was, but the president that forced capitalism to grow up. Kennedy also shows how FDR did not have all his plans for the New Deal sketched out in advance (in fact, the NRA was a lot like Herbert Hoover's plan)s. Instead, FDR was an aristrocratic dilletante (and practical man) who made many things up as he went along. Kennedy does a decent job of sketching out WW2 in terms relevant to U.S. history, in particular explaining the island-hopping in the Pacific in the context of how Americans perceived it in the early 1940s. And his detailed explanation of how long certain American political sectors clung to isolationism makes for a fascinating read. (less) Let me say that one of the things I find fascinating about our current depression (and it is a depression) is that every Tom, Dick and Harry is all of a sudden an economic expert. We're in a situation in which the world's greatest economic minds aren't quite sure what to do, and yet that ass hole who lives next door is convinced that what we're doing is wrong. Speaking of ass holes, I'm amazed at the revision of the Depression currently swirling around out there, not only by psuedo-historian cun ...more Let me say that one of the things I find fascinating about our current depression (and it is a depression) is that every Tom, Dick and Harry is all of a sudden an economic expert. We're in a situation in which the world's greatest economic