Doris Kearns GoodwinThe Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt and the Golden Age of Journalism

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "bully pulpit" means "a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue." It was first used by Theodore Roosevelt, when asked for his view on the presidency, in this quotation: "I suppose my critics will call that preaching, but I have got such a bully pulpit!" The word bully itself was an adjective in the lingo of the time meaning "first- rate," somewhat comparable to the recent use of the word "awesome." Hence the title of this review. The term "bully pulpit" is still used today to describe the president's power to influence the public."The Bully Pulpit" clocks in at a hefty 928 pages in the hardcover edition, the reason why I chose the e-book version, and is lavishly illustrated. Each chapter starts with a contemporary photograph or cartoon beneath the chapter-title, and there's a separate photograph-section at the back of the e-book that has 68 photographs. Although a massive tome, it should be noted that "only" about 56% of the book consists of the main narrative. The rest of the volume is taken up by the extensive endnotes and index.Rather than write another biography about a famous American President, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin has chosen for a different approach. In "The Bully Pulpit", she recounts the birth of America's Progressive Era through the close friendship between two Presidents: Theodore Roosevelt and his successor William Howard Taft. But rather than focusing exclusively on these two, she enlivens her account by twisting through the narrative the story of the "muckrakers" (another term coined by TR): the group of investigative journalists from magazine McClure's. In this magazine, they published popular exposes of fraudulent railroads and millionaire senators, aiding Roosevelt in his quest for change and fairness.Author Goodwin starts her narrative with ex-president TR's return from a hunting trip to Africa in 1910. Then, switching between the two in alternating chapters, she charts the lives of Roosevelt and Taft from boyhood to maturity, and presents their wives Nellie Taft and Edith Roosevelt, before introducing McClure's Magazine and it's reporters.Through this lengthy preamble, she brilliantly contrasts their very different childhoods and careers, as well as their differences in style and personality, a foreshadowing of the causes that would lead to one of the major political feuds of the age. Polar opposites, they still became firm friends, almost from the moment they first met in Washington at the beginning of their political careers.The meat of the book concerns the period when Roosevelt became President, after President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. As President, T.R.'s goals were: "to distribute the nation's wealth more equitably, regulate the giant corporations and railroads, strengthen the rights of labor, and protect the country's natural resources from private exploitation." Roosevelt coined the phrase "Square Deal" to describe his domestic agenda, and developed a mutually beneficial relationship with the national press so they worked together to bring on the progressive era.His close friend Taft became an indispensable member of President Roosevelt's cabinet and later his handpicked successor, after Roosevelt decided not to run for a third term. On TR's return in 1910 he broke bitterly with President Taft on issues of progressivism and when in the 1912 election Roosevelt failed to block Taft's re-nomination, he launched the Bull Moose Party, which ultimately led to them both losing to Democrat Woodrow Wilson, who became President.In the epilogue, author Goodwin touchingly describes how the old friends reconciled during a chance meeting not long before Roosevelt's death in 1919, how Taft in 1921 finally got the position he had always longed for, that of Chief Justice of the United States, and how the members of the original McClure's magazine staff stayed in touch with each other into old age.Goodwin's narrative is founded upon an abundance of primary materials, like the extensive correspondence between Roosevelt and Taft; the diaries of Edith Roosevelt and Nellie Taft and the journals, memoirs and hundreds of letters the "muckrakers" wrote to one another, to name but a few of the sources she used in writing "The Bully Pulpit".While the narrative sometimes seems to get bogged down in minutiae, you won't be sorry to read about "Will and Teedie" and the muckrakers, as this account is far more than just a biography of "that damned cowboy president" Roosevelt and of the man nicknamed "Big Bill" in his younger years, William Howard Taft. It is also a detailed portrait of an era as well as a history of the press, all of this combined into one eminently readable book.For those wishing to read more about Theodore Roosevelt, I recommend the biographical trilogy by Edmund Morris: "The Rise Of Theodore Roosevelt," "Theodore Rex" and "Colonel Roosevelt". Or if made curious for the full story on the digging of the Panama Canal, I recommend: "The Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough.Strangely, there is not much available on William Howard Taft, the only American ever to have been both President and Chief Justice of the United States. Maybe time for an author of the caliber of a Chernow, Isaacson or Morris to write a biography that does justice to the man.

Bully Pulpit is a detailed glimpse into the world of early 20th Century politics and culture. Doris Kearns Goodwin once again treats us to a pleasurable journey through the details of the period and personalities of the people who we have previous only viewed through the long lens of history. She brings them alive in a narrative form that is accessible and informative. The incredible research involved with writing this book is evident on every pageThe life of William Howard Taft was for me a surprise. His place in history is colored by the circumstances of the times and the behavior of those around him, but Goodwin’s portrayal reveals a complicated man of deep personal honor and integrity. While Teddy Roosevelt deservedly sits upon Mt. Rushmore, in Taft I found someone I would have enjoyed knowing and hanging out with. His principles and sense of service stand tall in the story.In a most engaging manner Goodwin introduces us one by one to the gang of investigative reporters who pioneered their roles and provided the spark needed to overcome the political monopoly of the day. The author demonstrates that public outrage was the necessary catalyst to allow Roosevelt and Taft to accomplish some of the landmark things they did. One wonders what similar device might serve that purpose in our times. Never since that time over one hundred years ago has there been a greater need to rescue our country from the control of corporate boardrooms.Bully Pulpit is great reading for anyone who feels our current political quagmire is either unique or hopeless.T. J. Silverio

I love the way this book is written. Full of fact but the narrative flows like a really good story. I admire the amount of research this author did putting this book together. It makes me wish that we still had politicians that had the talent and training of Roosevelt and Taft. Men of honor and purpose and respect for individualism and community. and the desire to do what was right for the masses of Americans.Whether or not you agree with what these men did or how they did it, they were definitely leaders. They knew how to unite and lead a country. They knew how to define issues and craft solutions, something that is sorely missing in current political climate. Ms. Goodwin, unknowlingly perhaps, has put together what I feel is a telling commentary on why this country is in the state it is in. Making the rash assumption that any of our curdrent politicians even know how to read or check out a book from the library, I suggest they give it a read and then try to learn from their obvious betters. If you just want to learn a little bit of political history, this is still a great book. I checked it out several times from my local library but decided I wanted a copy in my own library. It was money well spent. I plan to read more of Ms. Goodwin's work. It's no wonder she won the Pulitizer Prize for her history on Franklin and Eleanore Roosevelt (also an excellent read!). I wish I had her talent.

This is an outstanding biography of Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft and the Muckraker journalist movement. At 900 pages, my main criticism of the book is that it is too short since it wets the appetite to learn about this period. That said, the book would have been helped by the addition of at least one chapter providing a critical appraisal of the main figures.

I have been remarkably unaware of US history and Goodwin's book is a marvellous introduction. This is a first class political history and so much more than that. The characters rise from the pages clad in their humanity. I have not had so much pleasure from reading for an age, thanks to Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Kearns Goodwin writes about a period of American history, between the Civil War and WWI, about which I knew little and I have learned so much. And, as usual, she brought history to life. Great read.

This unusually long book (750 pages) never lost my interest, always kept me absorbed, was never tedious in spite of detailed descriptions of public and private life during Theodore Roosevelt's and William Howard Taft's presidencies. I had already read several books on Theodore Roosevelt who is such a colorful figure, but knew little about William Howard Taft who comes alive in these pages as a benign and friendly character almost pushed into a presidential role which he did not feel was suitable for him. As for the great friendship between the two men, like all political friendships, it was doomed to end when personal ambitions took over.Wives, children, brothers and friends are delineated to round out the portraits and actions of the two presidents and of course thepress also plays a big role in the book and is instrumental in rousing public opinion and pushing through legislation to overthrow the trusts, to attack the bosses and their political power and to try to rid the US of corruption at all levels of politics.Any reader interested in the politics of the United States and particularly in that period will not be disappointed on reading this book. Also, I couldn't help thinking how much light it also throws on the problems facing the United States today, problems of inequality, of the role of money in elections, the changing roles of women, problems of racism in the Philippines...To sum up: totally engrossing!

Two very great men. Geant of their Time. Very good.