Lewis L. Gould]]>
Paul V. McNutt was famous in the New Deal era and is now forgotten. Dean J. Kotlowski brings McNutt back to life in this engaging, well-researched and readable biography. A must for anyone interested in FDR and his times.
Universityof Virginia - Sidney M. Milkis
Dean Kotlowski has written an intriguing tale of ambition and statesmanship that enriches our understanding of the New Deal. Gracefully written and thoroughly researched, Paul V. McNutt and the Age of FDR takes us through McNutt's reign as governor of Indiana to his 1940 campaign for the White House—a quest that is dramatically thwarted by the larger than life president he served—to his key role in upholding the New Deal causes of economic and international security during and after the Second World War. Along the way, the author examines a gifted Hoosier's critical supporting role in two of the most important dramas of American history—the rise of the welfare state and the expansion of the American empire. Scholars and students of history will appreciate this fresh and probing look at Franklin Roosevelt's path-breaking leadership through the eyes of a loyal subordinate and rival for power.
Lewis L. Gould
"Paul V. McNutt was famous in the New Deal era and is now forgotten. Dean J. Kotlowski brings McNutt back to life in this engaging, well-researched and readable biography. A must for anyone interested in FDR and his times."
James H. Madison
"Paul McNutt was one of the New Deal era's most activist governors. His determined leadership brought change in a state reluctant to change and placed him on the national stage as a presidential contender. Dean Kotlowski's superbly researched biography brings new understanding to McNutt's personal and political life and makes for absorbing reading."
James H. Madison]]>
Paul McNutt was one of the New Deal era's most activist governors. His determined leadership brought change in a state reluctant to change and placed him on the national stage as a presidential contender. Dean Kotlowski's superbly researched biography brings new understanding to McNutt's personal and political life and makes for absorbing reading.
John W. Jeffries
"In this rich book, Dean Kotlowski provides not only the definitive and long-overdue biography of Indiana's Paul McNutt, an important but now largely-overlooked politician and administrator of the 1930s and 1940s, but he also nicely illuminates the era and its politics. Deeply-researched, well-written, and persuasively-argued, this study adds impressively to the historiography of the age of Roosevelt."
John W. Jeffries]]>
In this rich book, Dean Kotlowski provides not only the definitive and long-overdue biography of Indiana's Paul McNutt, an important but now largely-overlooked politician and administrator of the 1930s and 1940s, but he also nicely illuminates the era and its politics. Deeply-researched, well-written, and persuasively-argued, this study adds impressively to the historiography of the age of Roosevelt.
Iwan Morgan]]>
This massively researched and well-written biography finally remedies the surprising absence of a high quality scholarly work on Paul V. McNutt. Dean Kotlowski's definitive study clearly demonstrates McNutt's significance as a politician, colonial administrator, and federal agency chief in the 1930s and 1940s and is very revealing on the strengths and weaknesses of his personal character. In illuminating McNutt's career in such diverse areas of mid-twentieth century politics and government, this masterly volume should become essential reading for scholars interested in the Age of Roosevelt.
Allan M. Winkler
"Kotlowski works in multiple contexts ranging from Indiana history to the development of liberalism in America to internal presidential politics to America's colonial empire, but he also has a feel for McNutt the man. He situates the story within the best recent historiography and makes a good case for exploring FDR from the margins while focusing on McNutt."
Iwan Morgan
"This massively researched and well-written biography finally remedies the surprising absence of a high quality scholarly work on Paul V. McNutt. Dean Kotlowski's definitive study clearly demonstrates McNutt's significance as a politician, colonial administrator, and federal agency chief in the 1930s and 1940s and is very revealing on the strengths and weaknesses of his personal character. In illuminating McNutt's career in such diverse areas of mid-twentieth century politics and government, this masterly volume should become essential reading for scholars interested in the Age of Roosevelt."
University of Virginia - Sidney M. Milkis
"Dean Kotlowski has written an intriguing tale of ambition and statesmanship that enriches our understanding of the New Deal. Gracefully written and thoroughly researched, Paul V. McNutt and the Age of FDR takes us through McNutt's reign as governor of Indiana to his 1940 campaign for the White Housea quest that is dramatically thwarted by the larger than life president he servedto his key role in upholding the New Deal causes of economic and international security during and after the Second World War. Along the way, the author examines a gifted Hoosier's critical supporting role in two of the most important dramas of American historythe rise of the welfare state and the expansion of the American empire. Scholars and students of history will appreciate this fresh and probing look at Franklin Roosevelt's path-breaking leadership through the eyes of a loyal subordinate and rival for power."
Allan M. Winkler]]>
Kotlowski works in multiple contexts ranging from Indiana history to the development of liberalism in America to internal presidential politics to America's colonial empire, but he also has a feel for McNutt the man. He situates the story within the best recent historiography and makes a good case for exploring FDR from the margins while focusing on McNutt.