Harry Hopkins: FDR's Advisor and New Deal Administrator
This paper profiles Harry L. Hopkins (1890–1946), one of Franklin D. Roosevelt's closest advisors and most consequential political allies. It traces Hopkins's early life and career in social work, his rise to prominence through New Deal programs such as the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration, and his pivotal diplomatic role during World War II. The paper also addresses conservative allegations that Hopkins was a Soviet agent, countering them with documented accounts of his service to FDR and praise from Allied leaders including Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.
- Biography and Early Life: Hopkins's origins, education, and early social work career
- Career in Government and the New Deal: New Deal appointments and job-creation programs under FDR
- Diplomatic Role in World War II: Hopkins as FDR's envoy to Churchill, Stalin, and Allied conferences
- Controversies and Conservative Criticism: Soviet agent allegations and Hopkins's defense of New Deal spending
- Works Cited: Sources cited in the paper
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- The paper balances biographical narrative with policy context, grounding Hopkins's personal story within the broader history of the New Deal and WWII diplomacy.
- It directly engages with a counterargument — the conservative "Soviet agent" allegation — and refutes it with documented primary-source praise from Churchill and Stalin, demonstrating critical thinking.
- Hopkins's memorable quotation ("People don't eat in the long run, they eat every day") is used effectively to illustrate his pragmatic political philosophy.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the technique of source triangulation: it draws on institutional archives (Georgetown University), public broadcasting research (PBS), and a named conservative outlet (Accuracy in Media), then weighs their credibility against one another. This models how a writer can acknowledge and rebut a weak or biased source rather than simply ignoring it.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a short biographical section covering Hopkins's origins, education, and early career. It then moves chronologically through his government appointments under FDR, followed by his WWII diplomatic missions. A final substantive section addresses ideological attacks on his reputation before the paper closes with a Works Cited list. The structure is linear and chronological, making it accessible as an introductory reference piece.
Biography and Early Life
Harry L. Hopkins was born on August 17, 1890, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was the fourth of five children raised by David Aldona and Anna Picket (Georgetown.edu). During his childhood Hopkins lived in Chicago and Nebraska, but at the age of 11 his family returned to Iowa. After high school, he attended — and graduated cum laude from — Grinnell College in Iowa in 1912. In 1913 he married Ethel Gross, and between 1912 and 1933 Hopkins devoted himself to the field of social work, which was his great passion. When World War I began, Hopkins served as head of the Gulf Division of the American Red Cross, helping the families of soldiers sent to fight in Europe.
He met Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1928 in New York State. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor took an immediate liking to Hopkins, which led to his appointment to positions of authority and to his close association with Roosevelt in the years that followed (Georgetown.edu). Hopkins passed away in 1946 after a long struggle with a debilitating illness.
Career in Government and the New Deal
In 1933, Hopkins was appointed by FDR as head of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, which provided relief for hungry and homeless Americans (Georgetown.edu). As Civil Works Administrator under the New Deal, he created jobs for four million men; as Works Progress Administrator beginning in 1938, he put 3.5 million people to work (Georgetown.edu).
Hopkins also helped develop the Social Security System and was appointed by FDR as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. He accompanied Roosevelt to the major Allied conferences of World War II (PBS). When conservatives in Congress attacked him for "excessive spending" in the effort to put people back to work during and after the Great Depression — arguing that "in the long run" the economy would sort itself out — Hopkins offered one of his most memorable retorts: "People don't eat in the long run, they eat every day" (U.S. History.com).
Diplomatic Role in World War II
As FDR's personal representative, Hopkins met with both Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin (PBS). He served as FDR's point man to British Prime Minister Churchill, who once said of him: "He was the most faithful and perfect channel of communication between the president and me" (U.S. History.com).
Hopkins also met with Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on FDR's behalf, and his relationship with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was notably warm. American ambassador Averell Harriman observed that Stalin "displayed more open and warm cordiality towards Hopkins than any other foreigner" (Georgetown.edu). Following FDR's death, Hopkins continued to assist President Truman at the final Allied conference in 1945, at the close of World War II (PBS).
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.