Harry Hopkins: Ally of the Poor and Defender of Democracy

by George McJimsey

Traces the life and career of the man who, as a trusted and loyal friend of Franklin D. Roosevelt, acted almost as a partner to the President, and discusses his work within the New Deal and his assignments during World War II.

Genres: History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 1987

About the author

George T. McJimsey graduated from Grinnell College in 1958 with honors in History and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He went on to receive a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship to study at Columbia University and received his doctorate in American history from the University of Wisconsin. He taught history at Iowa State University between 1965 and 2002, occasionally returning to Grinnell to lecture.

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good portrayal of Hopkins. The book gives some detail of his family background in the mid-west, his education, first marriage and his social work.

The main focus of the book is on the war years. Hopkins was definitely a bureaucracy crasher and functioned best in chaotic situations (the Great Depression, World War II). Hopkins traveled extensively over the war years. He went on solo visits to Churchill in January 1941 and during the summer of 1941 he visited both Churchill and Stalin. After returning from Moscow he sailed with Churchill to the Atlantic summit meeting in Placentia Bay off the coast of Newfoundland.

Hopkins was never in the best of health after 1938 after which he underwent repeated intestinal operations.

Hopkins was one of the prime movers for Roosevelt’s social welfare programs during the depression. These programs always emphasized work and not hand-outs. He was an organizer for Lend-Lease and prime communicator for Roosevelt to the British and to Stalin’s Russia.

Hopkins’ never made much money during his career – he was making $12,000 per year when he died in 1946. It would seem to me that Hopkins never quite understood Stalin’s intentions to annex the Eastern European countries into the Soviet Bloc – something that Churchill had forebodings of in late 1944.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of an important, if often forgotten, figure in American history. Content rates 5 stars, but the writing style drags it down- informative but bland and passive. Perhaps it is inevitable in a historical biography, but the lack of "zip" makes the book occasionally hard to pick up.

Regardless, the content of the book is its focal point, and in that regard it is a worthy read for anyone interested in American history, the Depression, welfare politics, and/or World War II.

[Online-University of-the-Left · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of insights into the left wing of the New Deal. And the title sums it up. You'll love Harry after this.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and well-balanced look at one of the instrumental figures in the creation and launch of the New Deal. I read parts of it for a grad school class, but finished it because it read like a good story.

Particularly highly recommended for those with an interest in the history of politics, the New Deal, and Michigan.

[Dan Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one studies particular eras in history one occasionally comes across a notable personage. Not one of the top killers, such as Alexander the Great or Napoleon or Hitler or Stalin; no, I mean quieter figures whose contribution was genius.
For instance, 20th Century science is strewn with the name John Von Neumann. Oh, yes, the atomic bomb, but also mathematics, economics, radar, computer design and construction; his fingerprints are all over practically everything.
So too a perusal of The New Deal or WWII leaves one with the name of Harry Hopkins, or, as Churchill suggested, Lord Root of the Matter. Mr. Hopkins was a social worker who got hooked into programs to battle the Depression and after organizing and troubleshooting several programs he stepped into the war effort, including running Lend-Lease. President Roosevelt sent him to meet with Churchill several times; he went to Moscow, to Europe, to the mid-east, lining up missions and whispering in FDR's ear at major conferences. He was a strong and early supporter of Gen. George C. Marshall. After FDR died, Hopkins went again to Russia to negotiate with Stalin. On the way home he consulted and conferenced with Gen. Eisenhower as well as with Winston Churchill.
He was known for his honesty and probity, his keen mind, engaging manner, and talent for getting right down to the core of an issue.
Shortly after the war, at age 55, he died.
Highly Recommended