Frank and Al

The inspiring story of an unlikely political partnership that transformed the Democratic Party and led to the New Deal

In Frank and Al, Terry Golway portrays the dramatic untold story of two political giants, Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt, who formed an unlikely alliance in the early 20th century that transformed the Democratic Party. Smith, a proud son of the Tammany Hall political machine, and Roosevelt, a country squire, bridged the chasm between the party''s urban machines and its populists and patricians.

Dominating politics in New York for a quarter-century, Smith and FDR ran against each other for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1932, setting off one of the great feuds in American history. Yet, it was Smith who persuaded a reluctant Roosevelt to run for governor in 1928, setting the stage for FDR''s dramatic comeback after contracting polio in 1921. Together, they took their party and American politics out of the 19th century and created a place in civic life for the New America of the 20th century.

Golway delivers a timely narrative on the centennial of Smith''s first election as governor, a captivating tale that The Wall Street Journal calls "history told the old-fashioned way" with "vivid" scenes and "plentiful" anecdotes. Frank and Al is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American politics and the rise of the country''s welfare state.