For readers of Hidden Figures, A Woman of No Importance, and Eleanor: A Life, the first-ever biography of Anna Marie Rosenberg, whose influence on American history, from the New Deal to the Cold War and beyond, has never before been told. Her life ran parallel to the front lines of history—and her story, though forgotten for too long, is extraordinary, inspiring, and uniquely American.
As FDR's special envoy to Europe in World War II, she went where FDR couldn't go. She was among the first Allied women to enter a liberated concentration camp and stood in the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's mountain retreat days after itscapture. She guided the direction of the G.I. Bill of Rights and safeguarded the Manhattan Project. Though Anna Rosenberg emerged from modest immigrant beginnings, equipped with only high school education, she was the real power behind national policies critical to America winning the war and prospering afterward. Astonishingly, her story remains largely forgotten.
With a disarming mix of charm and Tammany-hewn toughness, Rosenberg began her career in public relations in 1920s Manhattan. She became friends with Eleanor Roosevelt, who recommended Anna to her husband, who was running for Governor of New York. As FDR's unofficial adviser, Rosenberg soon wielded enormous influence—no less potent for being subtle. Roosevelt dubbed her "my Mrs. Fix-It." Her extraordinary career continued after his death.
By 1950, she was tapped to become the assistant secretary of defense—the highest position ever held by a woman in the US military—prompting Senator Joe McCarthy to wage an unsuccessful smear campaign against her. In 1962, she organized JFK's controversial birthday gala, sitting beside him while Marilyn Monroe sang. Until the end of her life, Rosenberg fought tirelessly for causes from racial integration to women's equality to national healthcare.
More than the story of one remarkable woman, The Confidante explores who gets to be at the forefront of history, and why. Though she was not quite a hidden figure, Rosenberg's position as "the power behind," combined with her status as an immigrant and a Jewish woman, served to diminish her importance. In this inspiring, impeccably researched, and revelatory book, Christopher C. Gorham, at last, affords Anna Rosenberg the recognition she so richly deserves.
"This is a must-read for everyone. Christopher Gorham has written a book that is a fascinating look at the years between The Great Depression and The Cold War, and one woman who had a huge impact on all of it. A woman whose name we should all know." – The Gloss
"The Confidante" provides a record of the most important events of the 20th century…. through the Great Depression, Progressive Era politics, World War II and its aftermath, and even the civil-rights and women's movements. Rosenberg was always there, often at the beating heart of the action. …. I found myself engrossed and amazed by the "sparrow of a woman" and her endless energy. "The Confidante" covers four decades and some of the most future-shaping legislation ever passed by the U.S. government. Through it all, we can see Rosenberg's fingerprints across the nation's major events. As a result, Mr. Gorham's biography is also a mystery. How could we have forgotten such a woman?" – The Wall Street Journal
"(Anna Rosenberg's) immense influence on American politics, multiple wars, and America's public affairs, long overlooked, is once again brought to the forefront in this wonderfully told book, perfect for readers of history, biography, politics, and feminism." – Booklist
"An adviser to presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Lyndon Johnson, Anna Rosenberg (1899-1983) was a prominent national figure whose present obscurity is perplexing. Gorham, a lawyer and American history teacher…. delivers a vivid account of her eventful life. …Even history buffs may be surprised…. A well-deserved first biography." – Kirkus Reviews
