Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox (1882–1940)

Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox is a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt covering 1882–1940, tracing his political rise before and during his presidency. Roosevelt served as the longest-serving U.S. president, leading the country through the Great Depression and World War II. This volume examines the decades of political strategy and consolidation of power that preceded his ascension to the presidency. The biography reconstructs Roosevelt's youth and education at Groton and Harvard, his relationships with his cousins Theodore and Eleanor, his involvement in New York State politics, and his rise to national prominence through his first two terms as president. It covers the implementation of the New Deal and the onset of World War II. Originally published in 1956, the book explores Roosevelt's blend of strength and cunning, his ambitions, talents, and flaws. The work combines narrative with historical scholarship and was among the first major studies of Roosevelt published at that time.