Franklin D. Roosevelt is no crusader. He is no tribune of the people. He is no enemy of entrenched privilege. He is a pleasant man who, without any important qualifications for the office, would very much like to be President.

In this sharply dismissive assessment, Lippmann portrays Franklin D. Roosevelt as an amiable opportunist rather than a principled reformer. By denying him the roles of “crusader,” “tribune,” or opponent of “entrenched privilege,” the line suggests Roosevelt lacks both ideological conviction and the courage to confront powerful interests. The final clause—“without any important qualifications for the office”—adds an elitist, technocratic note: leadership is framed as a matter of demonstrable competence rather than popular appeal. The quote’s significance lies in how dramatically it contrasts with Roosevelt’s later reputation as the architect of the New Deal, illustrating how contemporary observers could misread (or contest) his political identity before his presidency fully took shape.