On April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died, and Harry Truman, after only 82 days as vice president, was thrust into the presidency. Yet Roosevelt’s failing health had been plain to staffers for at least a year. With the end of his life looming, FDR met alone only twice with his vice president, and failed to brief him on domestic issues or foreign affairs, most notably his intentions for ending World War II. It was, as author David L. Roll contends, one of the most irresponsible oversights in presidential history. Truman was woefully unprepared. He immediately faced the surrender of Germany, a continent in ruins, and most significantly, the Soviet Union, an ally during the war, was growing increasingly hostile towards US power. Detailing the long shadow cast by FDR, this book reveals Truman’s struggle to emerge as a president in his own right, and how the decisions made during these years of transition changed the world.