“The Bully Pulpit” by Doris Kearns Goodwin – Strange Days of the Transition

The beginning of the twentieth century was a rather awkward time for the United States of America. It was a period of transition during which many changes and reforms were taking place, re-sculpting the face of the country in the process.

Amongst other things, the government enters a legislative stalemate, giant companies are born for the first time from surprising mergers, money becomes much more important in the world of politics, terrorist attacks happen on the streets, and countless other inventions in the realm of technology completely revamp and tremendously accelerate life for the people.

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin is an exploration of these strange days, chronicling the many issues and events of importance to have existed during the so-called “Progressive” era. More precisely, she does so by focusing on the relationship between Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft, two friends whose ties were severed once they competed against each other for presidency.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am far from being an expert on that particular time and place, so the findings presented in this book were of great interest to me. However, the first thing which struck me as simply amazing is the fact that Goodwin managed to turn a history lesson into something accessible even to those who want nothing to do with it.

We are presented facts upon facts, and yet the whole thing still reads somewhat like a novel… as if we are reading a story. I think part of that is thanks to Goodwin’s decision to focus on the relationship between Roosevelt and Taft as the whole thing gives us a storyline to follow, and I have to say it is a dramatic one at that.

I also found it very interesting that Goodwin decided to focus a large part of her writing on the “muckrakers”, a band of journalists who seem to be some of the first ones interested in exposing the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, rather than simply earn money by spewing the mindless drivel some people would want them to.

After the read, I believe it to be an important turning point for journalism, which actually touches upon us all because if you think about it, how much information would we really have if there were no journalists?

If you are concerned as to the veracity of the facts and whether or not Goodwin sacrificed it for entertainment, you’ll be glad to know that there really is nothing to worry about. Bringing the truth to us is her number one priority, and the facts were all obtained from reliable and even unique sources.

These include four hundred letters written between Taft and Roosevelt, the diaries of their wives, the letters written to each other by the muckrakers as well as their memoirs, letters by Captain Archie Butt (personal aide to Taft and Roosevelt) and more. In other words, we are given an unprecedented look into the lives and minds of these men.

All in all, if you are interested in United States history, especially the strange time of changes that came about at the start of the 20th century, then you will be more than delighted with The Bully Pulpit; it is what I will refer to from now on as a history book novel, since it has all the facts and the entertainment you could ask for.

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Doris Kearns Goodwin Doris Kearns Goodwin (born as Doris Helen Kearns) is an American author, having written biographies, historical works as well as political commentaries. Most notable, she did the biographies of several American presidents and was even awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Some of her better-known works include The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys and The Home Front in World War II.