Content area
Full Text
Levin, Linda L. The Making of FDR: The Story of Stephen T. Early, America's First Modern Press Secretary. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2008. 538 pp. $28.98.
Volumes have been written about Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his twelveyear presidency, but what had not been written until now was the story of his faithful friend and long-time press secretary, Stephen Early. It was he who initiated many White House media relations strategies that have since become commonplace, such as regularly scheduled open press conferences, nationwide radio addresses, and an understanding of the power that media wield in shaping public opinion. Filled with fascinating details culled from Early's diary and scores of other primary and secondary sources, the book recounts his roots and then tells of his exposure to and interaction with Roosevelt, first as a journalist and later as one of his most trusted advisors.
Early's life (1889-1951) and career spanned a fascinating era. He served in World War I, during which time he worked at the Stars and Stripes. His days in the White House started with Roosevelt in 1933...