In 1938 the compiler of [The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt] published five volumes which contained the papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt issued during his two terms as Governor of New York, 1929-1933, and also during his first term as President of the United States—from March 4, 1933, to January 19, 1937. He has now compiled the papers for the President's second term, one volume being devoted to each of four periods and having its own title: 1937—The Constitution Prevails; 1938—The Continuing Struggle for Liberalism; 1939—War and Neutrality; 1940—War and Aid to Democracies. The last volume closes at the date January 16, 1941. Mr. [Samuel I.] Rosenman had had the distinct advantage of being approved and practically appointed by the President to undertake this important task for which he was so peculiarly fitted by his experience as Counsel to the Governor of New York for both terms and by his continuing and intimate relations with Mr. Roosevelt after the latter became President.

The physical features of these four large volumes, which make a total bulk of well over 3,000 pages, are admirable. They are strongly and attractively bound in soft stone blue and the type is unusually clearcut and well spaced. Every paper is numbered, each volume having its own separate series. At the beginning of Volume I is included a striking feature—a table which lists alphabetically for all four volumes a number of topics, including Agriculture, Banking, Civilian Conservation Corps, Courts and Constitution, Democratic Party, Education, Foreign Affairs (European Relations, Pan American Affairs, Far Eastern Relations, Foreign Trade, Neutrality, etc.), Health, Hours and Wages, Insular Possessions, National Defense, Reorganization of Executive Branch of Government, Social Security, etc. These listings give page references in each of the four volumes in order that the reader may follow through at a glance. Immediately after these reference groupings is a long alphabetical list of smaller topics by each of which is set down the larger topic under which it may be found. Hence there is for the student a preliminary, comprehensive index to supplement the index placed at the end of each volume. Especially useful in Volume I is a complete list of "Proclamations and Executive Orders" with numbers and exact dates as found in the United States Statutes at Large for the 75th and 76th Congresses, i.e., from January, 1937, to January, 1941.

Particularly vivid and instructive are the notes appended to numerous papers by Mr. Rosenman and in some cases by President Roosevelt himself. They give a volume of information and carry on, sometimes to a conclusion, the story begun by the paper itself. Thus there is in fact a sort of connected narrative between the papers and even the volumes. In these notes comment is limited almost entirely to fact, very little opinion being expressed. As to the selection of contents, no attempt was made to include all papers, and the selection is apparently objective and fair. In length, the items range all the way from a brief paragraph or so to long and detailed statements which fill many pages. Most valuable and vividly interesting is the introduction written for each volume by the President himself. His introduction to Volume I (1937) gives his own story of the fight for the reform of the federal judicial system, proper emphasis being placed on the proposed reform of the lower and intermediate courts, although the public was apparently more interested in the dramatic fight over the Supreme Court. These introductions give the story of many of his political aspirations and struggles over four years of critical and stormy politics at home and abroad.

Among the papers, the speeches are most significant, the most important, of course, being those addressed to Congress. These speeches contain a mass of information concerning executive acts and the reasons therefor, as, for example, those which support the policy of exchanging over-age destroyers for bits of British territory in the Western Hemisphere where naval and air bases could be established by the United States. There are progress reports on all sorts and sizes of federal enterprises. A number of speeches are made for the encouragement of various undertakings in the amelioration of human suffering. Speeches over the radio—those famous fireside chats—deal with every possible topic on imminent problems, domestic and foreign, and throw a light on our international affairs which could come from no other source. They will be for all present and future students of American foreign policy a source of priceless information from a period of global war and reconstruction.

An ordered reading of the various declarations or proclamations of neutrality beginning in 1939 will save confusion. The declarations distinguish carefully between neutrality under general international law and that under our domestic "laws of neutrality" which are not neutrality laws at all. Immediately following the proclamations under both headings are the innumerable executive orders necessary to implement the law.

Of outstanding value are the numberless press conferences (about 370) in dialogue form—the familiar chatty exchanges between the President and press representatives. These chats cover a multitude of topics which could not be touched upon anywhere else.

In this collection of papers is reflected a breadth and vitality of interest in men and movements befitting the head of a great democratic republic. There is indicated also a power of continuous growth and change which—according to the views of a particular reader—may be for better or for worse. In no single field, with possibly one or two exceptions, is this more apparent than in the field of diplomatic relations. These four books will be a source of instruction and inspiration to countless students in our own and foreign lands: We hope that Mr. Rosenman may begin before long the collecting and editing of the papers of President Roosevelt's third term.