New Books Network David T. Beito, "FDR: A New Political Life" (Open Universe, 2025)
Nov 7, 2025
In this engaging conversation, David T. Beito, a historian and author, dives into his new book on Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Beito reveals surprising details about FDR's involvement in early scandal and his often ruthless political strategies. He discusses Roosevelt's complicated relationship with civil liberties and his pragmatism during the New Deal, including the challenges he faced with banking crises. The conversation also touches on FDR's contentious policies and their long-term impacts on American governance.
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Newport Entrapment Scandal
- David T. Beito recounts the Newport sex scandal where FDR led an entrapment-style probe into same-sex activity at the naval base.
- The Senate report blamed Roosevelt and the investigation ruined many sailors' careers and benefits.
Ends Over Means Pattern
- Beito argues the scandal reveals FDR's pattern: he prioritized outcomes over procedural limits throughout his career.
- This goal-first attitude presaged civil liberties compromises during wartime and other aggressive policies.
Pushback Against Press Suppression
- Beito recounts FDR's push to silence pre-war non-interventionists and target major metropolitan newspapers.
- Attorney General Francis Biddle and Justice Department lawyers actively resisted those plans.
