FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT: HIS LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENT By Basil Maine
The mterest in Mr. Roosevelt's career, to which this book (John Murray, 'as. 6d.) testifies, no doubt comes in part from the great importance of the office he holds. Not even a Harding could deprive the American presidency of all its weight. But Mr. Roosevelt's prestige comes from himself at least as much as from his office; he is the only great contemporary figure who speaks of demozracy as one having authority ; he has the manner and the record of a man of action and yet can use the phrases of what is still the formal political religion of so great a part of the world as if he meant them—and knew what they meant. Mr. Maine has been conscious of this special position of Mr. Roosevelt and all that sincere admiration, personal knowledge in private life, and a willingness to eschew too elaborate explanations of political phenomena can do to make this a good book, have been provided. But they turn out not to be enough. The life is described clearly, in outline at least, and in more than outline when Mr. Maine can use Mrs. Roosevelt's admirable autobiography. But "the achievement" is hidden in a vague laudatory narrative, not impressively accurate in detail and not very lavish even with errone us details. Thus the background of the fight over the Supreme Court is hardly e /en sketched in and the foreground is a mass of clotted sentiments of an admirable moral tone, but which are not a substitute for a clear discussion. It is characteristic of Mr. Maine's methods that there are few names in his book. The President's defeat over the Reorganisation Bill is noted, but Mr. O'Connor is not mentioned. When politicians are mentioned, the fashion in- which they are described, for instance the excessive importance attached here to the opinions of Senator Nye in labour questions and the description of Secretary Wallace as "a farmer frcm Iowa," do not suggest much fami- liarity with American politics. And this is a weakness, for after -.all Mr. Roosevelt is a politician first if not foremost. A pedes- trian style that is inoffensive but not exciting makes this book read like a moderately good royal biography. Appropriately enough, the frontispiece is a reproduction of a portrait of Mr. Roosevelt by Mr. Frank 0. Salisbury.
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