was covered in a potted way, as was the run up to his failed Vice Presidential bid). The author picked this period, because when he interview servicemen from the Navy who fought in WWII, they often described FDR as "one of them", so the author wanted to understand who "that man" was.

It was a breezy read, you do get a sense of what the young FDR was like, it's just that because the book was so narrowly focused, you'll end up feeling that perhaps it was a little constrained by the focus, if I'm honest. I'd have liked to understand more of his younger life was like, though I accept that this was not the focus of this work.

[Bfisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book concentrates on 8 years in FDR's life, when he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Wilson administration. After reading it, I understood how critical this period was in preparing him for Governor of New York, and then the Presidency during the depths of the Great Depression, the fight against Fascism and WW2. In this period he really learned how the federal civil bureaucracy and the upper levels of the American military worked, how to run a large government enterprise, and how the legislative branch operated vis-a-vis the executive branch. Because of this, he was able to hit the ground running in 1933.

[Chris Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography was well-researched and seemingly unbiased in its presentation of FDR's development into the classic politician we read in high school history books. Stanley Weintraub's effort is a good resource for those willing to dive deeply into the archives, but very little of what FDR said and did as a young naval administrator sunk in to my memory. It provides a limited foreshadowing of some of the actions that FDR took as President, but in many ways, it gives us a less-than-flattering picture of ambition.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another FDR book. After you've read a few it seems almost incestuous, with every book referring to and quoting from each other. Still, I enjoyed this one, which focussed on FDR's tenure as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, where he met and worked with many of the Navy men, civil servants, and political appointees that would populate his own administrations. The book was especially strong and enlightening on the 1918-1920 post-war - and post-Lucy Mercer - years.

[Dave Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book comprised the entirely of my knowledge of FDR's life, I would be very surprised at how he turned out.

[Bryan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s worth listening to but im also delusioned that one of my heroes was so far from perfect.

[Burt Schoeppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written biography of FDR's life up to running for the vice presidency .

[Ceejay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This highly informative, very enjoyable biography of FDR's early years in politics is well worth reading! In addition to covering his time in politics, it also deals with the relationship between FDR and Eleanor, for it is in the time frame of this biography that their marriage began to unravel. We learn that nobody is either all good, or all bad, be it Franklin or Eleanor. The relationship between FDR and Teddy Roosevelt (Eleanor's uncle)is covered. Mostly this book centers on FDR's time as assistant secretary of the Navy,a job he would hold from just before WWI and throughout the entire war. The war years certainly shaped and prepared FDR for his rise to President of the United States. There are also many interesting tales told about other famous American, including Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryon. This is certainly a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating & Rich in History!
Aside from the political facts this book is filled with bits of historical gossip and intrigue. It is well written and easy to read. Mr. Weintraub has referenced many resources which adds validity to this book. Enjoy! NetGalley provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical review of FDR's years before becoming President, just up to his becoming 1920s Democratic VP choice. Also had much about his estranged and difficult personal relationship with his wife. He was certainly not an isolationist, which appears to have been the gist of the times. He also traded on his very recognizable surname, not unlike other American politicians of late.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from net galley.

I love learning about people in history and this book has me wanting to find out more on Mr Rooaevelt and this time in history. Great read would recommend to all.

[ShareStories · Rating 4 out of 5]

In spite of my reluctance to read books that have lots of political detail in them, I did enjoy this one because it added some personal detail and interesting author conjecture about FDR as well.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read of FDR's career up to 1920.