Changes

FDR's favorite program--and the nation's favorite as well, was the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], begun in springc 1933. The CCC sent several hundred thousand young men at a time -- 2.5 million in all by 1943 -- to newly formed work camps for 6-month stints. There were no uniforms or military drills. It was strongly approved at the time by conservatives and liberals alike, including most religious and business leaders as a way to save the boys who were perpectually unemployed and drifting into gangs. The CCC was ended in 1943 when the need had vanished.

FDR's favorite program--and the nation's favorite as well, was the [[Civilian Conservation Corps]], begun in springc 1933. The CCC sent several hundred thousand young men at a time -- 2.5 million in all by 1943 -- to newly formed work camps for 6-month stints. There were no uniforms or military drills. It was strongly approved at the time by conservatives and liberals alike, including most religious and business leaders as a way to save the boys who were perpectually unemployed and drifting into gangs. The CCC was ended in 1943 when the need had vanished.

In 1934-35 the '''Second new Deal''' showed Roosevelt moving left. Key innovations included the Wagner Act (1935) that created the [[National Labor Relations Board]] and allowed [[Labor unions]] to rapidly expand.  The [[WPA]] was a federalized relief progarm, in which 2+ million unemployed workers were hired by the federal government to work on projects sponsored by local government. Most important of all was the Social Security program, passed over intense Republican opposition.

In 1934-35 the '''Second new Deal''' showed Roosevelt moving left. Key innovations included the Wagner Act (1935) that created the [[National Labor Relations Board]] and allowed [[Labor unions]] to rapidly expand.  The [[WPA]] was a federalized relief program, in which 2+ million unemployed workers were hired by the federal government to work on projects sponsored by local government. Most important of all was the Social Security program, passed over intense Republican opposition.

==Second Term==

==Second Term==

== Fourth Term ==

== Fourth Term ==

Roosevelt had his closest election in 1944, with a subdued contest that was decided by turnout of FDR allies in the cities and labor unions, and increasingy among soldiers. [[Strom Thurmond]] also supported FDR's decision to seek a fourth term, and referred to Roosevelt as having been the world’s greatest leader. <ref>[http://www.kevinbaker.info/c_wtm.html What Trent Meant], Kevin Baker.</ref>

Roosevelt had his closest election in 1944, with a subdued contest that was decided by turnout of FDR allies in the cities and labor unions, and increasingly among soldiers. [[Strom Thurmond]] also supported FDR's decision to seek a fourth term, and referred to Roosevelt as having been the world’s greatest leader. <ref>[http://www.kevinbaker.info/c_wtm.html What Trent Meant], Kevin Baker.</ref>

===Yalta conference===

===Yalta conference===

==Failure of "competitive administration" ==

==Failure of "competitive administration" ==

Roosevelt used a "competitive administration" strategy to maximize presidential power at the cost of confusion, delay and inefficiency. He made sure in each policy area that several top officials had overlapping jurisdictions. They would feud and have to bring the problem to FDR, who wanted to make every final decision.  For example, in the case of the [[PWA]] relief program, the competition over the size of expenditure, the selection of the administrator, and the appointment of staff at the state level, led to delays and to the ultimate weakness of PWA as a recovery instrument. [[Harold L. Ickes]] headed the PWA (as well as the Interior Department), and FDR set it up so that Ickes had to continuously fight other top adminsitrators like [[Lewis Douglas]] (the budgest director), [[Henry A. Wallace]] (Secretary of Agriculture)  and [[Harry Hopkins]] (head of rival relief efforts). The rivalries were just as fierce for other top adminstrators, many of whom resigned in frustration and (like [[Hugh Johnson]] and [[Raymond Moley]]) even became enemies of Roosevelt.<ref> [[Dean Acheson]]  and [[Lewis Douglas]] also resigned in anger but kept quiet, allowing FDR to bring them back during the war.  The vocal ones were entered on an enemy's list and permanently barred from serving the nation.</ref>

Roosevelt used a "competitive administration" strategy to maximize presidential power at the cost of confusion, delay and inefficiency. He made sure in each policy area that several top officials had overlapping jurisdictions. They would feud and have to bring the problem to FDR, who wanted to make every final decision.  For example, in the case of the [[PWA]] relief program, the competition over the size of expenditure, the selection of the administrator, and the appointment of staff at the state level, led to delays and to the ultimate weakness of PWA as a recovery instrument. [[Harold L. Ickes]] headed the PWA (as well as the Interior Department), and FDR set it up so that Ickes had to continuously fight other top administrators like [[Lewis Douglas]] (the budget director), [[Henry A. Wallace]] (Secretary of Agriculture)  and [[Harry Hopkins]] (head of rival relief efforts). The rivalries were just as fierce for other top administrators, many of whom resigned in frustration and (like [[Hugh Johnson]] and [[Raymond Moley]]) even became enemies of Roosevelt.<ref> [[Dean Acheson]]  and [[Lewis Douglas]] also resigned in anger but kept quiet, allowing FDR to bring them back during the war.  The vocal ones were entered on an enemy's list and permanently barred from serving the nation.</ref>

Roosevelt kept up his divisive strategy during the war, causing enormous confusion and contradictions in economic mobilization.  It got so bad that FDR had to publicly humiliate Vice President Wallace and relieve him of all responsiblities. The Navy found a solution, as Admiral [[Ernest King]] deliberately kept FDR in the dark.  Even when his fleet was threatened by the Japanese at Midway in May 1942, and King urgently needed the help of the British Navy, he decided not to ask because the request for help would have to go through Roosevelt and King refused to allow the White House to learn what dire peril the nation faced.  Lucky for King--very lucky--he won a terrific victory at Midway.

Roosevelt kept up his divisive strategy during the war, causing enormous confusion and contradictions in economic mobilization.  It got so bad that FDR had to publicly humiliate Vice President Wallace and relieve him of all responsibilities. The Navy found a solution, as Admiral [[Ernest King]] deliberately kept FDR in the dark.  Even when his fleet was threatened by the Japanese at Midway in May 1942, and King urgently needed the help of the British Navy, he decided not to ask because the request for help would have to go through Roosevelt and King refused to allow the White House to learn what dire peril the nation faced.  Lucky for King--very lucky--he won a terrific victory at Midway.

== Reflections on Christianity ==

== Reflections on Christianity ==

* Goodwin, Doris Kearns. ''No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II'' (1995), joint biography by scholar [http://www.amazon.com/No-Ordinary-Time-Franklin-Roosevelt/dp/B000B86FI2/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193883493&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Goodwin, Doris Kearns. ''No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II'' (1995), joint biography by scholar [http://www.amazon.com/No-Ordinary-Time-Franklin-Roosevelt/dp/B000B86FI2/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193883493&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Graham, Otis L. and Meghan Robinson Wander, eds. ''Franklin D. Roosevelt: His Life and Times.'' (1985). encyclopedia by scholars

* Graham, Otis L. and Meghan Robinson Wander, eds. ''Franklin D. Roosevelt: His Life and Times.'' (1985). encyclopedia by scholars

* Hamby, Alonzo L. ''For the Survival of Democracy: Franklin Roosevelt and the World Crisis of the 1930s'' (2004) major interpetation by leading conservative historian [http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Democracy-Franklin-Roosevelt-Crisis/dp/0684843404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240397848&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Hamby, Alonzo L. ''For the Survival of Democracy: Franklin Roosevelt and the World Crisis of the 1930s'' (2004) major interpretation by leading conservative historian [http://www.amazon.com/Survival-Democracy-Franklin-Roosevelt-Crisis/dp/0684843404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240397848&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

* Jenkins, Roy. ''Franklin Delano Roosevelt'' (2003) short popular bio from British perspective

* Jenkins, Roy. ''Franklin Delano Roosevelt'' (2003) short popular bio from British perspective

* Kennedy, David M. ''Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945.'' (1999), wide-ranging survey of national affairs by scholar [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=52284041 online edition]

* Kennedy, David M. ''Freedom From Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945.'' (1999), wide-ranging survey of national affairs by scholar [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=52284041 online edition]