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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
This book shows a version of FDR who willingly gets buddy-buddy with Stalin while blowing off the pro-Western democracy Winston Churchill. I figure that's pretty accurate.
The last paragraph of Franklin and Winston by Jon Meacham:
There are memorials to Roosevelt and Churchill just inside the West Door of Westminster Abbey. The first, a gray tablet that hangs far below a window depicting Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel, reads: TO THE HONORED MEMORY OF FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, A FAITHFUL FRIEND OF FREEDOM AND OF BRITAIN. Nearby, a large, dark green marble slab lies on the floor of the great nave, its inscription simple but profound: REMEMBER WINSTON CHURCHILL. On sunny days in London, light slips in the gloom of the ancient church, both through the stained glass and from the open doors--light from a world Roosevelt and Churchill together delivered from evil.
I know I'm far too sentimental for my own good, but I bawled my way through the last chapter of this very good book about the complicated, often strained, but enduringly affectionate relationship between two incredible leaders and men. The book made me feel rather cuddly about Churchill, who whatever his shortcomings and Victorian-era attitudes about certain things, was in Meacham's telling a deeply sentimental and forgiving man who made no secret of how much he loved and valued Franklin Roosevelt. This passage killed me:
Very late in Churchill's life, Clementine invited James Roosevelt to call on her husband in retirement. "He'd like that, and maybe it'd perk him up a bit," she said. "He's been a bit down." Churchill seemed feeble, but when he saw Roosevelt his face lit up. Holding his guest's hand, he asked him to sit and talk. "From time to time he'd ask me if I remembered someone I'd never met, and he spoke about a message he'd sent me, when he'd never sent me a message in his life," James recalled. "At first I was puzzled. Then I realized he thought I was my father." Seeing his mistake, Churchill was "terribly disappointed and his expression and posture seemed to sag." For a fleeting instant, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt had been at the pinnacle again, if only in an old man's mind, and the thought had been pleasing. "Churchill's attitude toward Roosevelt was one of profound affection and regard," recalled Anthony Montague Browne, "and it never changed."
The overall picture of their relationship as they worked together during the war years is of Churchill trying terribly hard to woo FDR, while FDR accepts his wooing and reciprocates for a while before finally growing somewhat weary of his overly effusive and needy friend. Roosevelt could turn on the charm, but he could turn it off just as easily when it suited him. He was a very hard man to know -- a man of secrets -- and Churchill found that hurtful as the years wore on. Reading about FDR's treatment of Churchill during their meetings with Stalin was painful. Roosevelt basically threw Churchill under the bus and developed an "us against silly old Winston" attitude when interacting with Stalin, and while there were political reasons behind what he was doing in trying to charm Stalin into cooperating with US goals (yeah, good luck with that), it was still hard to read about.
All that makes the book sound so shallow, and it isn't. After all, we're talking about two strong, intelligent men who had the fate of the world very much in their hands and who led their countries through unimaginably crushing problems. They weren't kids fighting over who was the coolest and most popular in school, or about who liked who more. Still, there are elements of that dynamic in their relationship. Meacham does a good job of making both of them human, and with that comes an honest look at their all-too-human failings.
In the end they had more ups than downs as friends, however, and all the time they spent together at work and at play, at the White House, at Hyde Park, at Camp David (then named Shangri-La), and elsewhere truly did change the course of history. Some of their times together -- singing hymns at a religious service on board the HMS Prince of Wales, comforting and assisting each other after dreadful losses in battle, spending holidays together at the White House, watching the sun set over the Atlas Mountains -- were moments of true bonding and friendship, deeply felt by both men. (Churchill painted the mountain sunset -- his only painting of the war years -- and gave it to Roosevelt.)
Early in the book Meacham quotes one of Churchill's children (Mary, I believe) as saying that whenever she thought about her father and Roosevelt she remembered the French proverb: "In love, there's always one who kisses and one who turns the cheek." Churchill was always kissing and FDR was always turning the cheek to be kissed. Churchill was aware of it himself: "No lover had ever studied the whims of his mistress as I did those of President Roosevelt." In any relationship it seems there's always one who loves more, but that doesn't mean that love isn't reciprocated, albeit less intensely.
Franklin and Winston was a really interesting book and a quick, entertaining read. It made me want to find out more about Churchill, since I hardly knew anything about him prior to this.
There are memorials to Roosevelt and Churchill just inside the West Door of Westminster Abbey. The first, a gray tablet that hangs far below a window depicting Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel, reads: TO THE HONORED MEMORY OF FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT, A FAITHFUL FRIEND OF FREEDOM AND OF BRITAIN. Nearby, a large, dark green marble slab lies on the floor of the great nave, its inscription simple but profound: REMEMBER WINSTON CHURCHILL. On sunny days in London, light slips in the gloom of the ancient church, both through the stained glass and from the open doors--light from a world Roosevelt and Churchill together delivered from evil.
I know I'm far too sentimental for my own good, but I bawled my way through the last chapter of this very good book about the complicated, often strained, but enduringly affectionate relationship between two incredible leaders and men. The book made me feel rather cuddly about Churchill, who whatever his shortcomings and Victorian-era attitudes about certain things, was in Meacham's telling a deeply sentimental and forgiving man who made no secret of how much he loved and valued Franklin Roosevelt. This passage killed me:
Very late in Churchill's life, Clementine invited James Roosevelt to call on her husband in retirement. "He'd like that, and maybe it'd perk him up a bit," she said. "He's been a bit down." Churchill seemed feeble, but when he saw Roosevelt his face lit up. Holding his guest's hand, he asked him to sit and talk. "From time to time he'd ask me if I remembered someone I'd never met, and he spoke about a message he'd sent me, when he'd never sent me a message in his life," James recalled. "At first I was puzzled. Then I realized he thought I was my father." Seeing his mistake, Churchill was "terribly disappointed and his expression and posture seemed to sag." For a fleeting instant, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt had been at the pinnacle again, if only in an old man's mind, and the thought had been pleasing. "Churchill's attitude toward Roosevelt was one of profound affection and regard," recalled Anthony Montague Browne, "and it never changed."
The overall picture of their relationship as they worked together during the war years is of Churchill trying terribly hard to woo FDR, while FDR accepts his wooing and reciprocates for a while before finally growing somewhat weary of his overly effusive and needy friend. Roosevelt could turn on the charm, but he could turn it off just as easily when it suited him. He was a very hard man to know -- a man of secrets -- and Churchill found that hurtful as the years wore on. Reading about FDR's treatment of Churchill during their meetings with Stalin was painful. Roosevelt basically threw Churchill under the bus and developed an "us against silly old Winston" attitude when interacting with Stalin, and while there were political reasons behind what he was doing in trying to charm Stalin into cooperating with US goals (yeah, good luck with that), it was still hard to read about.
All that makes the book sound so shallow, and it isn't. After all, we're talking about two strong, intelligent men who had the fate of the world very much in their hands and who led their countries through unimaginably crushing problems. They weren't kids fighting over who was the coolest and most popular in school, or about who liked who more. Still, there are elements of that dynamic in their relationship. Meacham does a good job of making both of them human, and with that comes an honest look at their all-too-human failings.
In the end they had more ups than downs as friends, however, and all the time they spent together at work and at play, at the White House, at Hyde Park, at Camp David (then named Shangri-La), and elsewhere truly did change the course of history. Some of their times together -- singing hymns at a religious service on board the HMS Prince of Wales, comforting and assisting each other after dreadful losses in battle, spending holidays together at the White House, watching the sun set over the Atlas Mountains -- were moments of true bonding and friendship, deeply felt by both men. (Churchill painted the mountain sunset -- his only painting of the war years -- and gave it to Roosevelt.)
Early in the book Meacham quotes one of Churchill's children (Mary, I believe) as saying that whenever she thought about her father and Roosevelt she remembered the French proverb: "In love, there's always one who kisses and one who turns the cheek." Churchill was always kissing and FDR was always turning the cheek to be kissed. Churchill was aware of it himself: "No lover had ever studied the whims of his mistress as I did those of President Roosevelt." In any relationship it seems there's always one who loves more, but that doesn't mean that love isn't reciprocated, albeit less intensely.
Franklin and Winston was a really interesting book and a quick, entertaining read. It made me want to find out more about Churchill, since I hardly knew anything about him prior to this.
These two men have always interested me, perhaps even fascinated me. Their 'larger than life' personalities grew exponentially during their years of ruling and guiding their respective countries during World War II. I have read numerous books about one or the other or both, and am glad to have added Jon Meacham's story to the list.
Meacham is a prolific author with a range of interests in American history – presidents, social issues, Civil Rights, and government. From what I can tell, this is the one book where he stepped beyond the borders of the United States to include the leader of Great Britain during a time of great international upheaval.
Recently my husband listened to a book talk with Derek Leebaert and Scott Borchert at the Roosevelt House in New York City. Sitting in the same room as my husband, I couldn't help but hear some of the conversation, including author Derek Leebaert saying that Roosevelt and Churchill definitely did not have the friendship that some have portrayed their having. Having this morning completed Franklin and Winston - An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, I take issue with Leebaert's comment.
Given the multitude of anecdotes and quotes in Meacham's book, I find it impossible to believe that Roosevelt and Churchill did not have a relationship that went beyond necessity of global politics and war. World leaders do not have the luxury of choosing which world leaders with which to associate; they are drawn together or, in the case of Roosevelt and Churchill thrown together, due to circumstances. Whether or not they develop a cordial relationship is up to them, to their personalities.
While Roosevelt is often depicted as someone who was a delight to know but equally difficult to get to know, Churchill is often depicted as someone who delights in relationships, often used to dominating them by sheer voracity of his loquaciousness. Yet, according to the stories shared in Meacham's book, they managed to move beyond their personas to not only collaborate but to engage in musing about their visions of a post-WWII world while acknowledging their differences. They spent huge amounts of time together thanks to Churchill's willingness and need to travel, for he believed much could be resolved with face-to-face contact rather than via cables.
Get to know someone and you can begin to understand them. This is a given precept of human social interaction, and it is the path that Churchill chose. Roosevelt, for his part, could seem equal parts a delighted friend or a disingenuous one, depending upon politics and what he wanted at any given time. Yet, it is difficult to believe that the amount of time they spent together, coupled with the vast quantity of calls and cables shared between them, did not yield a friendship. To the extent that anyone truly knows how deep their relationship was, this book makes a compelling case quite contrary to Derek Leebaert's comment.
Finally, while I thought Meacham got off to a slow start with his writing, his writing was quickly energized by his topic. If you are a fan of either or both FDR and Churchill I think you will appreciate this well documented book about their relationship.
Meacham is a prolific author with a range of interests in American history – presidents, social issues, Civil Rights, and government. From what I can tell, this is the one book where he stepped beyond the borders of the United States to include the leader of Great Britain during a time of great international upheaval.
Recently my husband listened to a book talk with Derek Leebaert and Scott Borchert at the Roosevelt House in New York City. Sitting in the same room as my husband, I couldn't help but hear some of the conversation, including author Derek Leebaert saying that Roosevelt and Churchill definitely did not have the friendship that some have portrayed their having. Having this morning completed Franklin and Winston - An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, I take issue with Leebaert's comment.
Given the multitude of anecdotes and quotes in Meacham's book, I find it impossible to believe that Roosevelt and Churchill did not have a relationship that went beyond necessity of global politics and war. World leaders do not have the luxury of choosing which world leaders with which to associate; they are drawn together or, in the case of Roosevelt and Churchill thrown together, due to circumstances. Whether or not they develop a cordial relationship is up to them, to their personalities.
While Roosevelt is often depicted as someone who was a delight to know but equally difficult to get to know, Churchill is often depicted as someone who delights in relationships, often used to dominating them by sheer voracity of his loquaciousness. Yet, according to the stories shared in Meacham's book, they managed to move beyond their personas to not only collaborate but to engage in musing about their visions of a post-WWII world while acknowledging their differences. They spent huge amounts of time together thanks to Churchill's willingness and need to travel, for he believed much could be resolved with face-to-face contact rather than via cables.
Get to know someone and you can begin to understand them. This is a given precept of human social interaction, and it is the path that Churchill chose. Roosevelt, for his part, could seem equal parts a delighted friend or a disingenuous one, depending upon politics and what he wanted at any given time. Yet, it is difficult to believe that the amount of time they spent together, coupled with the vast quantity of calls and cables shared between them, did not yield a friendship. To the extent that anyone truly knows how deep their relationship was, this book makes a compelling case quite contrary to Derek Leebaert's comment.
Finally, while I thought Meacham got off to a slow start with his writing, his writing was quickly energized by his topic. If you are a fan of either or both FDR and Churchill I think you will appreciate this well documented book about their relationship.
This book showed the crucial importance of face to face diplomacy. Franklin Roosevelt used Winston Churchill and vice versa and yet they seemed to have a genuine affection and respect for one another. An interesting way to look at World War II, through the lens of the connection between these two great statesman.
Interesting inside look at these two infamous men. I came away thinking (1) Franklin was not a good guy and (2) where the heck was Canada in all this?
The book's title is very accurate: this is not so much a history book, but rather a very specific look at the friendship between Roosevelt and Churchill.
It was a very entertaining read, nonetheless. The author clearly had strong opinions about the character of the two men, so many stories seem selected to support that opinion. Meacham paints FDR as the aloof, popular kid and Churchill as the always-trying-to-be-accepted not-so cool kid. Of course there are degrees to both of those characterizations, but that's the gist of it.
I liked the numerous sources and quotes from cables, diaries, and correspondence of the two principles as well as their surrounding friends, families, and co-workers. They did a good job of rounding out these larger-than-life figures into accessible flesh-and-blood people.
My two complaints are very minor, but still worth mentioning. As I said at the beginning, the book does not cover the history of the war very much. I realize that is not the goal of the book, but I would have enjoyed more insights behind some of the more famous events.
The other problem I had was with the anecdotesss in the book. Many of them felt only half-told, especially towards the beginning. I kept wanting to hear the rest of the story, but instead the author would switch to something else.
Overall, it was a very well-researched book about two giant men of history that was interesting, entertaining, and easy to read.
It was a very entertaining read, nonetheless. The author clearly had strong opinions about the character of the two men, so many stories seem selected to support that opinion. Meacham paints FDR as the aloof, popular kid and Churchill as the always-trying-to-be-accepted not-so cool kid. Of course there are degrees to both of those characterizations, but that's the gist of it.
I liked the numerous sources and quotes from cables, diaries, and correspondence of the two principles as well as their surrounding friends, families, and co-workers. They did a good job of rounding out these larger-than-life figures into accessible flesh-and-blood people.
My two complaints are very minor, but still worth mentioning. As I said at the beginning, the book does not cover the history of the war very much. I realize that is not the goal of the book, but I would have enjoyed more insights behind some of the more famous events.
The other problem I had was with the anecdotesss in the book. Many of them felt only half-told, especially towards the beginning. I kept wanting to hear the rest of the story, but instead the author would switch to something else.
Overall, it was a very well-researched book about two giant men of history that was interesting, entertaining, and easy to read.
An intimate look at two larger then life leaders’ relationship with each other and how that helped bring about a new vision for the world. An honest look at their greatness, foibles, weaknesses, and strengths.
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Few could argue that Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill stood, and still stand, as the guiding forces behind the Allied victories in World War II. Together, they wrote a major part of the history that shaped our world, then and now. But there was far more to their relationship than merely being the leaders of two of the most powerful countries of their times. They were friends underneath the politics, sometimes uneasy friends and often as not, contentious. But their mutual respect and admiration was always present.
In this biography of the two great leaders, Meacham explores the personal relationship the two men shared. Often as not, it was the more emotional Churchill pursuing the far more reserved and devious FDR. This is not a simple history book, although one could hardly write about these two men without framing them in the history of their time. Meacham's gift is not just in relating history as if he were writing another textbook about WWII. He has a gift for bringing out the personality of his subjects, and giving the reader a glimpse into who the person was behind the public figure.
Meacham draws on history, yes, but also on new material including unpublished letters of FDR's secret love, Lucy Rutherford, the papers of Pamela Churchill, and interviews with some of the intimates of both men. He writes in a engaging and very listenable style, which is well-served by Grover Gardner's narration.
Any history buff who would like to know more of the men behind the politics during one of the most historic periods of both countries' histories will enjoy this in-depth look at a friendship that went beyond the power struggles and decisions that changed the world.
In this biography of the two great leaders, Meacham explores the personal relationship the two men shared. Often as not, it was the more emotional Churchill pursuing the far more reserved and devious FDR. This is not a simple history book, although one could hardly write about these two men without framing them in the history of their time. Meacham's gift is not just in relating history as if he were writing another textbook about WWII. He has a gift for bringing out the personality of his subjects, and giving the reader a glimpse into who the person was behind the public figure.
Meacham draws on history, yes, but also on new material including unpublished letters of FDR's secret love, Lucy Rutherford, the papers of Pamela Churchill, and interviews with some of the intimates of both men. He writes in a engaging and very listenable style, which is well-served by Grover Gardner's narration.
Any history buff who would like to know more of the men behind the politics during one of the most historic periods of both countries' histories will enjoy this in-depth look at a friendship that went beyond the power struggles and decisions that changed the world.