Reviews
"Painstakingly, insightfully--even lovingly--assembled from notes and fragments found in a dusty closet belonging to Robert H. Jackson's recently deceased son, this remarkable and eminently readable volume--a newly available first-hand account of FDR as politician, lawyer, administrator, andcommander in chief, written by an astute participant and brilliant observer who also happened to be the most piercingly eloquent writer ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court--will intrigue and inform anyone interested in the history of America's involvement in World War II or in the Americanpresidency and the West Wing under FDR in an era a half century old that turns out to bear a surprising resemblance to our own."--Laurence H. Tribe, Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard Law School, "Lively, revealing and suddenly relevant.... Jackson's memoir sheds newlight--not always flattering--on important events and on a president who toooften appears only in silhouette: a felt fedora, an upward-tilting chin, acigarette holder clenched in a grin."--Jeff Shesol, New York Times BookReview, "Franklin D. Roosevelt was the dominant political figure of the last century. Robert H. Jackson, Supreme Court Justice, was one of the essential figures in his life. Professor John Q. Barrett, a highly qualified authority on the subject, has now brought this relationship fully to light. I urgethis volume for all who would know more of what could be the greatest days of Washington. I use the term cautiously: an indispensable book."--John Kenneth Galbraith, "These superbly eloquent chapters provide intimate glimpses of Roosevelt operating on many different levels. Through Jackson's informed lens, we are shown FDR as president, politician, lawyer, commander-in-chief, administrator, populist leader and companion. Jackson's account is not only ofinfinite value for the new light it sheds on 'that man,' but also for unique glimpses of Harold Ickes, Tommy 'The Cork' Corcoran, Harry Hopkins and the other New Deal stalwarts."--Publishers Weekly, "Lively, revealing and suddenly relevant.... Jackson's memoir sheds new light--not always flattering--on important events and on a president who too often appears only in silhouette: a felt fedora, an upward-tilting chin, a cigarette holder clenched in a grin."--Jeff Shesol, New York TimesBook Review, "These superbly eloquent chapters provide intimate glimpses of Rooseveltoperating on many different levels. Through Jackson's informed lens, we areshown FDR as president, politician, lawyer, commander-in-chief, administrator,populist leader and companion. Jackson's account is not only of infinite valuefor the new light it sheds on 'that man,' but also for unique glimpses of HaroldIckes, Tommy 'The Cork' Corcoran, Harry Hopkins and the other New Dealstalwarts."--Publishers Weekly, "A winning memoir--the story of Jackson's life in the White House; a powerful portrait of our 32nd president; and, most of all, a tribute to the humanity and the vision that stood at the heart of the Roosevelt administration.... A unique historical find.... It contains a trove of newinformation about Roosevelt's life."--Matthew Dallek, The Washington Monthly, "An intimate and inspiring portrait of Roosevelt. He is seen as bothcharming and determined, while often elusive and enigmatic.... UnderstandingFranklin Roosevelt better is a constant challenge for students of history: Hehas been scrutinized a great deal but not often with the benefit of such avantage point."--Wall Street Journal, "Lively, revealing and suddenly relevant.... Jackson's memoir sheds new light--not always flattering--on important events and on a president who too often appears only in silhouette: a felt fedora, an upward-tilting chin, a cigarette holder clenched in a grin."--Jeff Shesol, New York Times Book Review "The publication of this slender but meaty book is that rare and happy event: a voice speaking to us from the past, a voice we had not expected to hear and that brings the past to life as not even the best of historians can do."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post "A winning memoir--the story of Jackson's life in the White House; a powerful portrait of our 32nd president; and, most of all, a tribute to the humanity and the vision that stood at the heart of the Roosevelt administration.... A unique historical find.... It contains a trove of new information about Roosevelt's life."--Matthew Dallek, The Washington Monthly "A thoughtful, fresh, useful look at FDR. With powerful respect, even awe, for the man, Jackson nevertheless insisted on seeing him in a very human way--filled with greatness, yet flawed like all of us. It's a memoir that reflects the best of Jackson: candid, honest and tellingly expressed."--Stanley Kutler, Los Angeles Times "Barrett has done an admirable and even heroic job, partly by interpolating some of Jackson's other writing, including unpublished materials and excerpts from an oral history, in which Jackson answered detailed questions about his life and his career. As a result, there is now a genuine book, one that contains some illuminating discussion of historical events. Most important, the book offers a fresh occasion for considering the personality and career of the greatest leader of the twentieth century, memorably described by Isaiah Berlin as the only statesman in the world upon whom 'no cloud rested.'"--Cass Sunstein, New Republic "That Man is a great find--the last memoir of Franklin D. Roosevelt by someone who worked with him and knew him well. Next to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Robert H. Jackson was the best writer on the Supreme Court in the 20th century, and his portrait of 'that man in the White House' is filled with astute insights and warm recollections. It is a book no fan of FDR can do without."--Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. "These superbly eloquent chapters provide intimate glimpses of Roosevelt operating on many different levels. Through Jackson's informed lens, we are shown FDR as president, politician, lawyer, commander-in-chief, administrator, populist leader and companion. Jackson's account is not only of infinite value for the new light it sheds on 'that man,' but also for unique glimpses of Harold Ickes, Tommy 'The Cork' Corcoran, Harry Hopkins and the other New Deal stalwarts."--Publishers Weekly "Franklin D. Roosevelt was the dominant political figure of the last century. Robert H. Jackson, Supreme Court Justice, was one of the essential figures in his life. Professor John Q. Barrett, a highly qualified authority on the subject, has now brought this relationship fully to light. I urge this volume for all who would know more of what could be the greatest days of Washington. I use the term cautiously: an indispensable book."--John Kenneth Galbraith "Painstakingly, insightfully--even lovingly--assembled from notes and fragments found in a dusty closet belonging to Robert H. Jackson's recently deceased son, this remarkable and eminently readable volume--a newly available first-hand account of FDR as politician, lawyer, administrator, and commander in chief, written by an astute participant and brilliant observer who also happened to be the most piercingly eloquent writer ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court--will intrigue and inform anyone interested in the history of America's involvement in World War II or in the American presidency and the West Wing under FDR in an era a half century old that turns out to bear a surprisin, "Franklin D. Roosevelt was the dominant political figure of the lastcentury. Robert H. Jackson, Supreme Court Justice, was one of the essentialfigures in his life. Professor John Q. Barrett, a highly qualified authority onthe subject, has now brought this relationship fully to light. I urge thisvolume for all who would know more of what could be the greatest days ofWashington. I use the term cautiously: an indispensable book."--John KennethGalbraith, "Barrett has done an admirable and even heroic job, partly by interpolating some of Jackson's other writing, including unpublished materials and excerpts from an oral history, in which Jackson answered detailed questions about his life and his career. As a result, there is now a genuine book,one that contains some illuminating discussion of historical events. Most important, the book offers a fresh occasion for considering the personality and career of the greatest leader of the twentieth century, memorably described by Isaiah Berlin as the only statesman in the world upon whom 'nocloud rested.'"--Cass Sunstein, New Republic, "The publication of this slender but meaty book is that rare and happyevent: a voice speaking to us from the past, a voice we had not expected to hearand that brings the past to life as not even the best of historians cando."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post, "Painstakingly, insightfully--even lovingly--assembled from notes andfragments found in a dusty closet belonging to Robert H. Jackson's recentlydeceased son, this remarkable and eminently readable volume--a newly availablefirst-hand account of FDR as politician, lawyer, administrator, and commander inchief, written by an astute participant and brilliant observer who also happenedto be the most piercingly eloquent writer ever to serve on the U.S. SupremeCourt--will intrigue and inform anyone interested in the history of America'sinvolvement in World War II or in the American presidency and the West Wingunder FDR in an era a half century old that turns out to bear a surprisingresemblance to our own."--Laurence H. Tribe, Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor ofConstitutional Law, Harvard Law School, "The publication of this slender but meaty book is that rare and happy event: a voice speaking to us from the past, a voice we had not expected to hear and that brings the past to life as not even the best of historians can do."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post, "An intimate and inspiring portrait of Roosevelt. He is seen as both charming and determined, while often elusive and enigmatic.... Understanding Franklin Roosevelt better is a constant challenge for students of history: He has been scrutinized a great deal but not often with the benefit ofsuch a vantage point."--Wall Street Journal, "A thoughtful, fresh, useful look at FDR. With powerful respect, even awe, for the man, Jackson nevertheless insisted on seeing him in a very human way--filled with greatness, yet flawed like all of us. It's a memoir that reflects the best of Jackson: candid, honest and tellinglyexpressed."--Stanley Kutler, Los Angeles Times, "A long lost gem has been unearthed after a half century. Supreme Courtjustice Robert Jackson's first hand portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt is asclose as we are likely to get to deciphering the enigma that was FDR. Jackson,associate and friend, confidante and poker playing pal of the President, wasperceptive enough to recognize the genius and honest enough to admit the flawsbeneath his subject's seductive geniality. We are further indebted to the book'seditor, John Q. Barrett, for rescuing this priceless memoir from an obscuritythat would have left us poorer in our understanding of America's towering 20thCentury statesman." --Joseph E. Persico, author of Roosevelt's Secret War, "Intelligent, informed thoughts on FDR's presidency.... The intimate lookinto the way decisions were made brings Roosevelt very much into humanfocus."--Kirkus Review, "Lively, revealing and suddenly relevant.... Jackson's memoir sheds new light--not always flattering--on important events and on a president who too often appears only in silhouette: a felt fedora, an upward-tilting chin, a cigarette holder clenched in a grin."--Jeff Shesol, New York Times Book Review "The publication of this slender but meaty book is that rare and happy event: a voice speaking to us from the past, a voice we had not expected to hear and that brings the past to life as not even the best of historians can do."--Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post "A winning memoir--the story of Jackson's life in the White House; a powerful portrait of our 32nd president; and, most of all, a tribute to the humanity and the vision that stood at the heart of the Roosevelt administration.... A unique historical find.... It contains a trove of new information about Roosevelt's life."--Matthew Dallek, The Washington Monthly "A thoughtful, fresh, useful look at FDR. With powerful respect, even awe, for the man, Jackson nevertheless insisted on seeing him in a very human way--filled with greatness, yet flawed like all of us. It's a memoir that reflects the best of Jackson: candid, honest and tellingly expressed."--Stanley Kutler, Los Angeles Times "Barrett has done an admirable and even heroic job, partly by interpolating some of Jackson's other writing, including unpublished materials and excerpts from an oral history, in which Jackson answered detailed questions about his life and his career. As a result, there is now a genuine book, one that contains some illuminating discussion of historical events. Most important, the book offers a fresh occasion for considering the personality and career of the greatest leader of the twentieth century, memorably described by Isaiah Berlin as the only statesman in the world upon whom 'no cloud rested.'"--Cass Sunstein, New Republic " That Man is a great find--the last memoir of Franklin D. Roosevelt by someone who worked with him and knew him well. Next to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Robert H. Jackson was the best writer on the Supreme Court in the 20th century, and his portrait of 'that man in the White House' is filled with astute insights and warm recollections. It is a book no fan of FDR can do without."--Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. "These superbly eloquent chapters provide intimate glimpses of Roosevelt operating on many different levels. Through Jackson's informed lens, we are shown FDR as president, politician, lawyer, commander-in-chief, administrator, populist leader and companion. Jackson's account is not only of infinite value for the new light it sheds on 'that man,' but also for unique glimpses of Harold Ickes, Tommy 'The Cork' Corcoran, Harry Hopkins and the other New Deal stalwarts."-- Publishers Weekly "Franklin D. Roosevelt was the dominant political figure of the last century. Robert H. Jackson, Supreme Court Justice, was one of the essential figures in his life. Professor John Q. Barrett, a highly qualified authority on the subject, has now brought this relationship fully to light. I urge this volume for all who would know more of what could be the greatest days of Washington. I use the term cautiously: an indispensable book."--John Kenneth Galbraith "Painstakingly, insightfully--even lovingly--assembled from notes and fragments found in a dusty closet belonging to Robert H. Jackson's recently deceased son, this remarkable and eminently readable volume--a newly available first-hand account of FDR as politician, lawyer, administrator, and commander in chief, written by an astute participant and brilliant observer who also happened to be the most piercingly eloquent writer ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court--will intrigue and inform anyone interested in the history of America's involvement in World War II or in the American presidency and the West Wing under FDR in an era a half century old, "That Man is a great find--the last memoir of Franklin D. Roosevelt by someone who worked with him and knew him well. Next to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Robert H. Jackson was the best writer on the Supreme Court in the 20th century, and his portrait of 'that man in the White House' is filled withastute insights and warm recollections. It is a book no fan of FDR can do without."--Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
