Franklin Roosevelt is regarded as being second only to Lincoln as the greatest war President this country has ever had. When one looks into the matter this seems an unnecessary distinction, as Roosevelt was a great war President, particularly considering the world aspect of World War II.
Eric Larrabee lays out the vast history of the War as led by FDR. So far, I have read of the period from early isolationism to Pearl Harbor. The story has many components, and, gratefully, Larrabee tells the stories of George Marshall, and Gen. King equally well -- in addition to that of FDR.
One is struck by the reluctance of the U.S. in the inter-war years to commit to an adequate defense should there be another major war. In fact, such a war seemed inconceivable to many. Thus, the armed forces were undermanned and under-equipped right up to and beyond the infamous Pearl Harbor attack.
This circumstance is more striking still when compared with American strategy after World War II when we have never relinquished world leadership as a war power! Although in the first years after the War America did scale down from World War force levels, the apparatus for war was never given up. And by 1961, the commercial machinery for making war was robust enough to inspire Dwight Eisenhower, former World War II general and now President, to give his famous warning about the military-industrial complex.
Now, as the 100th anniversary of World War I approaches, American has its own Century as so many wanted. Even with a more diverse world, American might continues. What is behind that might -- the economic structures, the financial underpinnings, the manufacturing ability -- whether those are still equally as strong is very much a matter of debate.
Eric Larrabee lays out the vast history of the War as led by FDR. So far, I have read of the period from early isolationism to Pearl Harbor. The story has many components, and, gratefully, Larrabee tells the stories of George Marshall, and Gen. King equally well -- in addition to that of FDR. One is struck by the reluctance of the U.S. in the inter-war years to commit to an adequate defense should there be another major war. In fact, such a war seemed inconceivable to many. Thus, the armed forces were undermanned and under-equipped right up to and beyond the infamous Pearl Harbor attack.
This circumstance is more striking still when compared with American strategy after World War II when we have never relinquished world leadership as a war power! Although in the first years after the War America did scale down from World War force levels, the apparatus for war was never given up. And by 1961, the commercial machinery for making war was robust enough to inspire Dwight Eisenhower, former World War II general and now President, to give his famous warning about the military-industrial complex.
Now, as the 100th anniversary of World War I approaches, American has its own Century as so many wanted. Even with a more diverse world, American might continues. What is behind that might -- the economic structures, the financial underpinnings, the manufacturing ability -- whether those are still equally as strong is very much a matter of debate.
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