An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s

An Unfinished Love Story by Doris Kearns Goodwin – 5 Stars An Unfinished Love Story is an absolute masterpiece that blends history, personal reflection, and a deeply moving love story into a single compelling narrative. This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite books of 2025! I’ve been an admirer of Doris Kearns Goodwin for years. I had the incredible privilege of meeting her at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, during an event for her brilliant book Team of Rivals. That signed first edition has a special place in my library. But let’s get to the real magic of this latest work. I received a signed copy of An Unfinished Love Story from my wonderful wife for Christmas, and I’ll admit, it sat on my shelf for a while as I immersed myself in Roman history and philosophy texts. But when I finally started listening to the Audible version a few weeks ago, I was completely captivated. The addition of original recordings of speeches from JFK, Bobby Kennedy, and LBJ makes the book feel even more alive, especially since Doris’s husband, Dick Goodwin, was such a significant behind-the-scenes figure in those political circles. He crafted speeches for presidents, advised Bobby Kennedy, and even met with Che Guevara! There are so many historical gems scattered throughout this book—it’s a history lover’s dream. But what makes this book so special isn’t just the historical context; it’s the personal story of Doris and Dick’s life together. An Unfinished Love Story is a beautifully intimate account of their years spent sifting through old boxes of memories, trying to make sense of the love and legacy they built together. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s storytelling is nothing short of magical—her attention to detail, her ability to weave together significant historical events with personal anecdotes, and her emotional depth make this book unforgettable. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages. The book covers everything from the civil rights movement to US relations with Latin America. It’s an inspiring and emotional journey, filled with beautiful stories of public service, personal sacrifice, and, of course, love. In the end, this is more than just a history book or a memoir. It’s a celebration of life, love, and history as seen through the eyes of two extraordinary people. If you’re a fan of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s work or simply someone who appreciates a well-told, heartfelt story, you need to read this book.

Do you love history? Have a fascination with the 60s? The Kennedys? LBJ? DKG's stories are remarkable, and this book is unlike any other because she’s combined her vast knowledge as an historian along with heaps of cool facts about her remarkable, brilliant husband Dick Goodwin’s illustrious career and pivotal role he played as a presidential speechwriter and political advisor as they unearthed hundreds of letters, journals, memos, (more than 300 boxes that had been in storage and they only started going through them before he died). A trusted member of JFK’s campaign as a speechwriter and later assistant special counsel on Latin American affairs under the president, a close friend of Jackie and Bobby’s too, to LBJ he became indispensable, once again an instrumental speechwriter and special assistant to the president and an integral part of the civil rights movement. The speeches Goodwin wrote for both presidents moved a nation, to belief, action, the creation of programs, that Kennedy dreamt of, and Johnson implemented. And all that doesn’t even include everything he did that led to his professional career. ​ As the title says, it’s a love story rolled up in history, with some of the most interesting facts, intimate tales of relationships formed in his (and her) early days in D.C., what they witnessed up close and personal, the words he wrote, which had a profound impact on the American people from the evolution of the Peace Corps to the signing of the Voting Rights Act. To think, this was all tucked away in storage. Eloquently told with wit, charm, with the dazzle that only Ms. Kearns Goodwin can deliver.

There can be few couples who have witnessed as much history as Richard Goodwin and Doris Kearns Goodwin. Their names are writ large through every chronicle of American history from the 1960s through the 1970s. They saw and helped create the New Frontier and Great Society programs, working side by side with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Richard wrote speeches for JFK, LBJ, Eugene McCarthy, and RFK during the 1960, 1964, and 1968 campaigns and was an indispensable aide throughout. Doris was a White House Fellow who became one of LBJ's most important aides in the final year of his Administration and during his post-Presidency. The extraordinary historical events the Goodwins witnessed both before and during their marriage would make this book an important read, but this is also the story of the Goodwins' long time friendship and marriage, told primarily through Doris' eyes as she helped Richard sort through his mammoth collection of papers during the final years of his life. As a result this book is an unputdownable read that I was sorry to finish. Doris Kearns Goodwin is one of the finest historians at work today. Her books Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream, The Bully Pulpit, Team of Rivals, No Ordinary Time (to name only a few) are all wonderful reads, brilliantly written with impeccable scholarship. An Unfinished Love Story definitely deserves a place in every library beside her other works.

This reminds me of a divine gift I experienced some 70 years ago. You are a unique gift of love that is intrinsic to all of existence for all of eternity. Just as every other soul is and no-one can replace you. Created from and is a part of an absolute 100% generic love that has always been. Your willingness to receive determines what you experience, because love loves to be loved. Love’s awareness is like experiencing infinity. Then doing the right thing through love binds because of its magnetic power without capturing and supports because it is an infinite constant without limiting. A choice.

A beautifully told story of a turbulent period of US politics. Also a love story over several decades. Makes sense of complexity with enlivened yet easily understandable prose.

very practising, effective and useful as well as have a very great analysis.

A história eh boa

As usual with Doris Kern Godwin's histories this book is more than just a history of the Kennedys and President Johnson and the fight for civil rights. With the background of the sixties Ms Godwin also gives us a detailed picture of her husband and herself in those exciting times, working in the White House, writing famous speeches for the presidents (her husband), sharing President Johnson's memories near the end of his life (herself) and the many devoted Americans who believed in the changing times and the end of racism. It is also the story of Godwin's life with her husband and their shared interests and love of America. Written after the death of her husband, the book is a tribute to him and to his political fights.