Democracy Has Been In Peril Before Now (Quick Take) [Rebroadcast]

This biography, written by Doris Kearns Goodwin, provides a detailed and engaging portrait of Lyndon Johnson. It draws from Goodwin's personal experiences working at the White House and her close relationship with Johnson, who confided in her extensively. The book covers Johnson's early life, his rise to power in the Senate, his vice-presidency, and his presidency, including his leadership during the Great Society and the Vietnam War. Goodwin's work is praised for its meticulous research and rich character analysis, offering a nuanced understanding of Johnson's personality, strengths, and weaknesses.

This book masterfully weaves together the story lines of Eleanor and Franklin’s marriage, Eleanor’s life as First Lady, and FDR’s White House, highlighting their impact on America and the world during World War II. It provides an intimate portrait of the Roosevelts and the era in which a new, modern America was born. The book also explores their remarkable partnership, FDR’s political tactics, and the significant social and political changes they championed, including New Deal programs and steps toward racial equality.

This book is a multiple biography centered on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. It explores how Lincoln, despite being a one-term congressman and prairie lawyer, rose to become president by incorporating his rivals—William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates—into his cabinet. The book details Lincoln's extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with others, which enabled him to create an unusual but effective cabinet. It also delves into the challenges Lincoln faced, including incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and the internal dynamics of his cabinet, highlighting his political genius and managerial skills.

In this book, Doris Kearns Goodwin artfully weaves together biography, memoir, and history to recount the emotional journey she and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin, embarked upon in the last years of his life. The book is based on over 300 boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved from his time in public service, working with John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Robert Kennedy. The Goodwins' exploration of these archives reveals a personal time capsule of the 1960s, highlighting public and private moments of a decade marked by struggles for racial and economic justice and significant political events.