This work investigates whether Franklin D. Roosevelt’s foreign policy decisions during his presidency were calculated strategic maneuvers or failures of moral and political leadership. Robert Dallek, a prominent historian, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to analyze the complexities of Roosevelt's decision-making process. He argues that Roosevelt functioned as a pragmatic master politician, balancing domestic political constraints with the urgent requirements of global conflict to maintain a necessary national consensus.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the complexities of mid-20th-century American diplomacy. Readers often note the academic rigor and the balanced, evidence-based approach Dallek employs when addressing controversial historical debates.