No Ordinary Time By Doris Kearns Goodwin - 1320 Words

â€Å"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.† Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) said this famous quote at his first inaugural address, when he took one of the most important jobs in the world, becoming the president of the United States. He then went on to do what no other president had done before―be elected for more than two terms. The people elected Franklin for four consecutive terms during one of the nation’s hardest times, and he and his wife helped pull the nation to its feet. This period of World War II is captured in the biography No Ordinary Time: Franklin Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The author uses countless interviews to piece together the perspective of the home front from†¦show more content†¦However, Roosevelt’s support and vitality to the nation in the time of peril won him a third term in 1940, despite criticism by isolationists and the risky move to initiate the first peaceti me draft in United States history. After receiving a very important letter from Winston Churchill concerning American aid and dreaming of an ingenious solution, Roosevelt called for America to become the â€Å"arsenal for democracy† (Goodwin 195), and emphasized the lend-lease program as an alternative to war. At the end of 1941, Congress was painfully slow to set up defense against the Axis, but FDR insightfully waited for the right moment. On December 7, the Japanese launched a massive surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and Roosevelt did exactly what the people wanted―he declared war on the Axis powers and ramped up war production. Through the progression of the war, Roosevelt was on good terms with Stalin, however he became fantastic friends with Churchill. Occasionally, Franklin took business trips around the country to the various auto manufacturers that had been converted to production lines for the war effort. He knew his visits boosted productivity as well as mor ale, so he enjoyed them, especially when workers shouted his name with glee. Late in 1942, civilian support for the war dropped with a decrease in morale. Franklin knew just the right move, and launched an invasion of North Africa thatShow MoreRelatedNo Ordinary Time By Doris Kearns Goodwin1688 Words   |  7 PagesDoris Kearns Goodwin’s biographical novel delves deep into the personal lives of the Roosevelts. From their meetings with world leaders to problems in their marriage concerning infidelity, nothing is left unsaid. The historical novel starts with Roosevelt sitting in his bedroom, contemplating the end of the phony war that occurred before the official beginning of World War II. The novel continues with Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s attempts to aid overseas Allies while trying to prepare his own countryRead MoreEleanor Roosevelt s Life Of Wealth And Privilege1410 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Plain, ordinary Mrs. Roosevelt† Eleanor Roosevelt was born in 1884 in New York City to socialites Elliot Bulloch Roosevelt and Anna Rebecca Hall. She was born into a world of immense wealth and privilege that she didn’t really fit into or understand. Her mother died in 1892 and after a long battle with alcoholism, her father leapt to his death from a sanitarium window in 1894. After so much death at a young age, Eleanor was prone to bouts of melancholy and depression throughout her life. AfterRead MoreWar and the Centralization of Power Essays2049 Words   |  9 Pagesand education were substantial† (Trattner 89). President Abraham Lincoln would come under fire for many of his war time policies, the biggest: Emancipation Proclamation and the suspension writ of habeas corpus. Although arguably justified, these acts gave President Lincoln the name of tyrant for these powers were not explicitly laid out in the Constitution (Goodwin 355). During this time of war, President Lincoln assumed multiple â€Å"war powers† as commander in chief, in doing so he began to define theRead MoreThe Heroes Of Abraham Lincoln2389 Words   |  10 PagesLiterature B4 4/27/2015 American Hero Many admire presidents as their heroes for the great power they possess. However, in my opinion, a hero is built by his or her characteristics. Abraham Lincoln was known to be a shining star in American History at time of darkness. He was courageous; when segregation, slavery, racism dominated the social trend it was him that pushed against all the odds and united the nation. He was confident; when facing military disadvantages and doubts from his own generals, it