Terry Golway

Common goals bring people together; alliances are made between unlikely people. Friendships are forged, but sometimes the friends become alienated, their relationships shifting with the loss or gain of political power.

Reading biographies on President Franklin D. Roosevelt I learned about Al Smith, the New York City politician who failed to gain the presidential nomination because of his Catholic Faith. I knew that FDR's 1928 presidential nomination speech for Al Smith marked FDR's political show more comeback after polio. I was curious to learn more about Al and requested the galley for Frank & Al by Terry Golway.

Right away I fell under Al's spell. He had charisma and personality and a commitment to helping the 'little man' with a progressive agenda. He knew the challenges they faced first-hand., for Al had to leave school and work in the Fulton Fish Market after the death of his father. His mother took a factory job. Tammany Hall promoted his political rise to Albany. Realizing how unprepared he was, Al committed to studying until he had a command of the issues and laws. He became a popular and beloved New York State governor.

No one could have been more different from Al than FDR with his long family history of status and wealth. FDR was a Harvard man. He was also seen as a lightweight, but he supported Al all the way.

How these two men changed the Democratic party is the core of the book. The history of their friendship recalls Adams and Jefferson--allies turned foes who embrace reconciliation later in life.

I was actually thrilled while reading the narratives about the conventions! Al's Catholicism was a huge issue. The KKK came out in full force to wield its influence. The Democrats had to choose to condemn the KKK as an Anti-American terrorist group and risk splitting the party or water the platform down to condemning any secret society. The clan gathered in New Jersey to burn an effigy of Al Smith. Protestant preachers across Middle America turned Al into a Papal pawn and denounced his opposition to Prohibition.

Al was hugely popular in the East and among city folk but could not win rural WASP America. After Hoover's failure to address the Depression, FDR was successful in his presidential bid...and the rest is history. Al, though, did not take his losses well and was critical of FDR's policies.

The Democratic party was transfigured by Al's agenda which was continued by FDR on the national level; the president admitted he was following the agenda set by Al many years ago in New York State. The two men had some form of reconciliation and worked together but the warm friendship was never regained.

It always strikes me when I read history that human nature does not change. Al and Frank, or John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, politics power disrupts friendships. Xenophobia rears its ugly head again and again. Where once the Catholics were feared as puppets of the Pope, now we fear Muslims. Every history I read is relevant to the issues we face today.

Golway has written a wonderful book that brings these men and the times to life in a thrilling narrative history.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. show less

Sure, I knew the name. La Guardia. It was an airport. Ok, I recall hearing about the Little Flower here and there. Oh, and he was connected to New York City. So I was in for a big surprise reading this biography. It was such a fun, upbeat read, and I was impressed by this rumpled man’s character and career. I even got misty eyed reading about some of his amazing accomplishments.

He was a diplomat, congressman, major in the army, and had a popular radio show. He stood up to Tammany Hall and show more crossed party lines, focused on what was right for the people. He was instrumental in the creation of the Fair Employment Practices Committee to fight racial discrimination. Advocated for American relief efforts for European refugees.

Most of all, La Guardia is a role model for the non-political government leader. He had an oversized trust in his own moral compass. He saw what was right and what was needed and he determined to just do it.

Everything La Guardia stood for still matters. Leadership for the good of the people. A deep hearted love for justice and equality. Staying true to one’s values and beliefs. We needed this kind of leadership in the 20th c, and we sure need it today.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC. show less

Naturally, I knew of feisty, outspoken New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia, but, until I read this lively biography, I didn't know much about him. I didn't know what he accomplished as NYC mayor during the Great Depression and World War 2. I didn't know about his years in Congress or how he also served in the military.

An absolutely fascinating, beautifully written biography of a man who made a difference for regular people. Definitely not a typical "birth to death" biography but show more instead, one that focused on key areas, particularly as to his political life.

Very highly recommended!!

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.) show less

This is a solidly curated, well-edited selection of abridged political speeches of historical significance. The collection succeeds in being perhaps the least intimidating selection of political speeches ever compiled; the book is relatively thin, and the speech excerpts are short enough to be pithy, while being comprehensive enough to communicate the key points. As such, this volume would be an asset to any classroom library, and honestly is affordable enough to potentially get a copy in show more each student's hand.

My only beef with this volume is its inherent bias towards modern speeches. I find questionable the idea that, say, Ronald Reagan gets three speeches included, but there are none from, say, Malcolm X. Additionally, the inclusion of certain women and minorities seems a bit perfunctory. Hillary Clinton's speech in Beijing is a no-brainer for inclusion, but if I ruled the world I would have also included Ann Richards' speech from the 88 Democratic Convention. I would have rather the editors limited the number of selections from single authors, and expanded the net cast over all of American history to capture more women and ethnic minorities. Obviously, issues of diversity can be extremely complex and difficult to navigate in a volume such as this, but the book shakes out so that white men are represented with depth and nuance, while other voices are rather limited not only in number, but in scope of content. For example, the speeches by women are about women, and the speeches by African American authors are about slavery and civil rights.

Overall, however, an excellent primer to the exciting world of political oratory. show less