Synopses & Reviews
andldquo;This is revisionist history in the best sense of the word andmdash; it forces us to rethink assumptions and to reconsider the way that history unfolded . . . This bold argument is extensively researched, well stated, and will undoubtedly change the way we see Franklin Roosevelt.andrdquo; andmdash; Christian Science Monitor andldquo;A fine beginning to an important project.andrdquo; andmdash; Wall Street Journal
Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving aides and Roosevelt family members, The Mantle of Command offers a radical new perspective on Franklin Delano Rooseveltandrsquo;s masterful andmdash; and underappreciated andmdash; leadership of the Allied war effort. After the disaster at Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt devised a global strategy that would save Churchill and the British and defeat Hitler and the Japanese. As Nigel Hamiltonandrsquo;s account reaches its climax and U.S. forces conduct Operation Torch andmdash; the successful invasion of French Northwest Africa andmdash; the tide of war turns in the Alliesandrsquo; favor, and FDRandrsquo;s genius for military command is clear. This intimate, sweeping look at a great President in historyandrsquo;s greatest conflict is gripping, essential reading.
Review
"Franklin D. Roosevelts role as commander in chief of the military during World War II has not been covered as much as other aspects of his presidency. Hamilton (senior fellow, McCormack Graduate Sch., Univ. of Massachusetts-Boston; JFK: Reckess Youth) is well qualified to remedy that, showing how FDR worked with individuals and nations. He blasts Winston Churchills colonialist values, poor selection of military leaders, and constant meddling in their tactical plans, as well as Douglas MacArthurs vanity and failure to prepare for a Japanese attack, but shows that FDR appreciated both men as fighters. Hamilton presents FDR as a serious student of world affairs who learned from his six years as assistant secretary of the navy. Unlike most books on Henry Stimson, FDRs secretary of war, and George C. Marshall, his chief of staff of the army, Hamiltons work critiques them for their opposition to Operation Torch in French North Africa in 1942, opposition that was near mutiny against the president. Marshalls disagreement, Hamilton charges, cost him command of the Normandy invasion: FDR brought Adm. William Leahy out of retirement to be chairman of the combined chiefs of staff, putting the Pentagon in its place just as he did the Axis powers. VERDICT This convincingly written and gripping volume is essential for historians, political scientists, and history buffs, for a deeper understanding of the principle of civilian supremacy of the military in the U.S. political system." —
Library Journal, STARRED review
"Accomplished biographer Hamilton (Biography: A Brief History) delivers an analysis of President Franklin Roosevelt in the role of Commander-in-Chief through the first two years of WWII. The author follows his subject through 14 pivotal periods of the early war years and demonstrates that F.D.R. frequently trusted his own judgment over the advice of the military professionals who surrounded him. Central to the book and its thesis is the contest of wills between F.D.R. and his group of distinguished military advisors regarding the proposed invasion of North Africa in 1942, which was aggressively opposed by General Marshall and Secretary of War Stimson. This decision almost resulted in a “mutiny” against the President. Events ultimately vindicated the Presidents decision and firmly established his talent for grand strategy. Though its a weighty tome, and is based extensively on Roosevelts own notes, Hamilton keeps a brisk pace throughout to produce what will likely be seen as a definitive volume on this aspect of Roosevelts career and essential reading for anyone interested in WWII, the Roosevelt Presidency, and presidential leadership." —Publishers Weekly
"FDR has frequently been underestimated as a military leader, yielding, in the historical imagination, to George Marshall and Winston Churchill, among others. Nigel Hamilton attacks this view with his characteristic verve, portraying a president with the reins of war fully, if often subtly, in his hands. The conventional wisdom will never be the same." — H.W. Brands, author of Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt "Nigel Hamiltons Mantle of Command is a stirring and noteworthy book about Roosevelts crucial role as commander-in-chief during World War II. Hamilton writes with insight, passion, and a great grasp of history. I believe this book will become the standard by which other books about FDRs role in World War II will be measured." — Carlo DEste, author of Patton: A Genius for War and Warlord: A Life of Churchill at War, 1874-1945 "This is not the Roosevelt (or Churchill) you'd expect. From the start, an aggressive, in-charge FDR emerges from a wonderful weaving of established scholarship and the fascinating bits and pieces that make history live. Churchill is an inspirational nag, with a busy, unfocused strategic vision. A key entry into the ongoing debate over who made grand strategy in the early war years — Roosevelt or Churchill?" — Warren F. Kimball, author of Forged in War: Roosevelt, Churchill, and the Second World War "Nigel Hamilton in Mantle of Command presents a very different wartime Franklin Delano Roosevelt than the one we are used to seeing. Whether or not one agrees with all his conclusions, Hamilton clearly shows that FDR was an extremely strong and effective commander-in-chief. This volume should go a long way to dispelling popular myths about Roosevelt as a naïve and weak war leader." — Mark Stoler, editor of the George C. Marshall Papers & Professor Emeritus of History, University of Vermont
"Nigel Hamilton has written a spirited and thoughtful ‘revisionist study of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as commander-in-chief during the first phase of U.S. involvement in the Second World War. Hamiltons narrative skill brings alive the human dramas, logistic hurdles, and strategic debates to show how FDRs indispensable drive and forward-looking leadership tamed his own ‘team of rivals and set the United States and its Allies on the road to victory over the Axis. The books enlivens the often murky worlds of bureaucratic struggle and military detail to demonstrate how important it was for the United States to ‘get it right early in the war and how FDR accomplished this." — Michael Schaller, author of Douglas MacArthur & Regents Professor of History, University of Arizona
"A popular biographer of various twentieth-century leaders, Hamilton here addresses a seemingly exhausted subject. Not so, he avers. FDRs leadership as commander-in-chief is a space Hamilton offers to fill with this work. The first of two projected volumes, it chronologically extends from FDRs August 1941 meeting with Churchill to the November 1942 Allied landings in French North Africa. Thematically, Hamilton depicts FDRs assertion of his authority over American army and navy chiefs and, increasingly over time, Churchill. Palpably gleeful when pinpointing unflattering episodes these figures omitted from their memoirs, Hamilton is tantamount to the amanuensis for the memoir FDR never wrote. The portrait that emerges is complimentary and praises FDR as a strategist superior both to fellow Allies and to Axis enemies. He insisted MacArthur fight in the Philippines, he rejected British requests to defend India, he refuted his military officers proposals to invade France and to concentrate on Japan, and he ordered them to carry out Operation Torch, the North African invasion. Well researched and confident in its conclusions, Hamiltons study ably augments the gallery of WWII leaders."--Booklist
"A deeply engrossing study of the first year of Franklin Roosevelts prescient military leadership in World War II.
Consummate biographer Hamilton (How to Do Biography: A Primer, 2008, etc.) ably captures the charming, astute personality of FDR, especially his role as foil to the dogged, imperious Winston Churchill. Considering that so many facets of the Roosevelt era have already been amply scrutinized, it is to Hamiltons considerable credit that he manages to impart singular, fresh nuance and depth to his hero. Hamilton aims to set the record straight on three counts: First, despite the postwar preening by his generals, FDR had fended off various defeatist and ineffectual proposals after the attack on Pearl Harbor and held firm to the necessity of a quick reprisal in the Pacific to check Japans further incursions into the Indian Ocean. Subsequently, working with the British (and against a near-mutiny of his generals), FDR seized on a massive combined force in northwest Africa, which would become Operation Torch, to pincer the Germans under Erwin Rommel, thus opening up a second front, to the delight of the Russians. Second, Hamilton aims to emphasize how important it was to FDR, a born aristocrat yet man of the people, that he and Churchill hammer out an understanding that the Americans would enter the war not to help Britain prop up its collapsing empire; on the contrary, FDR touched this sore spot frequently, such as by pressuring Churchill to let the beleaguered Indians fight for their self-determination. Finally, Hamilton wonderfully delineates FDRs ability to elicit news from his many “eyes and ears” in the field—in opposition to the Victorian, prideful Churchill. However, as the author portrays through Churchills extended White House Christmas visit in 1941, the two leaders learned a great deal from each other.
Lively, elucidating, elegant and highly knowledgeable."--Kirkus, STARRED review
Review
andquot;
The Mantle of Command is splendid: Itandrsquo;s the memoir Roosevelt didnandrsquo;t get to write.andquot;
andmdash;New York Times Book Reviewand#160;andquot;Masterly.andquot;
andmdash;Wall Street Journaland#160;andquot;FDR has frequently been underestimated as a military leader, yielding, in the historical imagination, to George Marshall and Winston Churchill, among others. Nigel Hamilton attacks this view with his characteristic verve, portraying a president with the reins of war fully, if often subtly, in his hands. The conventional wisdom will never be the same.andquot;
andmdash;H.W. Brands, author of Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
andquot;Nigel Hamiltonandrsquo;s Mantle of Command is a stirring and noteworthy book about Rooseveltandrsquo;s crucial role as commander-in-chief during World War II. Hamilton writes with insight, passion, and a great grasp of history. I believe this book will become the standard by which other books about FDRandrsquo;s role in World War II will be measured.andquot; andmdash; Carlo Dandrsquo;Este, author of Patton: A Genius for War and Warlord: A Life of Churchill at War, 1874andndash;1945
andquot;This is not the Roosevelt (or Churchill) youand#39;d expect. From the start, an aggressive, in-charge FDR emerges from a wonderful weaving of established scholarship and the fascinating bits and pieces that make history live. Churchill is an inspirational nag, with a busy, unfocused strategic vision. A key entry into the ongoing debate over who made grand strategy in the early war years andmdash; Roosevelt or Churchill?andquot; andmdash; Warren F. Kimball, author of Forged in War: Roosevelt, Churchill, and the Second World War
andquot;Nigel Hamilton in Mantle of Command presents a very different wartime Franklin Delano Roosevelt than the one we are used to seeing. Whether or not one agrees with all his conclusions, Hamilton clearly shows that FDR was an extremely strong and effective commander-in-chief. This volume should go a long way to dispelling popular myths about Roosevelt as a naandiuml;ve and weak war leader.andquot;
andmdash; Mark Stoler, editor of the George C. Marshall Papers and Professor Emeritus of History, University of Vermont
andquot;Nigel Hamilton has written a spirited and thoughtful andlsquo;revisionistandrsquo; study of Franklin Delano Roosevelt as commander-in-chief during the first phase of U.S. involvement in the Second World War. Hamiltonandrsquo;s narrative skill brings alive the human dramas, logistic hurdles, and strategic debates to show how FDRandrsquo;s indispensable drive and forward-looking leadership tamed his own andlsquo;team of rivalsandrsquo; and set the United States and its Allies on the road to victory over the Axis. The books enlivens the often murky worlds of bureaucratic struggle and military detail to demonstrate how important it was for the United States to andlsquo;get it rightandrsquo; early in the war and how FDR accomplished this.andquot;
andmdash;Michael Schaller, author of Douglas MacArthur and Regents Professor of History, University of Arizona
Synopsis
A closeup, in-the-room look at how FDR took masterful command and control of the Second World War, from wresting key decisions away from Churchill and his own generals, to launching the first successful trial landing in North Africa, and beginning to turn the tide away from the Axis.
Synopsis
Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving aides and Roosevelt family members, Nigel Hamilton offers a definitive account of FDRand#8217;s masterfuland#8212;and underappreciatedand#8212;command of the Allied war effort.and#160;Hamilton takes readers inside FDRand#8217;s White House Oval Studyand#8212;his personal command centerand#8212;and into the meetings where he battled with Churchill about strategy and tactics and overrode the near mutinies of his own generals and secretary of war.and#160;
Time and again, FDR was proven right and his allies and generals were wrong.and#160;When the generals wanted to attack the Nazi-fortified coast of France, FDR knew the Allied forces werenand#8217;t ready.and#160;When Churchill insisted his Far East colonies were loyal and would resist the Japanese, Roosevelt knew it was a fantasy.and#160;As Hamiltonand#8217;s account reaches its climax with the Torch landings in North Africa in late 1942, the tide of war turns in the Alliesand#8217; favor and FDRand#8217;s genius for psychology and military affairs is clear.and#160;This intimate, sweeping look at a great president in historyand#8217;s greatest conflict is must reading.
Synopsis
A dramatic, eye-opening account of how FDR took personal charge of the military direction of World War II.
Synopsis
Longlisted for the National Book Award andldquo;This bold argument . . . will undoubtedly change the way we see Franklin Roosevelt.andrdquo;
andmdash;Christian Science Monitor
andldquo;Masterly.andrdquo; andmdash; Wall Street Journal
A dramatic, eye-opening account of how FDR took personal charge of the military direction of World War II
Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving Roosevelt aides and family members, The Mantle of Command offers a radical new perspective on Franklin Delano Rooseveltandrsquo;s masterful andmdash; and underappreciated andmdash; leadership of the Allied war effort. After the disaster of Pearl Harbor, we see Roosevelt devising a global strategy that will defeat Hitler and the Japanese, rescue Churchill and the British people, and quell a near insurrection of his own American generals and War Department. All the while, Hamiltonandrsquo;s account drives toward Operation Torch andmdash; the invasion of French Northwest Africa andmdash; and the outcome of the war hangs in the balance. The Mantle of Command is an intimate, sweeping look at a great President in historyandrsquo;s greatest conflict.
Synopsis
In the sequel to the National Book Awardandndash;longlistedand#160;Mantle of Command,and#160;Nigel Hamilton continuesand#160;andquot;the memoir that Roosevelt didnand#39;t get to writeandquot;and#160;(New York Times Book Review)and#160;with the story of FDRand#39;s battles with Churchill throughout 1943.
About the Author
NIGEL HAMILTON is a best-selling and award-winning biographer of President John F. Kennedy, General Bernard andldquo;Montyandrdquo; Montgomery, and President Bill Clinton, among other subjects. His most recent book, The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942, was longlisted for the National Book Award. He is a senior fellow at the McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Table of Contents
Prologueand#8194;ix
PART ONE: PLACENTIA BAY
Before the Stormand#8194;3
PART TWO: PEARL HARBOR
The U.S. Is Attacked!and#8194;43
Hitlerand#8217;s Gambleand#8194;76
PART THREE: CHURCHILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE
The Victory Planand#8194;99
Supreme Commandand#8194;136
The Presidentand#8217;s Map Roomand#8194;145
PART FOUR: TROUBLE WITH MACARTHUR
The Fighting Generaland#8194;157
PART FIVE: END OF AN EMPIRE
Singaporeand#8194;195
The Mockery of the Worldand#8194;207
The Battleground for Civilizationand#8194;214
PART SIX: INDIA
No Hand on the Wheeland#8194;223
Lessons from the Far Eastand#8194;228
Churchill Threatens to Resignand#8194;236
The Worst Case of Jittersand#8194;254
PART SEVEN: MIDWAY
Doolittleand#8217;s Raidand#8194;267
The Battle of Midwayand#8194;274
PART EIGHT: TOBRUK
Churchilland#8217;s Second Comingand#8194;289
The Fall of Tobrukand#8194;303
No Second Dunquerqueand#8194;310
Avoiding Utter Catastropheand#8194;317
PART NINE: JAPAN FIRST
Citizen Warriorsand#8194;325
A Staggering Crisisand#8194;330
A Rough Dayand#8194;337
PART TEN: THE MUTINY
Stimsonand#8217;s Betand#8194;349
A Definite Decisionand#8194;359
A Failed Mutinyand#8194;363
PART ELEVEN: REACTION IN MOSCOW
Stalinand#8217;s Prayerand#8194;373
PART TWELVE: AN INDUSTRIAL MIRACLE
A Trip Across Americaand#8194;381
The Presidentand#8217;s Loyal Lieutenantand#8194;390
PART THIRTEEN: THE TRAGEDY OF DIEPPE
A Canadian Bloodbathand#8194;395
PART FOURTEEN: THE TORCH IS LIT
Something in West Africaand#8194;401
Alameinand#8194;409
First Lightand#8194;413
The Greatest Sensationand#8194;423
Armistice Dayand#8194;430
Acknowledgmentsand#8194;441
Notesand#8194;447
Indexand#8194;497