Dallek is one of our most distinguished historians. He has published biographies of FDR and JFK. In this book he summarizes our history starting with Theodore Roosevelt to outline how we got to Trump. I will post as I read the book.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
TR came to maturity in the Gilded Age when the wealthy showed their wealth ostentatiously and it was time of labor strife, natural industrialization, and concentrated wealth. P. 7
Trump is not the first narcissistic President. TR could certainly be called a narcissist. It was said in jest that he wanted to be the bride at every wedding, the corpse at every funeral, and the baby at every christening. His grandiosity knew not limits. His need for ego satisfaction could not be satiated. But unlike Trump he was a man of substance and accomplishments. Trump is neither.
TR popularized jingoism like Trump, but unlike Trump, he was literally willing to go into battle himself and was truly brave, whereas Trump is a notable coward.
WOODROW WILSON
Wilson saw politics as a venue for moral causes. P. 27
Wilson could be naive. How else could he have made parochial William Jennings Bryan Secretary of State. P. 28
Abandoned notions of a legal career and earned Phd from Hopkins at the age of 30. P. 29
Became a professor at his undergraduate school Princeton. P. 29
The 1912 threesome presidential election will always be interesting. P. 32
The author says in the 1912 election TR was for more federal regulation of the economy whereas Willson advocated greater competition and less regulation. P. 33
His first term was a notable success. P. 33
The Underwood Tariff. The national income tax. Creation of the Federal Reserve. Child labor laws. The Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote.
Hofstadter says that Wilson's first term produced more positive legislative achievements since the days of Alexander Hamilton with an absolute authority over Congress which set the stage for FDR and LBJ. P. 33
But on race relations, Wilson was never progressive. He segregated Washington D.C. Perhaps a reason is that he won the support of Southern congressmen for his progressive measures because of his racial views. P. 35-36
Troubles with Mexico do not interest me greatly. P. 37
Trench warfare in Europe turned in barbarism in Wilson's view. P. 38
His 14 point peace plan. P. 39
At the end of his life deceiving the country as to the gravity of his health. P. 41
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president, represents more and more closely, the soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." H. L. Mencken P. 43
The author overstates Wilson's deceit over his health at the end of his life. The author ignores Wilson's selling of the war to the American people. P. 45
FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
When FDR died in April of 1945, the NY Times, never a great supporter of Roosevelt said that a hundred years from now, Americans will fall on their knees and thank heaven that Roosevelt had been president. P. 47
FDR never thought of becoming a dictator or abandoning capitalism for socialism. P. 49
I suppose Roosevelt can be criticized for not singling out African Americans in deference to Southern Democrats. P. 52
The New Deal did not end the depression though it did alleviate some of the suffering. P. 53
He did not support anti-lynching legislation and not until 1938 did he move to liberalize the party. P. 53
He and Orson Wells were two great actors. P. 65
HARRY TRUMAN
The Senator from Pendergast.
Truman is one of my favorites.
He is the premier example of a president who left office with low public approval ratings but events and perspective have moved him to elite status.
The author claims that Henry Wallace was FDR's choice for VP in 1944. I am not sure about this but in any event it's a good thing Wallace wasn't selected. P. 68
After he became president upon Roosevelt's death, Senator "Half-Bright" urged Truman to appoint a Republican sec of state and then resign. P. 73
Truman vetoed Taft-Hartley. P. 73
Truman was a civil right leader, but he did ask for an anti-lynching law in 1948. P. 74
Truman touched off an arms race with the Soviet Union but it would have happened anyway without the development of the hydrogen bomb. P. 79
Truman never let his ego come between him and his job. P. 80
The Merle Miller oral biography may be worth reading. P. 85
Nixon was a liar. P. 85
Conceived today as an "ordinary" man who became a great President. P. 86
DWIGHT EISENHOWER
Ike tried to convert the TVA to a private utility. The Republican effort to privatize everything goes way back. P. 90
Eisenhower evidently created the so-called domino theory. P. 100
The author does not back off from pointing out that Ike was reluctant to publicly call out Senator McCarthy and he hesitated on civil rights. Eisenhower was not a civil rights hero by any means. P. 93 and 101
For Ike all domestic issues paled alongside the cold war. P. 95
Eisenhower's presidential stock has certainly gone up in recent years. P. 108
JOHN KENNEDY
His 1000 days could be viewed as a triumph of style over substance with the Camelot Myth.
When running for the presidency in 1960 Kennedy had to deal with the widely prevalent view that a Catholic's first loyalty was to the Pope. P. 111
JFK was more right than left when elected. P. 113
To the Stevenson wing of the party he was a faux liberal. P. 114
His ratings went up when he confessed failure on the Bay of Pigs invasion. P. 115
He joined a long list of presidents who hid his health problems. P. 119
He didn't introduce his civil rights bill until June 19, 1963. P. 124
Hints at withdrawal in Viet Nam. P. 131
I do not understand why his historical reputation is so high except style over substance. P. 132
LYNDON JOHNSON
What's new about Lyndon Johnson? Not much.
Began as an avid FDR/New Deal supporter.
Supported Roosevelt's court packing plan. P. 134
His Silver Star awarded to him by General MacArthur will always be controversial. P. 135
Great judge of people, judging up their strengths and weaknesses. P. 136
He thought it best for the Democrats to cooperate with President Eisenhower. P. 137
The author says that LBJ had the racial prejudice you would expect from someone born below the Mason Dixon Line, but he realized the South would never grow to its potential if it did not rise above such racism. P. 139
The 1957 civil rights bill was largely symbolic yet it had value in paving the way for a better bill in 1964. P. 140
He had his racial stereotypes but was determined to pass a civil right bill. P. 142
The Daisy Field ad in 1964. Biden could use such an ad against Trump. P. 144
207 reforms in his administration. P. 147
His greatest speech was the voting rights speech. P. 149
He lost the trust of the public over Viet Nam. P. 154
RICHARD NIXON
It's easy to forget the liberal accomplishments of Nixon.
The EPA. OSHA. Earth Day.
"We are all Keynesians now."
No evidence that he directly ordered the Watergate breakin but none was necessary to impeach.
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