Robin Gerber’s alternate history novel is based on an intriguing premise: as he takes the stage to accept the Democratic presidential nomination in 1952, Adlai Stevenson suffers a fatal heart attack. Facing a fractious convention and a politically formidable Republican nominee, the party’s leaders turn to Eleanor Roosevelt and ask her to serve as their standard-bearer. After reluctantly accepting the offer, Roosevelt begins a spirited campaign with the help of a rising young campaign manager and the devotion of her many passionate supporters. Yet in addition to facing long odds and a politically formidable Republican nominee, she must also undertake an additional challenge that no nominee before her has ever had to address: that of convincing Americans that the nation is indeed ready for a female president.

Like science fiction in general, alternate history is a genre dominated by the interests and attitudes of men. Because of this, many scenarios focus on wars or the decisions made by political leaders. This is what makes Gerber’s book so refreshingly different. Her focus on Eleanor Roosevelt offers a nice change of pace, supplying an imaginative speculation of the type that distinguishes the best works of the genre. Having written a previous, nonfiction book on Roosevelt, , she has an easy familiarity with the particulars of her life, which allows Gerber to develop her into a well-defined character. Yet this book is about more than just Eleanor Roosevelt. Published in 2008, it advances a none-too-subtle argument that the time has come for a woman to be elected president – a point that Gerber makes explicit with a chance encounter between Roosevelt and a young Hillary Rodham.

Though such a detail may date the novel somewhat, Gerber’s novel transcends this point to offer a dramatic narrative of a election that might have been. Based as much as possible on the words and actions of the people at the times, it does not sacrifice plausibility in speculating on what a Eleanor Roosevelt candidacy might have looked like, nor does it sacrifice readability to offer a dry recitation of details. Though some of her other characters are not as well defined as her central protagonist, Gerber has written an enjoyable book that is well worth the time of fans of political novels and alternate history tales. ( )

This book was our November book club selection. The overall feel from the group was that it made an interesting what if scenario, but it seemed to get bogged down by to much detail but not enough depth in the believability of the idea of Eleanor Roosevelt running against Eisenhower. There were some good discussions on politics of the time and present day. We did agree that Roosevelt and Clinton are both women you either love or you hate not much middle ground. It was also interesting to see what parts had some basis to history and what parts were fictionalized. ( )

Probably mostly because I'm another idolizer of ER, I LOVED this book that I happened across on the remainder shelf. I also particularly appreciate the historical authenticity — nobody real was made to do anything out of character, real published documents were used as they are, I note at least 2 blurbs in my copy by figures named in the book, and I can vouch for Gerber's spot-on descriptions of Val Kill and its atmosphere.

I was born about 6 months after the novel ends, into a family where I grew up thinking of Ike as another kind of grandfather and was shocked to learn in 1960 that he wasn't President for life. I love (and hate) thinking how my life might have been different if, as in the novel, we'd had this style of Presidential campaigning all those years earlier. Yep, I think Gerber depicts the kind of campaign Obama ran, which has changed our country forever, and that Hillary, much as I wanted to see a woman win, never could have. ( )

The beginning of the book seemed a bit fluffy, lots of flashbacks to Eleanor’s time with FDR to set her political and emotional background. However, the book quickly gained strength and by the midway point I hardly wanted to put it down. I could hardly believe when I was finished that I had already read over 300 pages!

For the full review:
http://devourerofbooks.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/eleanor-vs-ike-book-review/

Overall, it is a quick and entertaining “what if”. ( )

Nice, breezy "what-if" novel set around the 1952 presidential race pitting Ike, the "conquering hero general" against international stateswoman Eleanor Roosevelt. Depicts a steel-willed Roosevelt who runs her campaign over against the politically expedient and politically savvy. A gratifiying read for this erstwhile liberal. A bit too predictable -- you knew from the start that there would be little doubt that Eleanor would prevail -- but nevertheless satisfying in its positive tone and extremely hopeful message. Full of fascinating factoids and real, thought-provoking quotes from the real players in that election. Interesting insights into the character and legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt's political and social thought. All in all, a fun read. ( )