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Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

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THE CONFIDANTE


The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win World WWII and Shape Modern America
by Christopher C. Gorham

Life Magazine called Anna Rosenberg “far and away the most important woman in the American government, and perhaps the most important official female in the world.”

From modest immigrant beginnings--lacking even a high school diploma—Anna Rosenberg rose to the highest levels of American power and stayed there, shaping national policies in areas dominated by men: business, the military, and politics. Her impact on the nation, vital to victory and postwar prosperity, can be felt even today.

THE CONFIDANTE: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America (on-sale February 21, 2023) illuminates one of the most influential women in modern American history.

Deeply researched, this is the first book to fully recognize Anna Rosenberg’s remarkable life and contributions to America’s success during and after World War II; it reveals her uncommon skills as a leader, her abilities to observe and connect, and her profound influence in shaping and implementing many of the nation’s most significant public policies.

Anna Rosenberg was at the pivot points of history from the New Deal to the 1960s. As a trusted advisor to Presidents Roosevelt and Truman during WWII, her personnel plan for the Arsenal of Democracy became the nationwide model; she preserved the secrecy of the atomic bomb, and following her mission to wartime Europe, she guided the direction of the G.I. Bill. For her contributions to victory, Anna Rosenberg became the first recipient of the Medal of Freedom. As the Cold War heated up, Anna Rosenberg was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense, where she rebuilt the military and reshaped its policies.

It was a pinnacle she may have never reached. During the desperate early days of the Korean War, a cabal of extremists led by Senator Joe McCarthy tried to prevent Rosenberg from taking her post at the Defense Department by accusing her of being a communist. She knew she wore the bull’s-eye. “I was Jewish, an immigrant, pro-labor, and a woman. What could have been worse?” By unfortunate coincidence, she also shared the name of the atomic spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. Unlike other victims of McCarthyism, however, Anna emerged with her career and integrity intact.

America’s success in World War II and the country’s post-war boom were in large part due to her impact behind the scenes. She was at home with society ladies as much as with a conference room full of teamsters; respected by soldiers on the front lines of foreign battlefields as well as by the Presidents who sent her there. Her combination of mettle, tenacity, charm, and Bronx-style toughness was undergirded by her unwavering loyalty to her adopted country.

Fans of Hidden Figures, Eleanor: A Life, Fly Girls, A Woman of No Importance, and Three Ordinary Girls will savor The Confidante’s meticulous research, its rich storytelling, and the extraordinary exploits of a subject at the heart of so many major events. Unsung until now, Anna Rosenberg deserves to take her rightful place in the history books as one of America’s most important and influential women.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christopher C. Gorham (Boston, MA) is a lawyer and teacher of modern American history at Westford Academy, outside Boston. He has degrees in history from Tufts University and the University of Michigan, where he studied under legendary historian Sidney Fine.
Gorham has a J.D., summa cum laude, from Syracuse University College of Law, where he served on the editorial staff of the Syracuse Law Review. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post and in online journals. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Watertown and Chatham, Massachusetts.


Learn more at https://www.christophercgorham.com/.
Watch the book trailer here: The Confidante Book Trailer - YouTube

How do I participate?
We use Microsoft Teams for our Virtual Authors Series. You will either scan a QR code with your smartphone or follow a link to the event online.

What’s the process for joining the event?
You can either use the provided QR code (On flyer)or the link to join.
Please join no earlier than 10 minutes before the start of the event.

Please keep leave your camera off and microphone muted to conserve bandwidth.

The question part of our event will be managed by the event moderator through the chat option.
Please put your question in the chat box and the moderator will ask the question.

How do I connect?
Snap the QR code or follow the link provided. Once you are at the launch page, click on the option to join with the browser.
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Do I need to download any software?
You do not need to download Teams; there is an option to join over the web through a browser.

Do I need a computer on a military network? A commercial network?
You can join the meeting on either type of network.

What about portable electronic devices? Can I connect on those?
Yes; if you have Internet access you should be able to connect.

What about Apple products?
If you are using an Apple product, you may not be able to connect using the Safari browser. We encourage you to download Google Chrome in advance and use that browser for the event.

What if I can’t connect? Whom can I contact for help?
If you have trouble connecting, consult the Library.
If you are joining the meeting by cutting and pasting the event URL, be sure, to remove "caution-" if it appears before the link.

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Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

Army MWR Library virtual author series

Army MWR Library Virtual Author Series

Army MWR Library virtual author series

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