If there were any doubts that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the greatest scoundrels of American political history, David Beito‘s new biography should settle the issue. Beito—whose previous book, The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights, did yeoman’s work exposing Roosevelt’s depredations against civil liberties—has now written FDR: A New Political Life, and it should help FDR get the villainous reputation he deserves.
Treachery was the consistent theme of Roosevelt’s political life. During his 1932 presidential campaign, FDR signaled that he would not take the United States currency off the gold standard, but he wasted no time in betraying that pledge when he took office. On April 5, 1933, Roosevelt commanded all citizens to surrender their gold to the government. No citizen was permitted to own more than $100 in gold coins, except for rare coins with special value for collectors. Anyone who possessed more than 5 gold Double Eagle coins faced 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If you distrusted the government and sought to retain your gold, Roosevelt condemned you as a “hoarder.” But after the confiscation, FDR announced that gold would be henceforth valued at $35 an ounce, not $20 an ounce—thereby providing a windfall for the government.
Hellbound and Down 