The Last 100 Days: FDR at War and at Peace

The Last 100 Days examines Franklin D. Roosevelt's final months as president during a critical period of World War II. From January to April 1945, Roosevelt worked to secure victory in the war while simultaneously shaping the postwar order through negotiations with Churchill and Stalin. Author David B. Woolner draws on diaries, letters, and government documents to reconstruct Roosevelt's day-to-day activities and decision-making during this intense period. The book tracks FDR's efforts to balance domestic politics, military strategy, and international diplomacy while his health steadily declined. The narrative follows Roosevelt through key events including the Yalta Conference, meetings with military leaders, and his travels to various locations as he carried out his duties. Woolner provides context about Roosevelt's relationships with his inner circle, including his family members, political advisors, and medical team. This intimate portrait of Roosevelt's final chapter reveals larger themes about leadership, duty, and the price of power during times of global crisis. The book raises questions about how personal health and mortality affect critical decisions that shape the course of history.

Readers found this book provided new insights into FDR's final months, particularly regarding his health and key wartime decisions. Reviews note the book challenges claims that FDR was mentally diminished at Yalta. Readers appreciated: - Detailed research and use of primary sources - Focus on FDR's diplomatic achievements in his final days - Clear explanations of complex wartime negotiations - Balance between personal and political aspects Common criticisms: - Too much attention to FDR's daily schedule and routine - Limited coverage of Eleanor Roosevelt's role - Some repetitive passages Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (177 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) One reader noted: "Woolner makes a convincing case that FDR remained sharp and engaged until near the end." Another wrote: "The day-to-day minutiae sometimes overshadows the larger historical narrative." The book received positive reviews in major newspapers, with The New York Times calling it "carefully researched and highly readable."

Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life by Robert Dallek This biography examines FDR's leadership through both domestic and wartime challenges with focus on his decision-making process and relationships with world leaders.

Six Months in 1945: FDR, Stalin, Churchill, and Truman--from World War to Cold War by Michael Dobbs The book chronicles the transition period from FDR's death through the end of World War II and the emergence of Cold War tensions.

Churchill and Roosevelt: The Complete Correspondence by Warren F. Kimball This collection presents the complete wartime communications between the two leaders, revealing their strategic planning and personal relationship during World War II.

The Mantle of Command: FDR at War, 1941-1942 by Nigel Hamilton The book details Roosevelt's military leadership during the critical first year of American involvement in World War II.

His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt by Joseph Lelyveld This account focuses on FDR's physical decline while managing both the war effort and domestic politics during his final year.

🌟 During FDR's final 100 days, he traveled over 14,000 miles for the Yalta Conference despite his failing health and doctors' warnings against making the journey. 🌟 Author David B. Woolner serves as Senior Fellow and Resident Historian of the Roosevelt Institute and Professor of History at Marist College, dedicating much of his career to studying the Roosevelt era. 🌟 FDR's final public speech was delivered to Congress upon returning from Yalta while seated in a wheelchair - the only time he ever appeared before Congress without hiding his disability. 🌟 In his last months, Roosevelt was so ill that his blood pressure reached dangerous levels of 240/130, yet he kept this information from nearly everyone, including his own vice president Harry Truman. 🌟 The book reveals that Eleanor Roosevelt learned of her husband's long-term affair with Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd during these final months, as Rutherfurd was present when FDR died at Warm Springs, Georgia.