High Tension: FDR's Battle to Power America

During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt electrified the entire nation, overcoming opposition from the "Power Trust" and providing affordable electricity to rural Americans. This effort powered the industrial might that won the Second World War and established a model for public-private solutions in areas such as transportation infrastructure, broadband, and health care.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

From the highest halls of power to the remote corners of rural America, this remarkable tale unfolds, showcasing awe-inspiring technological innovation and an epic clash between the captains of a corrupted industry and the most politically astute president in American history. Here is the story behind the greatest peacetime achievement in US history – the electrification of an entire nation under Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

When Roosevelt assumed office in the depths of the Depression, towering high-tension power lines had been spanning the country for decades, bringing a parade of life-altering inventions to urban Americans, including electric lights, radios, refrigerators, and washing machines. However, most rural Americans still lived in the harsh pre-electric era, disconnected from the grid, their lives consumed by backbreaking chores.

High Tension is the captivating story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's relentless battle against the "Power Trust," an intricate Wall Street-controlled web of holding companies. Their goal was to electrify all of America, even as the corrupt captains of the industry and their cronies cried that running lines to rural areas would not be profitable and that in a free market, there would be a divide between the electricity haves and have-nots.

FDR, however, knew better. In this intricate tale of shrewd political maneuvering, towering business figures, and greedy villains, John A. Riggs has meticulously chronicled the greatest balancing act of government intervention with private market forces in the history of democracy. Through his lens, we witness how FDR's efforts paved the way for affordable electricity to reach every American, powering the industrial might that won the Second World War and setting a precedent for public-private solutions in today's critical areas such as transportation infrastructure, broadband, and healthcare.

This electrification revolution transformed the lives of countless individuals, providing access to light, heat, and power, which in turn spurred economic growth and improved quality of life. It also laid the foundation for modern infrastructure development, enabling the spread of urbanization and the expansion of industries across the nation.

In conclusion, High Tension is a captivating account of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's unwavering commitment to electrify all of America. Through his strategic interventions and unwavering determination, Roosevelt not only brought affordable electricity to the nation but also laid the groundwork for a more prosperous and equitable future. This story serves as a testament to the power of government intervention and private market forces in shaping the course of history.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398115439