Doris Kearns Goodwin
Full Name and Common Aliases
Doris Kearns Goodwin is a renowned American historian and author, often referred to simply as Doris Goodwin. Her insightful analysis of American presidents and her ability to weave historical narratives have made her a household name in the realm of historical literature.
Birth and Death Dates
Doris Kearns Goodwin was born on January 4, 1943. As of the latest available information, she is alive and continues to contribute to historical scholarship and public discourse.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Doris Kearns Goodwin is an American historian, biographer, and political commentator. Her work primarily focuses on the lives and presidencies of American leaders, and she is celebrated for her ability to bring history to life through her engaging writing style.
Early Life and Background
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Doris Kearns Goodwin grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island. Her parents, Michael Francis Aloysius Kearns and Helen Witt Kearns, instilled in her a love for history and storytelling from a young age. Her father, in particular, shared his passion for baseball with her, which later influenced her first book, "Wait Till Next Year," a memoir that intertwines her childhood experiences with the history of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Goodwin attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964. She then pursued her graduate studies at Harvard University, earning a Ph.D. in Government in 1968. Her academic background laid the foundation for her future career as a historian and author.
Major Accomplishments
Doris Kearns Goodwin's career is marked by numerous accolades and achievements. She served as a White House Fellow during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, which provided her with firsthand experience in the political arena. This experience proved invaluable as she embarked on her writing career, offering her unique insights into the workings of the American presidency.
Goodwin's work has been recognized with several prestigious awards. Her book "No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II" won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1995. This accolade solidified her reputation as a leading historian and biographer.
Notable Works or Actions
Doris Kearns Goodwin is best known for her meticulously researched and vividly written biographies of American presidents. Her notable works include "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," which explores Lincoln's leadership style and his ability to unite a divided cabinet. This book not only received critical acclaim but also served as the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln."
Another significant work is "The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism," which examines the dynamic relationship between Roosevelt and Taft and the role of journalism in shaping public opinion. Goodwin's ability to delve into the personal and political lives of her subjects has made her books both educational and engaging.
Impact and Legacy
Doris Kearns Goodwin's impact on the field of history and biography is profound. Her ability to humanize historical figures and present them in a relatable manner has broadened the appeal of historical literature. By focusing on the personal and political challenges faced by American leaders, she has provided readers with a deeper understanding of the complexities of leadership and governance.
Goodwin's work has also influenced popular culture, with her books serving as the basis for films and documentaries. Her insights into leadership and history have made her a sought-after speaker and commentator, further extending her influence beyond the written word.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Doris Kearns Goodwin is widely quoted and remembered for her ability to distill complex historical events and personalities into accessible and compelling narratives. Her quotes often reflect her deep understanding of leadership, politics, and human nature, making them relevant to a wide audience.
Her work resonates with readers because it not only informs but also inspires. By highlighting the triumphs and tribulations of historical figures, Goodwin encourages readers to reflect on the lessons of the past and apply them to contemporary challenges. Her contributions to historical scholarship and public discourse ensure that her voice will continue to be heard and valued for generations to come.
Quotes by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin's insights on:
My recurring nightmare is that someday I will be faced with a panel: Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson all of whom will be telling me everything I got wrong about them. I know that Johnson's out there saying, 'Why is it that what you wrote about the Kennedys is twice as long as the book you wrote about me?'
A government had better go to the very extreme of toleration, than to do aught that could be construed into an interference with, or to jeopardize in any degree, the common rights of its citizens.
Still, slander against the president and first lady continued to fill the columns of opposition papers.
Simon Cameron: “I loved my brother, as only the poor and lonely can love those with whom they have toiled and struggled up the rugged hill of life’s success – but he died bravely in the discharge of his duty.
The books my mother read and reread provided a broader, more adventurous world, and escape from the confines of her chronic illness. Her interior life was enriched even as her physical life contracted. If she couldn’t change the reality of her situation, she could change her perception of it. She could enter into the lives of the characters in her books, sharing their journeys while she remained seated in her chair.
Theodore Roosevelt’s father wrote him, “I fear for your future. We cannot stand so corrupt a government for any great length of time.
If Roosevelt were given another chance to lead the country, he intended to make the Republican Party once more the progressive party of Abraham Lincoln, to restore “the fellow feeling, mutual respect, the sense of common duties and common interests which arise when men take the trouble to understand one another, and to associate for a common object.
Shortly before she left for New York, she received an unwelcome present from South Carolina – a painting depicting Lincoln “with a rope around his neck, his feet chained and his body adorned with tar and feathers.
Before any outcome was made public, the radicals had worked themselves into “a fury of rage,” certain that the president “was about to give up the political fruits which had been already gathered.
Lincoln was “the most truly progressive man of the age, because he always moves in conjunction with propitious circumstances, not waiting to be dragged by the force of events or wasting strength in premature struggles with them.