Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior

Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior by Finan, Christopher M.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780809030330.

A challenging biography of one of Americas most controversial politicians Alfred E. Smith lost the 1928 presidential election by a landslide. Herbert Hoover and the Republicans sailed into office on a wave of prosperity, the promise of a chicken in every pot, and the support of the Ku Klux Klan. The brash, Catholic anti-Prohibitionist from New Yorks Lower East Side seemed never to have stood a chance. The meteoric rise and dramatic fall of the "Happy Warrior" are well known--from his job at the Fulton Fish Market through his years in the state legislature and as four-time governor of New York to his crushing defeat in 1928 and his final, puzzling defection from the Democratic party in 1936. Christopher M. Finan offers new insights into Smiths early years in New York politics and provides a fascinating interpretation of Smiths break with Roosevelt, which, he believes, was more FDRs doing than Smiths. Finan argues persuasively that Roosevelt captured the Democratic nomination in 1932 by seeking the support of Smiths enemies, including the southern, anti-Catholic Democrats who had rejected Smith four years earlier. In addition, Finan skillfully explores Smiths personal life, uncovering compelling information about Smiths financial dealings during his governorship. The result is a full, nuanced study, written with verve and zeal, of an intriguing--and misunderstood--politician.