AnewhistoryshowshowFDRdevelopedavisionofnationalsecurityfocusednotjustonprotectingAmericansagainstphysicalattackbutalsoonensuringtheireconomicwell-being--andhowthenascentconservativemovementwonthebattletonarrowitsmeaning,durablyreshapingUSpolitics.Americanstakeforgrantedthatnationalsecuritycomprisesphysicaldefenseagainstattacks.Buttheconceptofnationalsecurityoncemeantsomethingmore.FranklinRoosevelt’svisionfornationalsecurity,PeterRoadyargues,promisedanalternatepathfortheUnitedStatesbydevotingasmuchattentiontoeconomicwantastoforeignthreats.TheContestoverNationalSecurityshowshowaburgeoningconservativemovementandpower-hungryforeignpolicyestablishmenttogetherdefeatedFDR’splansforacomprehensivenationalsecuritystateandinauguratedthenarrowerapproachtonationalsecuritythathasdominatedeversince.Inthe1930s,Rooseveltandhisadvisors,hopingtosavetheUnitedStatesfromfascismandcommunism,arguedthatnationalsecurityentailedprotectionfrombothphysicalattackandeconomicwant.Roosevelt’sopponentsrespondedbypromotingamorelimitednationalsecuritystateprivilegingmilitarydefenseoverdomesticeconomicpolicy.Conservativesbroughtnumerousconcernstobearthroughanenormouspublicrelationsoffensive,assertingnotjustthatRoosevelt’splansthreatenedindividualfreedombutalsothatthegovernmentwaslesscompetentthantheprivatesectorandincapableofdeliveringeconomicsecurity.Thiscontesttodefinethegovernment’snationalsecurityresponsibilitiesinlawandinthepublicmind,Roadyreveals,explainswhytheUnitedStatesdevelopedseparateandimbalancednationalsecurityandwelfarestates,withfar-reachingconsequences.ByrecoveringFDR’sforgottenvision,Roadyrestoresamoreexpansiveunderstandingofnationalsecurity’smeaningsasAmericanstodayfacethegreatchallengesoftheirtimes.
