The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism

Let me start by telling you just why I read Ms Goodwins's book, "The Bully Pulpit." I am in the process of writing about newpaper publisher William Randolph Hearst, a contemporary of Teddy Roosevelt (TR) and William Howard Taft. Mr Hearst had a particularly contentious relationship with TR during Roosevelt's tenure as President. Hearst, a strong Democrat, was the owner of the New York Journal and was very instrumental in promoting American's entry into the Spanish-American War in 1898. Roosevelt was just as eager as Hearst in warring with the Spanish, and the motives on neither one nor the other had anything to do with the welfare of the Cuban people. Hearst wanted to profit from such a war through selling newspapers - millions of them - and Roosevelt was most interested in becoming a hero. The war was prosecuted. The US won. Hearst did sell millions of his newspapers, and "Roughrider" Teddy Roosevelt did become a genuine American "war hero." While the reader may be aware of TR's fame, few of you may be informed of Hearsts' renown. During his lifetime, TR became the most famous American in the world. During that same time, William Randolph Hearst was the second most well known American in the world. So, what might legitmatize my comments on Ms Goodwin's book is that I am widely read concerning Mr Hearst and have read a great deal of what has been written about TR. I have read the Edmund Morris three volume biography of Roosevelt as well as several other books centered on our former President. Anything written about Hearst must include significent information about his feud with Roosevelt, so I am particularly versed on that aspect of TR;s life. I do have an undergraduate degee in US History. So, after this meager attempt to justify why I might be qualified to comment on "The Bully Pulpit," let me begin. As indicated by its title, the book focuses on Roosevelt,Taft and certain journalists known as the "muckrakers." Muckrakers were those late 19th and early 20th centure journalists who wrote extensive and well documented exposes about predatory capitalists and their relationships with corrupt politicians. This included such topics as Standard Oil and US Steel monopolistc practices, banking irregularities, the railway trusts, child labor, the overwhelming influence of "big money" on election results, union "busting," etc. Ms Goodwin writes about a particular set of muckrakers who were employed by Samuel McClure, owner of the magazine that bore his name, "McClures." Much of Ms Goodwin's writing is devoted to consturcting biographical descriptions, not just of Roosevelt and Taft, but of many of the other characters as well. The brief biographies of Roosevelt and Taft are excellent overviews of their early lives. Both were born into privileged families, and each one had an accomlished father. And these fathers were strong and positive role models to their sons. TR's relationship with his father, Theodore Sr, was very touching. The futrue President was born with a serious asthmatic condition which cold easily have restiricted his life both physically and intellectually. Not only did his father nurse his young son lthrough many asthma attacks, he directed him to "attack" the condition. So, from early childhood on, Teddy Roosevelt was literally a physical fitness "nut." From hiking, rowing, weight lifting, boxing, wrestling, horse back riding to beating - as well as being beaten upon - others with heavy wooden sticks in some kind of martial arts ritual, TR was physically active all of his life. While President, his in-office, noon-time boxing and "stick-beating" matches were legendary. (Obama plays basketball - what a wimp!) Throughout his lifetime, Teddy Roosevelt read over 300 books a year! And because of his photographic memory, TR could quote passages from books that he had read many years before. Taft's childhood was much more sedate. Raised in an affluent Cincinnati neighborhood and son of a successful attorney and judge, Taft assumed his father's "judicial temperment, moral courage, and patience." Rather than pursue pysical fitness, Taft's father, Alphonso, encouraged his son "to focus solely on his classwork." Goodwin frequently alludes to the obesity that plagued Taft throughout his life which, I believe, can be attributed to his father steering him away from physical activities. Taft went on to become a most "affable and congenial" pereson who always sought to "get along" with others. I believe Goodwin intentionally contrasts Taft's and TR's childhoods, for it is these contrasts that differentiated their future styles as US Presidents. Without going into detail, Ms Goodwin aketches the lives of Presidental wives Edith Roosevelt and Nellie Taft. Each wife contributed enormously to the success of her husband. And while Goodwin outlines the lives of certain muckrakers as well, she focuses particularly on that of Ida Tarbell. Ida Tarbell was renowned for the meticulous manner in which she attacked corruption. And credit Samuel McClure, described by Ms Goodwin as almot "insanely" creative, for providing his writers with almost unlimited time - as much as 2 years - in preparing their exposes. Would we not all want to have such an employer! Lincoln Steffans, another "McClure muckraker" was equally as effective as Tarbell in his pursuit of social justice. Intertwined with the biographies of her main characters, Goodwin proceeds to describe how muckrakers interacted with Roosevelt and Taft to combat corruption. TR in particular often invited them to the White Houuse to encourage them in their pursuits. He, then, drew upon these reports as evidence in his pursuit of necessary reforms. As a student of Us History, I never fully grasped the role of muckraking in assisting TR in "busting the trusts." Thanks to Ms Goodwin, I have a much clearer picture of its role in American History. But the book's primary focus is examining the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Goodwin makes it very clear that Taft was TR;s protege. During TR's administration, he made good use of Taft as Governor General to the Philippines and, later, as his Secretary of War. He also used Taft in emergency situations as the time he sent Taft to Cuba to Prevent what might have become a civil war. In fact, Taft served TR so well that Taft became TR's hand-picked candidate for the Republican nominee for President. But Goodwin also insinuates that TR regretted that he, himself, had decided against running for a third term in 1908. After Taft's election, Goodwin proceeds to describe how TR was critical of Taft decisions that seemed to reverse some of TR's earlier accomplishments. Eventually, TR became so disenchanted with Taft that he decided to challenge Taft for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1912. What is interesting is that Goodwin more than implies that TR's criticisms of Taft were unfounded, and that his reasons for attempting to unseat Taft were without merit. Goodwin leaves the reader to think that TR simply sought to regain the power and prestige of the Presidency. When Taft defeated Roosevelt for the nomination, TR then went ahead to form the "Bull Moose Party" and became its candidate for the Presidency. This decision split the Republican vote, and Woodrow Wilson becomes President. The rivialry that TR created between himself and Taft turned really ugly, and led to the dissolution of their freindship. The attacks TR leveled against Taft during the campaign were completely unjustified, and show an ugly side of Theodore Roosevelt of which I was not aware. At the same time, Taft maintained his affection and respect for Roosevelt. The really gentle nature of Taft was exhibited throughout the race. Goodwin writes much more about the Roosevelt-Taft relationship throughout the book. Taft's conscientious and methodical approach to decision making is contrasted with TR's impetuousness. Taft, as Goodwin points out, was ever the "judge" who weighed everyone's arguments before making decisions. Roosevelt reached conclusions much more quickly. In fact, the major breech in their relationship was Roosevelt's mistrust of the Judiciary whose decisions he felt should be subject to recall, while Taft saw judicial review as inviloate and a cornerstone of American democracy. Ms Goodwin's book encompasses 750 pages whose content is as well researched and as well documented as were those of the "muckrakers" she writes about. It especially impresses me that Ms Goodwin recognizes the importance of women in history. Neither Taft not Roosevelt could have been all that that were without the contributions of their wives, Edith Roosevelt and Nellie Taft. And, to be quite honest, I would never have read a biography of William Howard Taft were it not for this book. But now I have come to know about the wise and gentle nature of this former US President. He's proof that one needn't be shrill or offensive to become a politicain. And, finally, Ms Goodwin has given me a more complete picture of President Theodore Roosevelt. I was aware of namy of his great accomplishments - of his trust-busting and of his insistence that every person has the right to a "square deal." And allthough his "rough and tumble" is a major part of his legacy, Ms Goodwin writes the he was much more complicated than that. His voracious reading made him the most informed President in history. It was the knowledge gained from reading that enabled him to broker a peace between the warring nations of Russia and Japan thereby becoming the first American to be awarde the Nobel Peace Prize. But, as Ms Goodwin points out, TR had his "warts" as well. His treatment of President Taft was unfair. And TR did not always come down on the side of "fair play." After all, he was a Republican who believed the rich were a cut above the less fortunate. I read at the rate of about 30 pages an hour, so I estimate that it took me 25 hours to read Ms Goodwin's book. I would like to thank her for the 7 years it took her to write a work that both entertained me as well as informed me about a very dynamic time in American History.

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 page The 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 always learn a great deal when I read one of Doris Kearns Goodwin's books. I had been looking forward for quite some time to reading "The Bully Pulpit," in part because I felt a small personal stake in monitoring the book's development. Several years ago, I found myself at Harvard's Kennedy School attending a lecture by General David Petraeus. He referred on several occasions to insights he had gleaned from Ms. Goodwin's Abe Lincoln book, "Team of Rivals." The author happened to be sitting just in front of me, so when there was a break in the proceedings, I asked her what she was currently working on. When she replied that she had just finished the research portion of a study of Teddy Roosevelt, I was intrigued. The book she eventually completed has a broader scope than merely the story of Theodore Roosevelt. As she compiled her research and examined the implications, it became clear to her that this book needed to tell a triple story of three entities that were so closely intertwined with each other that they could not easily be teased apart. So, "The Bully Pulpit" examines the friendship and rivalry of Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft and the journalists who covered them and who ushered in the Golden Age of journalism. The book reads like a suspense novel, with intrigue, complex stratagems, shady deals, political double crosses, statesmanship, personal ambition, resentments and investigative journalism all having their day in the sun. Roosevelt and Taft shared a deep friendship that deteriorated when Taft assumed his place in the White House and Roosevelt felt that his protege was not carrying the flag for issues that he had believed he and Taft had agreed upon, including the question of how the federal government should control monopolies. They became bitter rivals, running against one another for the presidency in 1912 - a three-way election won by Woodrow Wilson. Taft and Roosevelt eventually reconciled, but it was a stormy path. Along the way, their stories and those of their presidencies were told by a cadre of gifted investigative reporters, principally comprised of publisher S.S. McClure's team of Ida Tarbell, Ray Stannard Baker, Lincoln Steffens and William Allen White. The individual and collective stories of these writers would be enough to fill its own volume, but with clear insight, the author has chosen to tell of these careers in the light of how their work impacted the careers of Roosevelt and Taft, and how their popular journalism helped to shape public opinion. This is a brilliantly conceived and realized work that gave me a whole new layer of understanding about the political landscape at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. The book has been optioned by Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks Studios for a potential cinematic treatment. I can't wait.

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.

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 the press 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!

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.

great book reading