The confidante The untold story of the woman who helped win WWII and shape modern America

The incredible life and great achievements of Anna M. Rosenberg are brought to life here, the first biography of an unparalleled woman. A Jewish Hungarian immigrant to the U.S. at the dawn of the twentieth century, Anna Rosenberg grew to become the confidante of presidents, assistant secretary of defense, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's special envoy to Europe during WWII, and the true force and guiding hand behind multiple national policies, from influencing the New Deal to forming the G.I. Bill. Though time, sexism, and Anna's willingness to be the "the power behind" rather that the "leading face" of many endeavors have led to her name being forgotten, her immense influence on American politics, multiple wars, and America's public affairs, long overlooked, is once again brought to the forefront in this wonderfully told book, perfect for readers of history, biography, politics, and feminism.

High school history teacher Gorham debuts with an eye-opening biography of presidential adviser Anna Rosenberg (1899--1983). Born in Budapest, Rosenberg immigrated with her family to New York City in 1912. After high school, she joined the suffragist and labor movements and became the protégé of Tammany Hall boss James Hagan after confronting him over his opposition to women's suffrage. Eventually, Rosenberg opened her own business as a labor mediator and drew the attention of Eleanor Roosevelt and her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who hired her as an adviser for first his gubernatorial, then presidential campaigns. Installed by Roosevelt as the "Labor Czar of Buffalo" in 1942, Rosenberg developed an influential plan to mobilize women workers to make up for labor shortages that were compromising the war effort. Following D-Day, Roosevelt sent Rosenberg to Europe to interview U.S. servicemen to help them "find places in the civilian economy upon their return," a mission that led to the creation of the G.I. Bill. In later administrations, Rosenberg helped remobilize the military for the Korean War and counseled President Johnson on creating a more equitable draft during the Vietnam War. Gorham also delves into Rosenberg's tangles with anticommunist senator Joseph McCarthy and suggests that "sexism and ethnic prejudice" have diminished her place in the historical record. This is a fitting tribute to a trailblazer. (Feb.)Correction: The author's name was misspelled in an earlier version of this review.

An enthusiastic life of "the first person, man or woman, to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom." An adviser to presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson, Anna Rosenberg (1899-1983) was a prominent national figure whose present obscurity is perplexing. Gorham, a lawyer and American history teacher, doesn't fully explain why she is often forgotten, but he delivers a vivid account of her eventful life. The daughter of Jewish immigrants, Rosenberg thrived in cutthroat Tammany Hall and, as a sideline, established one of America's first public relations agencies, quickly acquiring the reputation as a problem solver. Still in her 20s, she caught the attention of Roosevelt, who was beginning his rise in New York politics. FDR loved workaholic loyalists who were also entertaining companions during his off hours. Even history buffs may be surprised as Gorham recounts the next 20 years, during which Rosenberg, a member of FDR's inner circle, became a leading "fixer," exerting more influence than Cabinet members (whom FDR tended to ignore). Her name appeared regularly in newspaper articles, editorials, and national magazine profiles. According to one journalist, "Mrs. Rosenberg was regarded in Washington as possibly the closest person to President Roosevelt with the exception of Harry Hopkins." Other than John F. Kennedy, Roosevelt's predecessors respected her talents, and Gen. George Marshall asked her personally to become assistant secretary of defense, his chief aide. Rosenberg's sense of justice took precedence over political expediency, and Gorham chronicles her leading role in the creation of the GI Bill and desegregation of wartime industries, the armed forces, and schools. An unabashed liberal with no national constituency, she became a lightning rod for extremists during the McCarthy era. Readers may prefer to skim long sections devoted to attacks by right-wing columnists and congressmen during the 1950s, but they may be pleasantly surprised to learn that today's extremists are hardly unique in their often baseless attacks. A well-deserved first biography. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.