Ascent to Power

How Truman Emerged from Roosevelt's Shadow and Remade the World

De: David L. Roll

Narrado por: Mark Bramhall

**One of Foreign Affairs's Best Books of 2024**

From Franklin Roosevelt’s final days through Harry Truman’s extraordinary transformation, this is the enthralling story behind the most consequential presidential transition in US history.

When Roosevelt, in failing health, decided to run for a fourth term, he gave in to the big city Democratic bosses and reluctantly picked Senator Truman as his vice president, a man he barely knew. Upon FDR’s death in April 1945, Truman, after only 82 days as VP, was thrust into the presidency. Utterly unprepared, he faced the collapse of Germany, a Europe in ruins, the organization of the UN, a summit with Stalin and Churchill, and the question of whether atomic bombs would be ready for use against Japan. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union was growing increasingly hostile towards US power. Truman inherited FDR’s hope that peace could be maintained through cooperation with the Soviets, but he would soon learn that imitating his predecessor would lead only to missteps and controversy.

Spanning the years of transition, 1944 to 1948, Ascent to Power illuminates Truman’s struggles to emerge as president in his own right. Yet, from a relatively unknown Missouri senator to the most powerful man on Earth, Truman’s legacy transcends. With his come-from-behind campaign in the fall of 1948, his courageous civil rights advocacy, and his role in liberating millions from militarist governments and brutal occupations, Truman’s decisions during these pivotal years changed the course of the world in ways so significant we live with them today.

©2024 David L. Roll (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“With a complete mastery of the sources, David Roll takes us on the gripping journey from Harry Truman’s election as vice-president in 1944 through to his death, rightly concentrating on the crucial years that ended in his stunning re-election as president in 1948. Roll has a fine sense of all the key figures around Truman, but it is his insights into the man himself that are so valuable. Well-researched, well-written and intensely readable, this book confirms Truman as a giant of American—indeed global—history.”—Andrew Roberts, New York Times bestselling author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny

“The sudden death of Franklin Roosevelt shook the world; the recognition that power would pass to Harry Truman shook it even more. But the untested Truman turned out to be just what America and the world needed as World War II segued into the Cold War. No one has told this vital story more thoroughly or with greater verve and insight than David Roll does in this fine book.”—H. W. Brands, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The General vs. the President

“After winning World War II, America rebuilt the world—including its enemies. How that happened is one of the great stories of any age. Equally remarkable is how Harry Truman, a modest man of the people, took over from the great FDR to achieve this miracle. The author of brilliant biographies of Harry Hopkins and George C. Marshall, lawyer-turned-historian David Roll brings a clear and sharp eye for evidence and a deep human understanding to telling this tale. As the global order Truman built teeters at the brink, Ascent to Power could not be more relevant.”—Evan Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Road to Surrender

Truman defeated Republican use of Dark Psychology

Excellent road map to defeat Republicans use of Dark Psychology of today and future. i hope the democratic party of today has the guts to do what Truman did. You have to counter Dark Psychology with truth, call out the lies, and blame them for what they have done and will do! Go All In!!! my suggestion is look up Dark Psychology and spread the word , republican use of Dark Psychology, most people don't realize they are being manipulated with Dark Psychology

Truman in historical context

This author presents Truman in a way that captures such an interesting time in history. he explains better than anyone else the order to integrate the army and the weaknesses of that order. Truman’s outrage at the brutal blinding of a World War II black soldier by racists is often forgotten among the many episodes occurring during this time. Truman recognized the country of Israel is counterpoint with his private almost traditional antisemitism.

OK, history about Truman

The book is good, but his anti-Semitic bias is quite heavy at the end and a lot of his facts at the end are just not the same thing as truth

The integrity and honesty of a humble man

A well researched book that clearly exemplified that Truman was undoubtedly a highly successful president

Interesting Story

Interesting story about Truman’s ascent to the Presidency, and the challenges of filling the shoes of a strong leader while creating one’s own legacy.

Truman’s courage is clear

This book is an excellent story of the transition. It’s clear from reading of Truman’s even though he wasn’t prepared for the Presidency.

When Character Mattered

An engrossing study of a presidential transition during the most stressful circumstances imaginable. The world was lucky that FDR was president during WW2 and even luckier that Harry Truman was capable of measuring up to an impossible task with humility and integrity. Mark Bramhall’s narration really informs the text with gravitas.

Excellent new look at the time of the FDR - HST Presidential transition.

No dislikes. Good narration. This book targets the transition from the administration of FDR to that of HST and does it very well.
I have read many biographies of FDR but only one of HST. Because of its focus, this book has provided me with information I did not have.
Well done!

Very good

Well done . Different insight into Truman about how he became one of our greatest presidents.

Repeat of George Marshall

This book repeated many sections of George Marshall verbatim, so I bought much of the same book twice. The premise is that this book concerns the transition from FDR to Truman, but much of the book is generic to WWII and its aftermath and becomes a more general discussion just taken in large sections from the George Marshall book. The other book, which I recommend, covers Truman in some detail since Marshall was Truman’s Secret of State. Very disappointed in the lack of original content.