New Deal or Raw Deal?

New Deal or Raw Deal? examines President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signature economic recovery program during the Great Depression. Historian Burton Folsom Jr. analyzes FDR's policies through economic data, personal accounts, and government records from the 1930s. The book traces how Roosevelt's administration developed and implemented major New Deal initiatives, including Social Security, labor laws, and public works programs. Folsom chronicles the political dynamics between FDR's inner circle, Congress, business leaders, and citizens during this transformative period. Government expansion, economic intervention, and shifts in federal power take center stage as Folsom investigates the New Deal's short and long-term impacts. The narrative incorporates previously unpublished sources to reconstruct key decisions and events of the era. This historical analysis raises fundamental questions about the role of government in American life and the true effectiveness of large-scale federal programs. The book contributes to ongoing debates about economic policy and presidential power during times of national crisis.

Readers found the book presented detailed research and statistics challenging the effectiveness of FDR's New Deal policies. Many highlighted Folsom's use of primary sources and economic data to support his arguments. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex economic concepts - Documentation of lesser-known New Deal failures - Comparisons between Hoover and FDR's approaches - Analysis of how policies affected unemployment Common criticisms: - Perceived conservative bias in interpretations - Selective use of statistics - Limited coverage of New Deal successes - Focus on criticism without proposing alternatives Ratings: Amazon: 4.7/5 (686 reviews) Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,054 ratings) Representative review: "Well-researched but one-sided. The book makes valid points about New Deal failures but downplays its social impact." - Goodreads reviewer "Strong on facts but reads like a political argument rather than pure history." - Amazon reviewer

The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes This economic history examines the Great Depression through stories of individuals and policies that challenge traditional New Deal narratives.

FDR's Folly by Jim Powell The book analyzes how Roosevelt's New Deal policies extended the Great Depression and impacted American institutions.

The Great Depression: A Diary by Benjamin Roth A first-hand account from a lawyer chronicles the economic impact of Depression-era policies on everyday Americans and businesses.

When Washington Crossed the Delaware and FDR Crossed the Constitution by Burt Solomon The text explores FDR's constitutional overreach during the New Deal through examination of Supreme Court cases and political maneuvering.

The End of Prosperity by Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore This economic analysis connects New Deal interventions to modern fiscal policies and their effects on market dynamics.

🔷 The book challenges the popular view of FDR's New Deal, revealing that unemployment remained above 20% for most of the 1930s despite massive government spending programs. 🔷 Author Burton Folsom Jr. served as Charles Kline Professor of History at Hillsdale College and has written several other books examining critical periods in American economic history. 🔷 The research exposes how FDR used the IRS to target political opponents, including former Republican Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon and newspaper publisher Moses Annenberg. 🔷 During the period covered in the book, federal spending increased by 83% between 1936 and 1939, creating the largest peacetime deficit in American history up to that point. 🔷 The book reveals that Henry Morgenthau Jr., FDR's Treasury Secretary, privately admitted in 1939 that the New Deal policies had failed to end the Depression, stating "We have tried spending money... and it does not work."