Formative Years and Family Influences

Franklin D. Roosevelt's upbringing was steeped in privilege and expectation, yet it was not without its own set of challenges. Johnson's tribute to Roosevelt reveals the paradox faced by those born into wealth: the struggle to forge an independent path despite familial expectations. Roosevelt's father, James, was a respected but modestly ambitious businessman who enjoyed a leisurely life at their Hyde Park estate. Meanwhile, his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, wielded considerable influence over her son, confident in her ability to guide his future.

Within this comfortable environment, Roosevelt was groomed to step into his father's shoes as a gentleman of leisure and modest professional ambition. His education at Groton and Harvard, coupled with a Columbia law degree, seemed more about maintaining social ties than pursuing personal passion. His marriage and subsequent legal career were, likewise, seen as fulfilling parental visions rather than personal aspirations. Johnson suggests that this insulated upbringing prepared him little for the realities of political life or the broader American experience.

A Political Awakening

Despite the predetermined course of his early life, Roosevelt found inspiration in the political arena. At Harvard, he became intrigued by the dynamic presidential campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly those of his distant cousin, Theodore Roosevelt. The latter’s bold move to break from the Republican Party galvanized young Franklin, prompting him to abandon his legal career and run as a Democrat for the New York State Senate at the age of twenty-eight—a decision that marked the beginning of his political journey.

Roosevelt's early political career was marked by his support for Woodrow Wilson’s presidential campaign, which earned him the position of Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Despite an unsuccessful vice-presidential bid in 1920, his political trajectory appeared promising until polio struck, leaving him physically incapacitated for several years. Nevertheless, with the encouragement of his wife, Eleanor, and steadfast allies like Louis Howe and Alfred E. Smith, Roosevelt made a remarkable recovery and returned to politics with newfound vigor.

Navigating Crisis and Emergent Leadership

Roosevelt's resilience was further tested during the Great Depression, which posed unprecedented challenges to the nation. According to Johnson, it was during this period that Roosevelt's optimistic leadership shone brightly, offering solace and action to millions of affected Americans. His New Deal programs, though controversial and not wholly successful in resolving the economic crisis, were pivotal in preserving democratic ideals and preventing extremist ideologies from taking root.

As President, Roosevelt's domestic policies transformed the American economic landscape with wide-ranging social and economic reforms. However, the challenges of the Depression were soon overshadowed by global conflicts that demanded his attention.

World War II and Global Diplomacy

By the late 1930s, Roosevelt faced the dual threat of Nazi Germany and Japanese expansionism. Johnson recounts Roosevelt's strategic efforts to shift American sentiment away from isolationism, preparing the nation for the eventual confrontation with these aggressor states. With the outbreak of war in 1939, Roosevelt deftly maneuvered to provide aid to Great Britain and other Allied nations, laying the groundwork for America's full entry into World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

As the leader of a vast military alliance, Roosevelt was tasked with making some of the most complex decisions of his career. He prioritized the defeat of Nazi Germany, delayed the opening of a second front, and orchestrated key military campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. His ability to compromise with diverse allies, including Charles de Gaulle and Joseph Stalin, was crucial in shaping the postwar world order. Johnson argues that these decisions, though fraught with difficulty, were testament to Roosevelt's sound judgment and steadfast character.