Research

With Washington and Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt is one of the three most popular presidents in US history. President from 1933 to 1945, Roosevelt led the country during a long and crucial period in its history, but the images of him in widely disseminated films, novels, documentaries, museums, biographies, and memorials, often portray him as more heroic and authentic than historically justified. Roosevelt is often viewed as the first modern media president; he was the first to hold radio speeches in which he addressed the American citizens very personally, and the first to hold press conferences, spontaneously answering journalists’ questions. However, Roosevelt was also a modern media politician in the sense that he carefully – and very successfully – managed his future image. This research looks at Roosevelt’s methods for doing this and their long-term effects. On the other hand, it will study deviations between public representations of Roosevelt and historical evidence.

Curriculum Vitae

After my BA Hons in English Literature at Cambridge University (UK) (2000-2003), I did the Research Master Literary Studies at the University of Amsterdam to specialize in American literature and history (2005-2007). After graduating, I started teaching American Studies at the University of Amsterdam (Survey Course in American History, Yes We Can! The American Dream in the Twenty-first Century, A Rendezvous with Destiny, Franklin D. Roosevelt 1882-2009). As sidelines, I write life narratives of, for and with (usually elderly) people (www.destijds.nl) and occassionally work as funeral director.

Key publications

• Sara Polak, ‘Roosevelt in zijn eigen museum: waarom Franklin D. Roosevelt als authentiek ervaren wordt’ (Amsterdam University Press, verwacht in najaar 2010).
• Gastredacteur Biografie Bulletin, themanummer ‘Levensverhalen’, auteur van verschillende artikelen, o.m. met Paul Knevel ‘Lang leve het herinneren, het belang van levensverhalen’ (najaar 2009).
• Sara Polak (auteur en bezorger) en Arjen Akkermans (fotografie), Onverwachte Ontmoetingen in de Pijp (november 2009).
• R.V.A. Janssens en Sara Polak, ‘Tussen High Noon en Black Hawk Down: Amerikaanse cultuur en de rol van de krijgsmacht’ in De Verenigde Staten in 2020: Toekomstplanning van een hegemon. (publicatie van het Ministerie van Defensie, 2010).
• Sara Polak, ‘Emily Dickinson’s Epistolary Immortality’, Emily Dickinson International Society Bulletin, Vol. 18, nr. 2, 2006, pp. 4-7.