The high point of Michael Beschloss’ book is his Conclusion. He analyzes the book that has come before and pegs his two characters precisely, insightfully and completely. It is both a reward and a relief after an incredibly detailed and dense assemblage of the facts and events of the two men’s lives.

Kennedy constantly offered his services for any position Roosevelt wanted, such was his loyalty and fealty. At least, that is how he portrayed himself. Then he would turn them down one after another as unworthy of his talents. Then, in power, he continually embarrassed the president and the government with his pronouncements. Roosevelt, wary of Kennedy’s uncontrollable promotion of his own agenda (of appeasement of Hitler, among other things), kept offering him positions he knew he would refuse. Such was their relationship.

Roosevelt was in it for the game. He lived to manipulate people and events. Eleanor said he simply discarded people when he was done with them. Kennedy was in it to promote his own family as American royalty, and conserve the fortune he made and rights he saw as the good old days. One looked forward, one looked backward. That they could work together so well for such a long stretch was remarkable.

Eventually, Kennedy’s mouth made him a pariah in government, but his boredom kept him seeking more government challenges. He thought of himself as kingmaker, using his connections and money to help his candidates into office. His reward was always for his children – helping their political careers and social status. He was constantly demanding invitations and acknowledgments, which became annoying and cheapened his image. He was all about surrounding himself with celebrities, from the King and Queen of England to Herbert Hoover after his falling out with Roosevelt. He had purposefully set out, with his wife Rose, to build the most impressive and powerful family dynasty in the USA. Undercurrents included their Catholic and Irish heritage, discriminated against for decades. The Kennedy children were duly driven. The Roosevelt children were more at peace with themselves.

Beschloss cites James Macgregor Burns as naming their two types: transactional vs transformative. Kennedy would have made a terrible president, not being able to see the forest for the trees he was tending, and not having the vision or desire to do anything but maintain. Roosevelt used the trees to build a better forest.

I am very glad I read this book.

David Wineberg ( )