Though practically unknown to the public today, Stephen T. Early was one of the most influential men in mid-twentieth-century America. As the press secretary of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he was chiefly responsible for getting the president's message out to the press and he helped to shape Roosevelt's image in the eyes of Americans through the dramatic years of the Great Depression and World War II. It is no exaggeration to say that, had there been no Stephen Early, the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the longest-serving president in U.S. history, would probably have been limited to one term.In an engrossing narrative that brings to life key people and events during a calamitous time in American history, journalist Linda Lotridge Levin documents how Early remade what had been just a routine White House briefing function into the modern high-visibility role of today's presidential press secretary. A highly respected Associated Press reporter, Early launched a breathtaking reorganization of the way government informed the public. For the first time, the president held two news conferences a week. Under Early's guidance, the press evolved from just print journalism into the use of radio and newsreels, so he was the first press secretary to have the luxury and the frustrations of dealing with both broadcast and print media on a daily basis. Among his most important contributions, Early helped the president create the famous "Fireside Chats," which were a hallmark of Depression era and wartime America. Levin chronicles Early's life-long loyalty to Roosevelt and their close but sometimes-tumultuous personal and professional relationship, from Roosevelt's appearance on the political stage as a New York delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1912 through his four terms as President of the United States. She offers many intriguing glimpses into the personalities within Roosevelt's inner circle, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Louis Howe, Harry Truman, and others. Levin concludes this engaging story of Early's influential life with an account of his state funeral, which was attended by President Truman, the vice president, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, the secretaries of defense, army, and navy, and many other dignitaries. The Making of FDR is a long-overdue account of one of the last century's most important government officials. ""A smart and definitive Early biography… In splendid detail, Levin demonstrates how Early…altered the way the…president communicated with the people, moving above and beyond print journalists to explore the full potential of newsreels and radio... This is a must-read for anyone interested in FDR and his era or in the power of presidential image makers." --Publishers Weekly “A quick, insightful profile of an important journalistic figure. Recommended.” --Library Journal Linda Lotridge Levin (Kingston, RI), professor of journalism and chair of the Department of Journalism at the University of Rhode Island, is the author of Mass Communication Law in Rhode Island; To Understand: The History of a 10-Year Dialogue Between New England and Soviet Editors; and Rhode Island: The Independent State; as well as numerous articles in The Providence Journal and other publications. THE MAKING OF FDR The Story of Stephen T. Early, America's First Modern Press Secretary By Linda Lotridge Levin Prometheus Books Copyright © 2008 Linda Lotridge Levin All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-59102-577-1 Contents Preface.........................................................91. The Journalist Meets the Politician..........................172. Mr. Early Goes to War........................................303. The 1920 Campaign............................................444. Back to the Associated Press.................................625. Preparing for the White House................................866. Launching the Juggernaut.....................................917. The Honeymoon................................................1078. Hobgoblins...................................................1199. On Behalf of the President...................................13110. The 1936 Campaign: To Stay or Leave.........................14111. Court Packing and Other Problems............................15912. Good Friends and Job Offers.................................17213. Moving Toward World Chaos...................................18314. Fatal Days in Europe, Decisions at Home.....................20215. The Sloan Affair............................................22116. "Just Between Us 'Girls'"...................................23417. Pearl Harbor................................................25118. "Serve in Silence"..........................................27219. "The Travelingest President"................................30120. Morningside Drive...........................................31721. Extracting News from Oysters................................33422. "The Great White Jail".