Herbert Hoover's "magnum opus"—at last published nearly fifty years after its completion—offers a revisionist reexamination of World War II and its cold war aftermath and a sweeping indictment of the "lost statesmanship" of Franklin Roosevelt. Hoover offers his frank evaluation of Roosevelt's foreign policies before Pearl Harbor and policies during the war, as well as an examination of the war's consequences, including the expansion of the Soviet empire at war's end and the eruption of the cold war against the Communists.

The volume by President Hoover is organized as follows: Introduction The Origins of the Depression 1. The Origins of the Great Depression 2. We Attempt to Stop the Orgy of Speculation 3. Our Weak American Banking System 4. Federal Government Responsibilities and Functions in Economic Crises Remedial Measures 5. A Summary of the Evolution of the Depression 6. First Phase of the Depression – October, 1929, to April, 1931 7. Second Phase of the Depression-April to August, 1931 8. Third Phase of the Depression—August to November, 1931 9. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 10. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 11. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 12. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 13. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 14. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 15. Fourth Phase of the Depression-November, 1931, to July, 1932 (Cont’d) 16. Action From the Adjournment of Congress in July Until the 17. Fifth Phase of the Depression-September, 1932, to March, 1933 18. Ominous Economic Signs The Presidential Election of 1932 19. The Background of the 1932 Campaign 20. The Campaign Debate 21. Charges of Responsibility for the Depression 22. The “Hoover Did Nothing” Issue 23. The Federal Expenses and Tax Issue 24. The Gold Standard and Managed Currency Issues 25. The Tariff Issue 26. Agricultural Issues 27. Labor, Relief, and Public Works Issues 28. The Prohibition Issue 29. Business Regulation Issues 30. Collectivism by “Planned Economy” 31. Home Again The Aftermath 32. The Aftermath 33. Building the Trojan Horse of Emergency 34. The Recognition of Russia and the World Economic Conference in 1933 35. Usurpation of Power 36. Collectivism Comes to the Currency—and Its Consequences 37. Fascism Comes to Agriculture 38. Fascism Comes to Business—With Dire Consequences 39. Fascism Comes to Labor—With Consequences 40. Introduction to Socialism Through Electrical Power 41. Direct Relief and Public Works 42. Collectivism by Thought Control and Smear 43. Some Good Actions 44. The Expenditures, Accounting and Statistics 45. The Consequences

Covering an eventful period in Herbert Hoover's career—and, more specifically, his life as a political pugilist from 1933 to 1955—this previously unknown memoir was composed and revised by the 31st president during the 1940s and 1950s—and then, surprisingly, set aside. This work recounts Hoover's family life after March 4, 1933, his myriad philanthropic interests, and, most of all, his unrelenting “crusade against collectivism” in American life. Aside from its often feisty account of Hoover's political activities during the Roosevelt and Truman eras, and its window on Hoover's private life and campaigns for good causes, The Crusade Years invites readers to reflect on the factors that made his extraordinarily fruitful postpresidential years possible. The pages of this memoir recount the story of Hoover's later life, his abiding political philosophy, and his vision of the nation that gave him the opportunity for service. This is, in short, a remarkable saga told in the former president's own words and in his own way that will appeal as much to professional historians and political scientists as it will lay readers interested in history.

In this book, Hoover expounds and vigorously defends what has come to be called American exceptionalism: the set of beliefs and values that still makes America unique. He argues that America can make steady, sure progress if we preserve our individualism, preserve and stimulate the initiative of our people, insist on and maintain the safeguards to equality of opportunity, and honor service as a part of our national character.