"ROOSEVELT, Man Of Destiny"’

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 98, 9 May 1941, Page 8

"ROOSEVELT, Man Of Destiny"’

Radio Biography Of America’s Leader

S Imperial Leader, Winston Churchill is already starring over the ZB stations in a radio serial, and now he is joined by the President of the United States in Roosevelt, Man of Destiny, which has already started from 1ZB and 2ZB, and will start from 3ZB on May 16, and from 4ZB on May 23. These biographies of two world figures who are lined up side by side in the present struggle, are the product of the same Australian studios. Roosevelt, Man of Destiny, traces the life story of Roosevelt, from his boyhood up to the outbreak of war in September, 1939, and America’s determination to aid Britain to the utmost. It is at the same time a survey of American politics during the past 40 years and a: panorama of the American scene. The story opens with Roosevelt’s parents wondering what they shall call their expected child, and with Roosevelt pére winning the day and deciding that it shall be a boy and that his name shall be Franklin Delano. When he is just a small lad he is taken with his parents on a tour of the Continent, and in Austria, by the sort of coincidence which no one can object to in a biographical serial, he encounters a gruff old customs inspector,

"What a big boy," says the inspector. "You'll grow up into a fine man, I’m sure. What is your name?" "TI am Franklin Delano Roosevelt," says the toddler. "Who are you?" And the Customs inspector turns out to be the father of Adolf Hitler, "Sooner Be An Admiral" Early episodes are full of significant illustrations of young Roosevelt’s alertness. Introduced to President Grover Cleveland, he ascertains that the President is a Democrat. "Daddy, I’m a Democrat, too, aren’t I?" he asks. "TI hope you'll never be President of the United States," says Cleveland. "I think I’d sooner be an admiral," says young Roosevelt. At the age of ten or twelve, apparently, he had a name for asking penetrating questions. On one occasion he is reported as feeling the responsibility of his family’s riches and observing, "Wouldn’t it be fine if nobody was poor any more, Then we could all be friends." From boyhood the story moves swiftly on through Roosevelt’s life-his education, his early marriage, his first glimpse (Continued on next page)

(Continued from previous page) of politics, his brilliant term as Governor of New York, his desperate fight against infantile paralysis. Later comes the culmination of his years of public life, his election to the Presidency. From then on the story has all the authenticity of a series of newsreel shots, until he makes his dramatic denunciation of war and his prophesy, "Let no one think America can escape. War is a contagion." The script of Roosevelt, Man of Destiny, which necessitated: a_ great amount of biographical research, was the work of J. O. Reid and Irene Sheldon, who worked under the editorship of R. C. Hickling, known in Australian radio for the March of Time feature. y " Roosevelt, Man of Destiny,’ is heard every Tuesday and Friday at 9.15 p.m. from all ZB stations.