No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt - The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin

 I've really enjoyed some deep exploration on the lives and times of the Roosevelts.  

After reading The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris, FDR by Jean Edward Smith, watching The Roosevelts by Ken Burns not once but twice, visiting Hyde Park and the FDR library (something I really want to do again), I've now rounded out my study with this book by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

They were imperfect people, but the Roosevelts balanced their imperfections with extraordinary achievements, perhaps overshadowing any other family in American history.

FDR's accomplishments are well documented.  His affair with Lucy Mercer left an indelible mark on his marriage with Eleanor.  But defeating the Axis and winning the war earns him something of a free pass, at least from the perspective of history.

While FDR led the war effort, Eleanor sought to protect vital interests on the home front.  She fought to protect black workers and help them gain better jobs in the armed forces and war production, pushed for women's rights including such original innovations as daycare centers at factories and plants.  She supported countless initiatives across the range of civil and humanitarian issues.  She nagged FDR endlessly to fight for such interests and used her connections to get things done.

And after the war she went on to play a major role in the launch of the United Nations and its declaration of human rights.  

She cold be cold to her husband and family, but her work for the good of the country was steadfast and breakthrough.

An amazing family.  In addition to revisiting Hyde Park I now need to visit Theodore Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill on Long Island to round out my study of the Roosevelts.