Rating: 
Summary: Very good - recommended companion to "The Conquerors"
Review: "Franklin and Winston" was very enjoyable as a bio, political history, war history, and prelude to "The Conquerors". I liked the portrait of Churchill; having recently struggled through the first Manchester volumn, it was refreshing to jump to his war years where he became famous on the world stage, and to see how his childhood affected his adult years. FDR comes across as the politician's politician, equally adept at handling Churchill and Stalin, Eleanor, and the American public. Meacham scours many disparate sources to compile and organize the thoughts and motivations of both leaders.Via Churchill's and FDR's interactions, the book chronicles Great Britain's last dance as a world power and its handing of the baton to the USA.
Rating: 
Summary: One of The Best Books I've Read in Decades
Review: After having thoroughly enjoyed the biographies of these two giants by William Manchester, Martin Gilbert, and James Mcgregor Burns, this book really illuminated their special relationship and the incredible impact that relationship had on the war and its aftermath. This is must reading for any serious student of 20th Century history.
Rating:
Summary: Well-done reference that paints a very close friendship
Review: Although the two men who would most impact the eventual course of the Second World War greatly disliked each other at first (they met decades before either one was a national leader), Jon Meacham is able to interestingly draw a reader into the warming of their friendships and then the critical heat of battle they enjoyed together. Using a wide variety of sources, Meacham's book charts the course of their upbringing on opposite sides of the Atlantic, and the adventurous travels they embarked upon that led to their early encounters. Both were similar in their interests in government and politics, and were very ambitious. Yet, the two men grew toward each other with the passage of time, and by the Second World War, were able to respect the other's personality and intelligence greatly. Whether it was in their late-night drinking sessions as they dreamed up ideas and hatched plots, or aboard their ships off Newfoundland, or to their secret conferences in Casablanca or Teheran or elsewhere, it was the closeness of these two men that formed the glue that bound the Anglo-American alliance against the Axis. This book warmly portrays both men through the author's access to letters, diaries, and people who knew them, and admirably makes both men stand out as if alive. When confronted with the most challenging decisions and situations a leader could ever face, these were two of the greatest the world has ever known, and Meacham has done a brilliant job desribing not only the situations and potential repercussions, but also the two men, their countries and their friendship we still hold dear to this day.
Rating:
Summary: Size does matter - both in heart and muscle
Review: And Winston Churchill knew it. He realized that a contracting British Empire, would need the powerful friendship of the United States to ensure its future. At 94,251 sq. mi., the United Kingdom is roughly the size of Oregon or Colorado, or twice the size of New York State. And Roosevelt realized that an Anglo-American alliance was vital to exporting freedom. In the early days of WWII, when 40,000 Britons were killed during the German Blitz, it was the lone bravery of this small nation and their stout prime minister that held off Hitler's armies.
Unlike the French, Churchill unconditionally ruled out surrender, giving his famous "men will still say, `this was their finest hour'" speech. And unlike the U.S., England's proximity to the Third Reich made isolation impossible.
Yet, despite all his sacrifices and pivotal position, Churchill ruefully played courtier to the imperial Roosevelt. From the title alone, the book shows the power balance between these two nations - a dynamic that still exists today.
Author Jon Meacham illustrates the wartime struggles between an emotional, determined Churchill and the pragmatic, deliberate Roosevelt - chasms these historical titans navigated with persistent grace and purpose. I gave this book four stars, however, because I did not feel that knowing either man's personal life was necessary to understanding their grasp of or response to the Axis threat. Confronting tyranny is what democratic leaders do, no matter their upbringing or home life.
Rating:
Summary: A Nice Book on the Subject
Review: Both of these figures have volumes of biographies and historical books about each person already in print. I recently read that Churchill had 67 biographies. Here is a medium length book easy to read that focuses just on their special relationship. The reading is not too heavy as in some Churchill or Roosevelt biographies so one does not get bogged down, and there is a nice selection of photos and other materials. It is an attractive and written in a smooth fashion. Recommended. Four stars. Jack in Toronto
Rating:
Summary: Economics and Social Progress during FDR?
Review: Don't know much about algebra or geometry of FDR's New Deal; too young then, and insufficient history training. But the social legacy left from the times of WWII and the impact upon thousands of Jewish people who migrated here is unmistakeably hard to justify. Whether by FDR or his cronies, it seems unlikely that the blackballing that occurred during this period is anywhere near the excellence that America expects of her people, and its current views concerning humanity, humane rights, and discrimination. Since discrimination is such a fundamental harm to people, it seems logical that every generation needs to look backward, and clear the cob webs of what may have been unfair discrimination at the time to release the energy and motivation of new opportunities to reconcile unfortunate aspects of history and relegate them to the flaw they were at the time. There is no reason to suspect that in any period of American History, there has ever been a time when discrimination and discriminatory effects were not harmful, and were legitimately defensible, whatever the circumstances. We simply haven't taken up the task to bring the reality into focus as it should be, and as it should have been. How can any society move on without recognizing its own flaws, and choosing to bury them under its rugs of history, and idolization of popular and favorable personalities? Americans have an obligation not to fall into that well from which no one may emerge because of the slippery walls of algae surrounding them.
Rating: 
Summary: A book in search of a reason to exist
Review: First off, I want to say the author can write well - which makes this book even more disappointing.
The stated reason for the book is to discuss the personal relationship between FDR and Churchill - which is one of the most important friendships in history. But it actually doesn't dive in to the personal relationship that much.
And for discussing a friendship, large chunks of time are jumped over with not mutch of a mention - yet during these periods there was ongoing communication between FDR and Churchill.
I think I have learned more about the relationship between these two from reading other books about the war itself - and how command decisions were arrived at at the top.
Bottom line - you will learn little from this book.
Rating:
Summary: Nicely Balanced
Review: For years I've been intrigued by Churchill and his wisdom. Now Jon Meacham has brought these two powerful guys together in a very intriguing way. Unbiased and well written, it really deserved five stars and belongs on every history buff's shelf.
Rating:
Summary: A Friendship That Changed the World!
Review: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill were, probably the two greatest statesman of the twentieth century. A voluminous amount of biographical material is available about both but this is the first book I have seen that focuses on their unique relationship. As Jon Meacham demonstrates, despite the similarities of their backgrounds, Roosevelt and Churchill had very different personalities. And the friendship they formed during the Second World War is both a testament to the strength of personal affection and the needs and positions of the U.S. and Britain respectively. The book begins with a brief review of the life of the personal life of each man. We discover that while Roosevelt was coddled and spoiled by his affectionate mother, Churchill was completely neglected by his aloof unfeeling parents. Perhaps their childhood experiences led to the traits they developed as adults. Roosevelt was secretive and while superficially kind and friendly, seemed to keep his genuine feelings in reserve. Churchill was gregarious and absolutely without guile, as if he needed to constantly get those around him to love him. Prior to the outbreak of the war, in September 1939, Roosevelt and Churchill had met only once, in 1918 when Roosevelt was assistant secretary of the navy and Churchill served in the government of Lloyd George. As Meacham describes, Roosevelt was not impressed and decades later, Churchill did not even remember the meeting. Upon the outbreak of the war, Churchill was returned to the government as First Lord of the admiralty. Roosevelt, having followed Churchill's futile efforts to change British appeasement policy over the course of the decade, recognized a kindred spirit and wrote to Churchill offering him the opportunity to correspond with the president as he thought necessary. This was when the U.S. was still neutral. When Churchill became Prime Minister in the spring of 1940, during the fall of France, he began a remarkable correspondence with Roosevelt that lasted the length of the war. In his letters to FDR, Churchill always referred to himself as "Former Naval Person". As described by Meacham, the letters are for the purpose of business but also laden with affection. The book follows chronological order describing in great detail each of their meetings beginning with the Atlantic Charter conference off the coast of Nova Scotia, prior to Pearl Harbor and then Churchill's trip to the U.S. immediately after Pearl Harbor. It was at this moment, when Churchill spent two weeks in the White House, that he and Roosevelt truly became friends. In one amusing anecdote, one evening, Roosevelt wheeled into Churchill's room to see the Prime Minister stark naked. Embarrassed, FDR apologized and backed away. Churchill reassured him that "The Prime Minister of Great Britain has nothing to hide from the President." But, as Meacham shows, once Stalin came into the picture, things got more complicated. Roosevelt was determined to cultivate a relationship with the Soviet dictator. In order to do so he intentionally froze out Churchill at the Tehran conference and then at Yalta. Indeed, at times he embarrassed and humiliated Churchill all for the purpose of gaining the trust of Stalin. Churchill for his part, seemed to understand that the U.S. and the Soviet Union had become the senior partners with Britain a junior partner at best. While personally hurt by Roosevelt's actions and professionally frustrated by his inability to assert his views diplomatically, Churchill persevered. Never, even at the lowest moments of the relationship, did Churchill lose either his basic respect and admiration for Roosevelt or his visceral understanding that Britain's future was inexorably bound up with that of the United States. In the end we know just how Churchill felt about Roosevelt but we will probably never know just how FDR felt about Churchill. How much of his alternative kindness and coldness towards Churchill was calculated for reasons of state and how much based on genuine affection? This can never be known. This book is a fascinating well-written portrait of a relationship unique in history. It is unlikely two heads of state will ever have occasion in our modern age of supersonic travel to spend weeks at a time together. I recommend it highly to anyone with an interest in history.
Rating:
Summary: WSC and FDR: A friendship between two 20th ca. Heroes!
Review: Franklin is FDR the President of the United States during the bleak days of the Great Depressio, Father of the New Deal and Commander in Chief of America's legions in World War II. In my opinion he is the greatest leader our nation has had since the days of Abraham Lincoln. A man who was unable to walk due to polio but who picked a reeling nation up from the floor of depression to achieve greatness by World War II's end in 1945/
Roosevelt as portrayed by Meacham was a man for all seasons, complex, mercurial and secretive. He was the adored only son of a smothering mother; rich and powerful, an adulterer with Lucy Mercer in his early Washington days as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He was bookish, loved collecting stamps and was fascinated with the navy. He was also adept at manipulating people to meet his goals. His valiant effort to assist England in opening days of the war saved Britain as the bombs fell on London.
WSC was neglected by his parents (his mother Jennie was a wealthy American); wealthy, also complex and famed as an author (Nobel Prize for Literature), politicial genius and a warmhearted chap who enjoyed good cigars, liquor and defeating Hitler and his cronies.
Meacham tells the marvelous story of the complex relationship between these two legendary figures. His approach in anecdotal and liberally fleshed out with speeches they both gave; details of the wartime conferences they held together (along with the dour and devilish dictator Stalin) in such exotic locales as Casablanca, Cairo and Yalta in the Crimea.
I picked up this slim volume and found it to be a joy to read and relish. In our day of mediocre leaders it is refreshing to read Meachanm's lively account of a legendary friendship between
two giants. In a real sense it could be said that without the leadership of Churchill and Roosevelt working together the black
evil of Fascism may have conquered democracy.
This book is an excellent introduction to anyone interested in
the personalities involved in international relationships/
Meacham is a young man whose future in biography is bright!
Pick up a copy of this gem and share it with your children and grandchildren! A hit!
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