Copyright: 2003
Publisher: Portfolio - Penguin Group
ISBN: 1-59184-014-7

In Nothing to Fear: Lessons in Leadership from FDR,  Alan Axelrod presents us with the intersection of modern day business leadership and the historical evidence of this great leader.  I am certainly not in line with many of the political stances of President Roosevelt, nor do I agree with some of my more liberal friends who believe he was the greatest President in history.  I do however believe that he may qualify as one of, if not the greatest leader to hold the position.  Axelrod's book is in my personal library and it provides a wealth of short yet powerful lessons in leadership. 

Lessons I learned

  • Effective leaders express what we will do, not what we should do. (p.7)
  • A function of leadership is the definition of community.  Answer the question: Who are we? (p.12)
  • The Sacred Fire.  What element, once lost, would destroy the essence of the organization?  You must protect the Sacred Fire.(p.20)
  • Persuasion:  Explain what you want.  Show that you understand.  Allow followers to choose to give you what you want. (p.34)
  • Whatever the demands of the present, don't forsake the future. (p.37)
  • The first stages of effective leadership action include Acknowledge, Understand and Confront. (p.44)
  • Radicalism is change by departing from the past; Innovation is change that builds on the past. (p. 130)
  • How to think outside the box?  Don't Think, Rethink.  (p. 131)
  • "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson (p. 134)
  • Constructive criticism.  Cheerleading is uncritical in expressing approval.  The cynic is uncritical in finding fault.  The constructive critic chooses carefully. (p. 184)

Quote

"Never in the history of the world has a nation lost its democracy by a successful struggle to defend its democracy... Our freedom has shown its ability to survive war, but our freedom would never survive surrender." 
-- FDR (Radio address announcing an unlimited national emergency, May 27, 1941)

Observation

The President was gearing up for war long before we were attacked.  He seemed intent on finishing a war that was no longer raging.  The American people were not inclined to go to war until after we were attacked.  Even then however, the American people wanted to go after the people who attacked us... not the nation from the previous war that the President wanted to fight.  Pushing, pulling and dragging the American people into a conflict with a nation that never attacked us on our soil, the President fully engulfed our nation in a struggle which we were not equipped to fight. 

If you are a liberal, you probably assume I am talking about President George W. Bush and Iraq.  In fact, I am talking about President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  You see, FDR held the first peacetime draft before we were ever attacked.  The American people wanted no part in WWII and yet he went ahead with preparations for the war.  Then when we were attacked, it was Japan, not Germany that attacked us.  Instead of fighting Japan, we went to Europe with our "Europe First" war methodology.  Many criticized FDR for this decision, but historians accurately view it as a brilliant decision. 

The amazing thing about America during WWII was how we all got behind our President even when we didn't agree with him. The one thing we knew was that America must survive.  Working together to that end, we fought off an evil aggressor like the world has never seen. 

I want to know from my liberal friends why they are so grateful that all Americans supported "their guy" in WWII, but they can't find it in themselves to love America enough to support "the other guy" now? 

Conclusion

Despite my political leanings, I love reading the speeches and radio addresses of President Roosevelt.  I believe he was a truly great American and I admire and respect him for his leadership in difficult times.  I heartily recommend this wonderful little book by Alan Axelrod, you will not be disappointed to own a copy!