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Ascent to Power: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World
The fascinating story behind the most consequential presidential transition in US history, from Franklin Roosevelt to Harry Truman, and the legacy Truman struggled to overcome to lead America into a new, post-war world
In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt selected as his next running mate a hardworking, uncontroversial senator from Missouri named Harry Truman. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died, and Truman, after only 82 days as vice president, was thrust into the presidency, a turning point that generations of historians have inexplicably addressed as shocking. Yet Roosevelt’s failing health had been plain to staffers for at least a year. With the end of his life looming, FDR met alone only twice with his vice president, and failed to brief him on domestic issues or foreign affairs, most notably his intentions for ending World War II, including the existence of the atomic bomb program. It was, as author David L. Roll contends, one of the most irresponsible oversights in presidential history.
As president, Truman was woefully unprepared. He immediately faced the surrender of Germany, a continent in ruins, and the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan. Most significantly, the Soviet Union, an ally during the war, was growing increasingly hostile towards US power. Truman inherited FDR’s hope that peace could be maintained through cooperation with the Soviets, but he would soon learn that imitating his predecessor would lead only to missteps and controversy.
Spanning the years of transition, 1944 to 1948, Ascent to Power explores Roosevelt’s post-war illusions, and the very real challenges faced by Truman as a supposed “accidental president,” including the revival of Western Europe, the reform of Japan, and the hotly-debated birth of Israel. Detailing the long shadow cast by FDR, this remarkable book reveals Truman’s struggle to emerge as a president in his own right, and how the decisions made during these years of transition changed the world.
In 1944, Franklin Roosevelt selected as his next running mate a hardworking, uncontroversial senator from Missouri named Harry Truman. On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died, and Truman, after only 82 days as vice president, was thrust into the presidency, a turning point that generations of historians have inexplicably addressed as shocking. Yet Roosevelt’s failing health had been plain to staffers for at least a year. With the end of his life looming, FDR met alone only twice with his vice president, and failed to brief him on domestic issues or foreign affairs, most notably his intentions for ending World War II, including the existence of the atomic bomb program. It was, as author David L. Roll contends, one of the most irresponsible oversights in presidential history.
As president, Truman was woefully unprepared. He immediately faced the surrender of Germany, a continent in ruins, and the decision to use the atomic bomb against Japan. Most significantly, the Soviet Union, an ally during the war, was growing increasingly hostile towards US power. Truman inherited FDR’s hope that peace could be maintained through cooperation with the Soviets, but he would soon learn that imitating his predecessor would lead only to missteps and controversy.
Spanning the years of transition, 1944 to 1948, Ascent to Power explores Roosevelt’s post-war illusions, and the very real challenges faced by Truman as a supposed “accidental president,” including the revival of Western Europe, the reform of Japan, and the hotly-debated birth of Israel. Detailing the long shadow cast by FDR, this remarkable book reveals Truman’s struggle to emerge as a president in his own right, and how the decisions made during these years of transition changed the world.
544 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 23, 2024
Harry and Joe made the world I grew up in
I was born in 1955. By that time Harry Truman had been out of power for two years. Joseph Stalin died in 1953. But for the first thirty years of my life, the international and political world I lived in was the one they made in Truman's first term as President of the USA, from 1945-1948. Indeed, as I look at the headlines on 16-Apr-2024, with Israel and Palestinians once more at war, and Putin's Russia trying to reconquer Ukraine, it is obvious that, even though we have to some extent moved on, we still live in the world that Harry and Joe made.
Harry and Joe met for the first time in Potsdam on 17-Jul-1945. Harry was impressed by Joe: “I can deal with Stalin. He is honest— but smart as hell.” Joe thought Harry was a lightweight, “Truman’s neither educated nor clever.” Stalin was not exactly wrong. In July, 1945, Harry *WAS* a lightweight. He had been ignored by Roosevelt and given no access to the political machinations that were central to his presidency. But Joe missed something important: Harry was a quick learner.
And something else: Harry was surrounded by smart people, and he was smart enough to use them. Harry appointed George (Marshall) as his Secretary of State, and stood aside and let him take the credit for sending American treasure and people to Japan and Europe (Germany included), resulting in an economically strong alliance of democracies that kept Joe's Soviet Union in a box until it finally collapsed, many years later.
We should pause for a second to appreciate how unusual this was. The historical rule is "To the victor go the spoils". It was entirely precedented and accepted that when you won a war, you walked off with everything that wasn't nailed down. This, indeed, was Joe's approach to that portion of Germany left in his hands -- to loot it. Harry and George brought about economic miracles in Japan and Germany (seriously, look up the German word Wirtschaftswunder). They didn't do this because they were generous -- they did it because they were smart. Far too many people -- even powerful world leaders -- believe that one person can benefit only if others lose. Harry and George made a bet that a powerful Japan and Europe would be good for the USA.
Harry also did other things that shaped the next several decades. He dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. But he was known as a straightforward, honest, and fair man. And he seems to have deserved that reputation. Harry recognized the new state of Israel within minutes of its declaration. Harry also championed civil rights in the USA -- a weaker version than we would now support, but it was the first big step towards a more fair USA. Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond, who deserted Harry's Democratic Party over the civil rights issue, when asked why he would desert over Harry's actions when he had overlooked similar promises made by Roosevelt in 1944, answered that the difference was that “Truman really means it.”
David L. Roll's Ascent to Power: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World, is not a complete biography of Truman.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advance reader copy of Ascent to Power: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World.
Blog review.
I was born in 1955. By that time Harry Truman had been out of power for two years. Joseph Stalin died in 1953. But for the first thirty years of my life, the international and political world I lived in was the one they made in Truman's first term as President of the USA, from 1945-1948. Indeed, as I look at the headlines on 16-Apr-2024, with Israel and Palestinians once more at war, and Putin's Russia trying to reconquer Ukraine, it is obvious that, even though we have to some extent moved on, we still live in the world that Harry and Joe made.
Harry and Joe met for the first time in Potsdam on 17-Jul-1945. Harry was impressed by Joe: “I can deal with Stalin. He is honest— but smart as hell.” Joe thought Harry was a lightweight, “Truman’s neither educated nor clever.” Stalin was not exactly wrong. In July, 1945, Harry *WAS* a lightweight. He had been ignored by Roosevelt and given no access to the political machinations that were central to his presidency. But Joe missed something important: Harry was a quick learner.
And something else: Harry was surrounded by smart people, and he was smart enough to use them. Harry appointed George (Marshall) as his Secretary of State, and stood aside and let him take the credit for sending American treasure and people to Japan and Europe (Germany included), resulting in an economically strong alliance of democracies that kept Joe's Soviet Union in a box until it finally collapsed, many years later.
We should pause for a second to appreciate how unusual this was. The historical rule is "To the victor go the spoils". It was entirely precedented and accepted that when you won a war, you walked off with everything that wasn't nailed down. This, indeed, was Joe's approach to that portion of Germany left in his hands -- to loot it. Harry and George brought about economic miracles in Japan and Germany (seriously, look up the German word Wirtschaftswunder). They didn't do this because they were generous -- they did it because they were smart. Far too many people -- even powerful world leaders -- believe that one person can benefit only if others lose. Harry and George made a bet that a powerful Japan and Europe would be good for the USA.
Harry also did other things that shaped the next several decades. He dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. But he was known as a straightforward, honest, and fair man. And he seems to have deserved that reputation. Harry recognized the new state of Israel within minutes of its declaration. Harry also championed civil rights in the USA -- a weaker version than we would now support, but it was the first big step towards a more fair USA. Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond, who deserted Harry's Democratic Party over the civil rights issue, when asked why he would desert over Harry's actions when he had overlooked similar promises made by Roosevelt in 1944, answered that the difference was that “Truman really means it.”
David L. Roll's Ascent to Power: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World, is not a complete biography of Truman.
Unlike previous histories of the Roosevelt and Truman presidencies, this book focuses on the transition— the long shadow cast by the dead president, Truman’s struggle to emerge, and how decisions during the years of transition, 1944 through 1948, impacted the peoples who survived the sword.*Thus, compared to a full biography like David McCullough's Truman, Ascent to Power is relatively brief and focused. (I was taken aback by Roll's calling the entire four years of Truman's first term the "transition", but since he is straightforward about doing that, I have no real complaint.) It is not by any means a light read, and there was little here I didn't already know. I had not previously appreciated the extent to which these four years made the world I grew up in. That was an enlightenment.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advance reader copy of Ascent to Power: How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World.
Blog review.
December 19, 2023
It was time for a great history lesson. I am pretty familiar with the history of FDR, but not so much of Truman. So when I was offered an ARC of this book from NetGalley, I was happy. And I was not disappointed!
Roll offers up an inside look at the end of the FDR presidency, and the ascension of Harry Truman's. He does so in a manner that is easy to read and understand. I found myself surprised at a lot of things in the book. Truman's dislike of being President (or so he told people), his early history with some unsavory characters back in Missouri, and his determination to set his own agenda for his presidency.
His dealings with the major global players is covered well. Stalin, Churchill, and all the important political figures in DC. The author uses some of Truman's own notes and letters, as well as his aides, to give a behind the scenes look. He exposes Truman's positive points, as well as many of his flaws. I was surprised at his civil rights opinions, as well as his feelings on the formation of Israel. I guess everything in the Presidency eventually comes down to politics, and getting those votes.
All in all, it works well. I learned a lot.
Roll offers up an inside look at the end of the FDR presidency, and the ascension of Harry Truman's. He does so in a manner that is easy to read and understand. I found myself surprised at a lot of things in the book. Truman's dislike of being President (or so he told people), his early history with some unsavory characters back in Missouri, and his determination to set his own agenda for his presidency.
His dealings with the major global players is covered well. Stalin, Churchill, and all the important political figures in DC. The author uses some of Truman's own notes and letters, as well as his aides, to give a behind the scenes look. He exposes Truman's positive points, as well as many of his flaws. I was surprised at his civil rights opinions, as well as his feelings on the formation of Israel. I guess everything in the Presidency eventually comes down to politics, and getting those votes.
All in all, it works well. I learned a lot.
May 16, 2024
Terrific read. The handoff from FDR to Truman is an amazing master stroke of history. David Roll does an amazing job as master storyteller in placing us in the room(s) where it happened. Highly recommended.
April 16, 2024
Franklin Roosevelt’s deteriorating health and lack of communication left Harry Truman unprepared for the monumental challenges he faced as the new president. As Truman’s efforts to maintain Roosevelt’s conciliatory approach with the Soviets faltered, he rapidly adapted and shaped the presidency in his own image. This gripping narrative shows his extraordinary transformation into a confident leader steering America through pivotal challenges. The book is engrossing, informative, and easy to read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
April 30, 2024
Extremely thorough work on the succession of Harry Truman to the Presidency and a detailed description of his accomplishments while in office. Good stuff.
March 25, 2024
Very good new history. Full review here: https://civilianreader.com/2024/03/25...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews