Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
And for the last President-a-day before July 4, let's talk about Franklin D. Roosevelt. Along with Washington and Lincoln, FDR is considered by most scholars to be one of our nation's three greatest Presidents. I think FDR deserves some recognition for confronting domestic and foreign challenges simultaneously that his predecessors only had to face individually. Washington guided the nation when the people doubted whether they could establish an effective government. FDR radically re-engineered government into a modern administrative state when similar doubts arose under the pressure of the Great Depression. Lincoln saved the country from the gravest threat to our national security. FDR brought a reluctant nation into war against our most dangerous foreign foe, the Axis powers that sought to place Europe and Asia under totalitarian dictatorships.
Unlike most scholars, however, I do not think that FDR deserves his high reputation for the establishment of the New Deal state. My best reading of the evidence is that the New Deal did little to end the Great Depression, and it did much to increase the cost and intrusiveness of the federal government. FDR expanded presidential power where I think the Framers wanted it most limited -- in domestic affairs -- and he undermined the decentralization called for by our federal system of government. He used political pressure to force a sea change in the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court to lift the limits on the government's enumerated powers. If FDR had ended his presidency after two terms in 1940, we would rank him an average, if not mediocre President, even though he was one of those few leaders whose elections re-aligned American politics.
But I think FDR still deserves his place in the pantheon of notable American presidencies because of his leadership of the nation through World War II. FDR exercised farsighted vision in preparing the nation for a necessary war, though one unwanted by a large minority (if not a majority) of Congress and the American people. And it is here that I think that FDR acted appropriately, because the Framers wanted the presidency to have broad powers in foreign affairs and national security. Imagine what the world would look like today if FDR had failed to bring the United States to the aid of the Allies and manage the coalition that prevailed in World War II.
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See Also:
Abraham Lincoln, Preserver of the Union
Andrew Jackson, Self-Ordained Interpreter of the Constitution
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Jun '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
I like what Walter Lippmann wrote about candidate Roosevelt. Roosevelt is "a pleasant man, who, without any important qualifications for office, would very much like to be President."
May '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
The baby-boomers in my circle were raised to worship at the alter of Roosevelt's New Deal as the Salvation of the Republic from the disaster of The Crash and the depression, and the larger-than-life commander-in-chief of WWII.
But, after reading people like Sowell, Shlaes, Goldberg and others, my thinking has changed.
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Shlaes' book rewrote every lazy idea I had about the Great Depression. As for Roosevelt: was there any other president who inspired a Constitutional amendment that made sure we didn't get another one who stuck around until removed from office feet first?
Jul '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Finally, a President we can all agree to disparage! Happy 4th, everyone!
May '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Agree. Amity Schlaes has either not updated her photograph at Bloomberg for a very long time or she is wise beyond her years.
Jun '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Ditto. A great book.
Dec '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Ahh, FDR, the Feelings Defeat Realities president.
I would consider my father (a child growing up during the long Depression) a conservative, but he revered Roosevelt. FDR was just magical in his ability to propogate misery while selling sunshine.
Since his presidency, the Democrats have always sought to sell feelings and emotions to the rubes, with some notable successes. He wrote the playbook.
Nov '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Actually I liked "FDR's Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression" better than Shlae's book in that it went more into the wonkery and policy origins of the New Deal.
I have also always wondered, after 1941 what did FDR do that was significantly different than what we could have expected Dewey or Wilkie, or whomever?
Jan '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Yeah, but I thought he was great in "Sunrise at Campobello."
Mar '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
I wonder how much Winston Churchill influenced Mr Roosevelt?
I have Ms Shlaes' book on my Kindle - I really must read it... I saw her on Glenn Beck, she looks pretty much like the pic on Bloomberg - yes, wise beyond her years, unlike our current Roosevelt wannabe.
Oct '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Perhaps Roosevelt's main fault during the war was his naivete towards Stalin. Churchill did his best to keep the Alliance safe from Stalin's duplicity, but Roosevelt's sympathy towards socialism left him somewhat in thrall towards Stalin. By war's end, both Roosevelt and Churchill were too worn down to resist. Yalta was a nightmare of failure.
His legacy, Eastern Europe suffering through decades of Communist domination.
Edited on Jul 1, 2011 at 2:01pmJun '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
raycon: Perhaps Roosevelt's main fault during the war was his naivete towards Stalin. Churchill did his best to keep the Alliance safe from Stalin's duplicity, but Roosevelt's sympathy towards socialism left him somewhat in thrall towards Stalin. By war's end, both Roosevelt and Churchill were too worn down to resist. Yalta was a nightmare of failure.
His legacy, Eastern Europe suffering through decades of Communist domination. · Jul 1 at 2:00pm
Edited on Jul 01 at 02:01 pm
I've never been convinced there was a lot we could do about Eastern Europe (other than wear them down like Reagan did). I don't blame that on FDR, though that's small potatoes compared to what I do blame him for. Terrible president, decent war leader.
Edited on Jul 1, 2011 at 2:09pmJan '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Two beefs with FDR:
1. He created "The Brain Trust," which turned out to be The Brain Bust - and that rhythm has been perpetuated through succeeding administrations. I have nothing against brains, mind you, but I do object to the inbred nature of those particular ones.
2. FDR brought in the well known anti-Semitic Breckenridge Long to sort out the Jewish immigration problem in the 1930's - and he reduced legal immigration by about 90%. That's a lot of dead Jews. Now that may make some people shrug; you win some, you lose some. Perhaps that's true, but FDR knew - he definitely knew what Long was doing. So did Morganthau, and eventually he quit.
Aug '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Roosevelt was monstrous. He abandoned Eastern Europe to the Soviets after the War, snubbing Churchill in front of Stalin, whom he liked. Roosevelt was a selfless narcissist who tells you, "I'm doing this all for you!"
Roosevelt's economic policies at home were equally disastrous. His Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Morgenthau Jr., admitted as much in 1939. In a speech to economists called Depression Within a Depression he said:
"We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. And I have just one interest, and if I am wrong … somebody else can have my job. I want to see this country prosperous. I want to see people get a job. I want to see people get enough to eat. We have never made good on our promises. … I say after eight years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started. … And an enormous debt to boot."
"We want to see private business expand. … We believe that one of the most important ways of achieving these ends at this time is to continue progress toward a balance of the federal budget."
Edited on Jul 2, 2011 at 2:24amDec '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
It wouldn't hurt for us to remember that Alger Hiss was close to FDR and encouraged his empathy towards Stalin. FDR was a weak man and in failing health, whom Churchill may have propped up during the war. But we know that Whitaker Chambers was telling the truth, now.
Hiss was a communist pouring poison into FDR's failing ears and two generations, mostly, fell for the propoganda. My parents, mostly, fell for it. I never fell for it, as I was lucky enough to have actually been born and raised in countries that collapsed into communism. FDR did not collapse this nation into communism, he just assembled the glide path towards communism that we now descend, as we erode work ethic and reward sloth.
Jun '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
River:
"We have tried spending money. We are spending more than we have ever spent before and it does not work. And I have just one interest, and if I am wrong … somebody else can have my job. I want to see this country prosperous. I want to see people get a job. I want to see people get enough to eat. We have never made good on our promises. … I say after eight years of this Administration we have just as much unemployment as when we started. … And an enormous debt to boot."
"We want to see private business expand. … We believe that one of the most important ways of achieving these ends at this time is to continue progress toward a balance of the federal budget." · Jul 1 at 4:02pm
Edited on Jul 01 at 04:08 pm
What a quote. Thank you.
Mar '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Amity Shlaes' book and FDR's Folly have already been mentioned, but I need to add one more. Three New Deals examines the rather frightening similarities between the New Deal, and European Fascism. They had a lot in common, and there was a good bit of mutual admiration across the Atlantic during the 30's until Hitler started shooting.
Mar '11
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Others have covered FDR's exacerbation and prolongation of the Great Depression. All I would add on that is to mention Burton Folsom Jr's New Deal or Raw Deal? as another great book on the subject.
Had FDR conducted a coherent foreign policy things might have happened very differently. For example, his policy failed to persuade Japan to stop its aggression in China but it did manage to simultaneously anger it and make it think the U.S. too feckless to bring its human and material resources to bear against it.
It should have been more in the interest of Japan and the Axis for the Japanese to attack the Soviet Union in 1941. Had they done so the outcome might have been worse for the free world but I don't think FDR deserves any praise because one of his blunders had a happy result.
FDR's State Department was riddled with Soviet agents who helped bring about Pearl Harbor, made him a treacherous ally during the war, and, after it had won the war, allowed the U.S. to lose the peace.
Jun '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
You can't help but like Roosevelt's sunny disposition. I'm sure he was fun to talk with but it is really telling that he wouldn't share his thoughts with his subordinates. He picked weaklings and told them little. He had a big streak of narcissism that had him believing that only he could run things.
The single most unforgivable thing (and I read all the great posts above) is running for president in 1944 and not allowing the American people to choose their leader during the most important phase of the post war era. Roosevelt was already dead at Yalta -- completely unable to do his job. This is too pathetic for words. I know Truman was better than Wallace but he wasn't elected by America -- he was appointed by Roosevelt and some people in smoke filled rooms. There was little confidence and trust in Truman during this critical period.
That sign on Truman's desk -- "the buck stops here" -- was there because this was the great epiphany that Truman had after being saddled with so many crucial decisions in the earliest days of his presidency. This wouldn't have been a surprise to an elected president.
Dec '10
Re: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Father of the Modern Administrative State
Pretty much the consensus seems to be "miserable president, pretty good war-time leader." I agree with this, so I find it amazing that FDR is still kept in such reverence and, on a center-right web site such as this, he is revered alongside Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln as one of the greatest presidents ever simply because of his war-time leadership. To quote that ever-wise political analyst, Yoda: "Wars not make one great."