Independent

Born into a wealthy Arizona mining family, Lewis Douglas (18941974) was a conservative politician and businessman well known for his independent views. This thorough, academic biography describes Douglas's privileged youth and early career in the Arizona legislature and U.S. Congress, then examines his major contributions as an ""influential'' member of FDR's inner circle in the early New Deal (where, in the capacity of budget director, Douglas argued against public works and other new spending); as head of wartime shipping in World War II; and later as ambassador to England. Douglas, who also headed McGill University and Mutual of New York, is seen as a charming, principled, sometimes overzealous figure who welcomed and excelled at difficult tasks. Browder and Smith, historians at the University of Arizona and Nichols College respectively, base their biography on Douglas family papers. Photos. (June 17)