Doris Kearns Goodwin's Next Project Is a Biography of Teddy Roosevelt.

[NNadir]

I saw her speak on CSPAN-3 (taped in 2006) where she seemed (almost) to endorse the candidacy of the (then Senator) current President of the United States.

I can't wait for the Roosevelt book by the way.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Her research on the book FDR and ER was pretty shoddy, and the

book on Lincoln's cabinet was a re-do of a similar one written in the '40s, which Eleanor Roosevelt gave to folks as gifts.

She crafts a good story and makes history accessible, but she missed some important sources for the FDR/ER book that would have changed the texture of the first third of the book. She's lazy and contracts much of her research.

[NNadir]

4. Oh please....

[Radical Activist]

5. She's a writer

more than a historian.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Yes, and she thinks through her books well. nt

[Bertha Venation]

8. I agree. That must be why she has a Pulitzer.

;)

[UTUSN]

2. O.K., well, I don't see a problem with that. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

3. By the way, TR HATED being called 'Teddy'. He was 'Theodore', 'Ted', or 'Tee'. nt

[Radical Activist]

6. Hackneyed

I guess she likes Presidential history and it will probably sell well. But she could use her fame to shed light on more interesting, and less overexposed figures in American history.

[NNadir]

7. If one wants to find out about "under exposed" figures in history, including Presidents,

one can watch the wonderful CSPAN3 talks on Presidents often moderated by Arthur Schlessinger.

There one can learn all about Chester A. Arthur, and his policies toward, say, civil service, if one wishes to do so.

There is, in my opinion, never enough that can be said about the Presidents Ms. Kearns Goodwin has covered. The treatment of these Presidents, including one she knew personally fairly well, Lyndon Johnson, is in my view, quite serious and enlightening.

There is one great President who has not received enough serious coverage in the twentieth century by historians, hackneyed or otherwise, the President I regard has being the second greatest President of the 19th century, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/7/214329/7537">U.S. Grant.

However the CSPAN3 series did feature quite a nice talk by Joshua Bunting on this often unjustly maligned great American President.

I would personally be gratified to see Ms. Kearns Goodwin examine the life of this great American, but am aware it won't happen.

I'm sure your books on the Presidents and that of the other critic of Kearns Goodwin are very good though, original and insightful and comprehensive.

[Captain Hilts]

12. I recommend Jean Smith's bio of Grant. I need to read Grant's memoir. nt

[Radical Activist]

13. Presidential history is overdone.

It presents an incomplete, distorted view of American history when the focus is on Presidents.
Chester Arthur? There were fare more interesting and significant people to study during his time.

[Bertha Venation]

9. I just finished her memoir

Wait Till Next Year. Aside from being a thoroughly enjoyable tale of her childhood, she captured exactly how I feel about the Angels. O8)

[Captain Hilts]

11. I LOVED that book. nt

[elleng]

14. Was great, wasn't it?

Gave it to my folks. She attended my High School.