The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace

Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s time was running out. His fourth term in office had just begun, and there was much to accomplish. World War II was smoldering throughout Europe and Asia. The European front had just blew up with Hitler’s desperate Ardennes offensive. FDR had been diagnosed with heart disease, and his health had been seesawing for the past 18 months. Loneliness enshrouded the 32nd president, as he managed the US on both domestic and foreign fronts. The alliance among the US, Britain, and the Soviet Union was precarious at best. The domestic agenda was fraught with problems with nominations for cabinet positions, food shortages, and partisan bickering. The meeting in Yalta with Churchill and Stalin would hash out differences, including the hopeful plans for the UN organization. The treacherous journey would last five weeks in total with a large entourage in tow with the president. The voyage would exact a heavy toll. His last weeks were spent mostly away from Washington, where the president sought relaxation and peace. It would be short lived.

David Woolner has tackled the last of FDR’s journey with the same vigor shown by the former president. The reader is transported from bumpy seas and flights to tranquility, sympathizing with the plight of FDR. The president is not shown as completely perfect, but that is part of the book’s charm. An important story of history.