Alfred E. Smith: The Happy Warrior

by Christopher M. Finan

Book Overview

A challenging biography of one of America's 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 York's Lower East Side seemed never to have stood a chance. The meteoric rise and dramatic fall of the "Happy...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809030330
• ISBN13: 9780809030330
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Hill & Wang
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

The happy, honest warrior

It is difficult to underestimate the role that Alfred E. Smith played in New York's, indeed America's, development in the first half of the twentieth century. And first time biographer Christopher Finan has conveyed that sense with the skill of a writer of several biographies. What has always struck me as curious is the portrayal of Smith, by other writers, as enigmatic and muckraking (these words appear on the bookjacket). What Finan makes extremely clear is that Smith often wore his heart on his sleeve, his politics were never slick, and his friendships were often based on an almost naive but thorough honesty. What made Smith such an easy target during his career was his openness about his religion, his affection for the working class from which he rose, and his steadfastness to his beliefs, even if they ran contrary to the party's line. If he believed that a certain policy or proposal was the product of a bunch of "crackpots" (one of Smith's favorite words) he said so out of candor, not muckraking or for the sake of political gain. Ultimately, Smith was a firm believer in America, the Constitution, and the democratic process, which Finan clearly demonstrates was becoming almost outdated in an increasingly cynical society. But what Finan ultimately gives us is the human portrait of Al Smith. His tight friendships, his quick wit, his extroverted personality, his devotion to his wife, Katie, and his family, his gratitude to Tammany and the district in which he was raised, and his love for The Sidewalks Of New York all shine through some of the more mundane sections of the book. THE HAPPY WARRIOR is a joyous biography. Like Smith himself, it leaves you with an optimistic and grateful feeling, in spite of all the negative moments that could have overwhelmed it. One of the better biographies in recent years. Rocco Dormarunno Author of THE FIVE POINTS

Well done!

This book has as much information as you would expect for a book of 350 pages, yet reads as enjoyably quickly as a good novel not much more than half its length. I really enjoyed reading about Smith's family life, as well as his connections in, and devotion to, his neighborhood community.Also, as a previous reviewer said, the story of the presidential conventions and elections is excitingly told. The writer doesn't lose the objective voice of scholarly detachment while immersing us in the excitement of the moment.I very much valued the perspective this book gave me on events that are much more well known, such as FDR's rise to power, the ominous reality of the Ku Klux Klan, etc. Al Smith's pivotal influence on American politics and society is brought well into the light and it's a marvelous sight.This is the story of a life lived both humble and large about a very, very American man and a great New Yorker. And it has been told very well. If you are interested in Al Smith, New York, or American politics in general, then this is a great read. Buy it now.

Al Smith: My Hero

I must agree with the other reviewer, Christopher Finan has done a superb job. Not only does he chronicle Alfred E. Smith's life -- from his humble beginning on the Lower East Side, his four terms as NY Governor, his 1928 run for president, his work overseeing the construction of the Empire State Building -- but he illuminates what was behind this spectacular statesman's soul. The Democratic Party will never be the same, nor will any of us, thanks to Alfred E Smith. Any one who wishes to explore the origins and successes of urban politics needs to read this book. Al Smith and his troop of "Happy Warriors" made sure that when times were hard, you weren't left berefted and destituted. That good government helps business and citizens build better societies.

Absorbingly interesting and well-done

Though I only a year ago, on Feb. 2, 2002, read Robert Slayton's biography of Al Smith, I have now read this work and find it just as well done, and in some respects better than Slayton's book. This study seemed to concentrate on the things about Smith's life which are of abiding interest, and dwelt less on minutiae of New York local public affairs no longer of interest or concern. The account of the absorbingly interesting political efforts aimed at the presidency which were pursued in the 1920s are told with verve and clarity. Especially well-done is the account of how the fierce but unsuccessful bid in 1924 for the Democratic nomination turned into the cakewalk to that nomination in 1928. The account of the 1928 campaign is also well told, and one, in hindsight, is amazed by the confident optimism existent in the Smith camp till election day in 1928, in those innocent pre-scientific polling days! Finan also tells the story of the relationship with FDR in the years from 1928 to 1932 with a somewhat different take, showing that what so offended Smith was actually a tactic deemed helpful to FDR's drive for the 1932 nomination. The sad story of the Liberty League connection and the January 1936 "walk" is covered with insight, and what I felt was the appropriate outlook. While the bibliography is a bit thin, and the notes could also have been fuller, this does not detract from the readability of the book. I found few errors, and those minor: on page 203 Senator Marcus Coolidge of Massachusetts is referred to as a Republican, whereas he was in fact a Democrat; on page 255 the implication is that Senator Tom Heflin of Alabama was defeated on Nov. 4, 1930, but his loss came in the Democratic primary much earlier in the year. Anyone who revels in political history of absorbing interest will enjoy this excellent book. I did.