Finished reading FDR by Jean Edward Smith book; List of related posts

A few days back I finished reading the main part of the book FDR by Jean Edward Smith which is around 630 pages. I did not read the Notes which runs into 150 odd pages! While it is a lengthy book, I found it to be a very interesting read giving a detailed view of the life of one of the most consequential men of the 20th century - Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of USA from 1933 till his death in 1945. I also found it very inspiring to read about how FDR overcame the great handicap of being "permanently paralyzed from the waist down" from 1921, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt#Paralytic_illness_and_political_comeback_(1921%E2%80%931928) . The cause of this paralytic illness was thought to be polio at that time, but in 2003, it was suggested that it could have been another disease called Guillian-Barre syndrome.

I have put up some posts on the book in the past - that list is given below: 

1) I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/01/i-ask-you-to-judge-me-by-enemies-i-have.html , Jan. 2019

2) Unemployment & rural distress problems in many democratic countries may need optimistic & energetic leadership with good masses-connect & willingness to try innovative solutions, like US President FDR in 1930s, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/03/todays-unemployment-and-rural-distress.html , March 2019

3) 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, USA was deadliest industrial disaster in city's history and led to improved factory safety standards legislation, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/08/1911-triangle-shirtwaist-factory-fire.html , Aug. 2019

4) FDR book: Woodrow Wilson, a former academic and governor of New Jersey, runs for USA presidency and wins the 1912 election, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/09/fdr-book-woodrow-wilson-runs-for-usa.html , Sep. 2019

5) FDR book: Spanish influenza epidemic claimed 20 million lives in 1918 in Europe & USA; FDR contracted it in Atlantic crossing on ship but survived, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/11/fdr-book-spanish-influenza-epidemic.html , Nov. 2019

It is a remarkable coincidence that I put up the above post on 1918 pandemic in early Nov. 2019 not knowing that just over a month later, in Dec. 2019 the world would face the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic starting in Wuhan, China, which later spread to the rest of the world including India, having a major impact on life and economy across the world, including on my own life in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India!

6) As part of this post: Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in Nov. 2019, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/11/miscellaneous-facebook-posts-comments_9.html . It covers 'First Red Scare' in USA immediately after World War I

7) As part of this post: Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in October 2020, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2020/10/miscellaneous-facebook-posts-comments.html . It covers assassination attempt on FDR in 1933.

8) One Hundred Days of 1st FDR US Presidential administration (in 1933) brought in astonishing changes: New Bank Law, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2020/11/one-hundred-days-of-1st-fdr-us.html , Nov. 2020

9) One Hundred Days of 1st FDR US Presidential administration (in 1933) brought in astonishing changes: Beer, Farm Relief, Civilian Conservation Corps, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, Public Works Administration and Tennessee Valley Authority, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2020/11/one-hundred-days-of-1st-fdr-us_12.html , Nov. 2020

10) FDR's efforts in USA political arena to provide arms to democratic Britain & France in response to Hitler led Nazi Germany's military aggression in Europe in 1938 & 1939; Isolationists in USA who opposed FDR, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2020/11/fdrs-efforts-in-usa-political-arena-to.html , Nov. 2020

Not on book but on FDR

a) FDR video showing how he faced and overcame Great Depression challenges, gives hope that world may overcome today's many frightening challenges, https://ravisiyermisc.blogspot.com/2019/03/fdr-video-showing-great-depression.html , Mar. 2019

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I did not put up a post on FDR contracting the paralytic illness disease and then fighting to continue his political career despite this handicap. I think that's because I seem to have read that part during COVID pandemic lockdown where I was very squeezed for time. So I read those parts of the book but could not spare the time to put up a post on it.

The part of the book covering Japan's Pearl Harbor attack on USA, USA's entry into second world war with the Allies against the Axis powers, the major events during that period of the war including meetings with Churchill and Stalin, FDR's health declining, the decision to run for 4th term even though his health was declining, winning his 4th term, the sheer determination he had to do his job as President and commander-in-chief in a country at war despite his health going down quite badly, and his final days as his health collapsed are described in quite some detail in the book, and are gripping accounts.

I have given below a passage from the book to show the determination with which FDR fought his illness and fulfilled his responsibilities of President and Commander-In-Chief of USA during World War II. It describes an incident in July 1944 when FDR was scheduled to review an amphibious-landing exercise by US armed forces.

--- start-extract ---

Just as he (FDR) was about to leave for the exercise he suffered a sudden seizure. The president turned deathly white, with a look of agony in his face, "Jimmy, I don't know if I can make it - I have horrible pains." [Jimmy refers to James, FDR's son.] Roosevelt struggled to speak. James wanted to call a doctor, but FDR resisted. "Both of us thought he was suffering from some sort of acute digestive upset - Father himself was positive it had nothing to do with his heart." James helped him lie flat on the floor of his railroad car and watched in terrified silence for ten minutes or so as his father recovered. "Never in all my life had I felt so alone with him - and so helpless." Gradually color returned to the president's face and he opened his eyes. "Help me up now, Jimmy. I feel better." Minutes later Roosevelt was seated in an open car, smiling jauntily and waving to spectators as he headed out to watch the marines hit the beach.

--- end-extract ---

The book has many such passages showing FDR's grit and determination to overcome his illnesses while doing his work as President.

In an initial page of the book before the 'Preface', the author captures in one line (printed by itself on a whole page), his view of FDR's contribution to USA: "HE LIFTED HIMSELF FROM HIS WHEELCHAIR TO LIFT THIS NATION FROM ITS KNEES."

[I thank Wikipedia and publishers & author of FDR book mentioned above, and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their websites and book (small extract from FDR book) on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]