Thomas J. Fleming (1927–2017)

An interesting book which takes a sharply critical look at the way President Franklin Roosevelt conducted World War II. To my mind, the author has three main points of attack on Roosevelt's handling of the war: (1) administrative chaos caused by Roosevelt's management style, a problem that had plagued his administration throughout; (2) Roosevelt's recurring health problems which caused him to cut back on his duties at various times during the war; and (3) Roosevelt's insistence on the Axis powers' unconditional surrender, instead of negotiating a piece with some dissident elements, which some (including the author) believe caused the war to be bloodier and longer than necessary. The second point is probably the strongest, since it is undeniable that Roosevelt suffered from bad health issues, and it is also undeniable that these were extensively covered up during the war. The first point is arguable -- while there was certainly a lot of backbiting and disputes in Roosevelt's administration, the government was, ultimately, able to accomplish most of its goals. The argument on unconditional surrender is one open to debate, the more so since it was the lack of clarity in Germany's surrender in the First World War that led to the stab-in-the-back theory the Nazis promoted. Overall, a curious book, in the sense that you rarely see Roosevelt criticized so roundly.… (more)