Unsurpassed

Franklin Roosevelt was not only the first US president to be covered by public opinion polls, but his ratings have consistently surpassed those of all subsequent sitting presidents, save for John F. Kennedy. Even US involvement in World War II--and its heavy human toll--did nothing to diminish his popularity. Yet, Roosevelt has been relatively ignored by scholars of public opinion. In this book, Helmut Norpoth takes an in-depth look at how FDR's leadership swayed public opinion, comparing his experience to his successors to draw broad conclusions about what makes for successful presidential politics.