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mnstucki's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this. I found a lot to admire in Taft and Roosevelt's lives. They were both great men and I think this book illustrates the fact that you can be a great person and do a lot of good even despite the weaknesses we all have. This book instilled in me a great dislike for Nellie Taft, whose ambitions to be the wife of the President of the United States nudged him down a career path that was not his choice and that he was ill-suited for, instead of encouraging him in his goals and to use his talents and gifts.
stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting book. I wanted to skim a little, the Nook version is over 1200 pages. But Goodwin is such a good writer that you can't skim...reads like a novel!
papidoc's review against another edition
5.0
What a marvelous juxtaposition of the intersections and interactions between Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the muckrakers of the period (Ida Tarbell, William Allen White, Lincoln Steffens, and others) who were among our first true investigative journalists. In her usual "make a really hard job look easy" style, Doris Kearns Goodwin has provided us with another insightful, perspective-altering view of that time period.
I found myself being no less impressed with TR's accomplishments, work ethic, and leadership than before (after having read several biographies of him), but a little disappointed in his pride and arrogance. That especially came through as he reconstructed history so that he could believe that Taft's election was entirely due to TR's own machinations. When Taft saw it otherwise, TR engineered a years-long estrangement of the two formerly close friends. And this in the midst of traumatic personal (mostly) troubles experienced by Taft shortly after beginning his presidential term, such as the strokes experienced by his wife, Nellie. Those may be one reason he seemed a bit disengaged from his work, though he himself acknowledged that he was not the kind of energetic, glad-handing extrovert TR had been as President. To his credit, Taft never stopped trying to reconnect with Roosevelt, and to my great appreciation, was eventually successful in doing so. That episode reminded me just a bit of the 14 years estrangement between two other close friends, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who also eventually reconciled.
Toward the end of the book I began to realize that while I still see Roosevelt as the more accomplished politician, the stronger and more effective leader, and the more exciting of the two men, I think Taft was probably the better man. Both had strong and positive values, but I think Taft was somewhat the better in living consistently in accordance with his values. Roosevelt departed from them once in a while, no doubt justifying it by considering that sometimes the end justifies the means. However, my own feeling is that those are precisely the times when it is most important that a person live up to his or her values, and Taft seems to have been the better in that regard.
I also think, and I believe that Taft himself would agree, that he allowed himself to be pushed into the presidency when he was much better suited to a seat on the Supreme Court, to which he was eventually appointed after serving as POTUS. I am glad that he had that opportunity.
Also, it was fascinating to see the emergence of investigative journalism through the actions of S.S. McClure, McClure's Magazine, and the aforementioned journalists. They not only brought about a new way of acting as journalists, but also began an era of direct intervention of, and interaction with, the politicians of the day, an approach that continues (though not with the same success, I think) to this day.
All in all, this was a fascinating treatment of the men and women of that time period, and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone with consonant interests. Well done, Dr. Goodwin!
I found myself being no less impressed with TR's accomplishments, work ethic, and leadership than before (after having read several biographies of him), but a little disappointed in his pride and arrogance. That especially came through as he reconstructed history so that he could believe that Taft's election was entirely due to TR's own machinations. When Taft saw it otherwise, TR engineered a years-long estrangement of the two formerly close friends. And this in the midst of traumatic personal (mostly) troubles experienced by Taft shortly after beginning his presidential term, such as the strokes experienced by his wife, Nellie. Those may be one reason he seemed a bit disengaged from his work, though he himself acknowledged that he was not the kind of energetic, glad-handing extrovert TR had been as President. To his credit, Taft never stopped trying to reconnect with Roosevelt, and to my great appreciation, was eventually successful in doing so. That episode reminded me just a bit of the 14 years estrangement between two other close friends, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who also eventually reconciled.
Toward the end of the book I began to realize that while I still see Roosevelt as the more accomplished politician, the stronger and more effective leader, and the more exciting of the two men, I think Taft was probably the better man. Both had strong and positive values, but I think Taft was somewhat the better in living consistently in accordance with his values. Roosevelt departed from them once in a while, no doubt justifying it by considering that sometimes the end justifies the means. However, my own feeling is that those are precisely the times when it is most important that a person live up to his or her values, and Taft seems to have been the better in that regard.
I also think, and I believe that Taft himself would agree, that he allowed himself to be pushed into the presidency when he was much better suited to a seat on the Supreme Court, to which he was eventually appointed after serving as POTUS. I am glad that he had that opportunity.
Also, it was fascinating to see the emergence of investigative journalism through the actions of S.S. McClure, McClure's Magazine, and the aforementioned journalists. They not only brought about a new way of acting as journalists, but also began an era of direct intervention of, and interaction with, the politicians of the day, an approach that continues (though not with the same success, I think) to this day.
All in all, this was a fascinating treatment of the men and women of that time period, and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone with consonant interests. Well done, Dr. Goodwin!
ilovestory's review against another edition
3.0
I was hoping to learn more about Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft as people. I did get insights into their personalities through this book, but it was more focused (as the title implies) on how both men used the press to achieve goals, and political battles. It did not hold my interest as well as I would have hoped, though I can't point to any flaw in the writing. Perhaps it just wasn't a topic as interesting to me as I would have thought it would be.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting book on the rise and fall of the progressive movement almost synonymous with Theodore Roosevelt's career. Goodwin makes the case that the progressive journalists of McClure's, Roosevelt, and Taft comprised a three-way symbiosis that accomplished quite a bit for a while. She also makes the case that Roosevelt was too much of an egotist to get out of his own way and it bit hi at the end.
Taft comes out the more likable man in the end. He had the purer of intentions and believed the work was more important than the man in the office. I also empathized with him a lot.
Fascinating tidbit - Roosevelt proposed social security in 1912 when he was campaigning for his "Bull Moose" run.
Taft comes out the more likable man in the end. He had the purer of intentions and believed the work was more important than the man in the office. I also empathized with him a lot.
Fascinating tidbit - Roosevelt proposed social security in 1912 when he was campaigning for his "Bull Moose" run.
schneiderc89's review against another edition
5.0
Doris Kearns Goodwin is an incredible author. She somehow gets the reader to become personally connected to the characters. By the end of this book you feel like you know Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. You celebrate their victories and achievements, and you weep through their sorrows. There’s so much I learned about their friendship, their ability to make progress happen and how essential True Journalism was for the progressive era. Without this team, the progressive era doesn’t earn that title and the lives of millions of Americans are affected.
I highly recommend this book. Yes, I agree with the majority of reviews that this is a LONG book but if you take your time and soak it all in, by the time it ends you’ll still want to know more.
I highly recommend this book. Yes, I agree with the majority of reviews that this is a LONG book but if you take your time and soak it all in, by the time it ends you’ll still want to know more.
shanzberg's review against another edition
4.0
really good book, even though it took forever to finish! i didn't know a lot about roosevelt or taft before reading this, and the in-depth look at their friendship was really interesting. i also loved how DKG incorporated the influence of journalism seamlessly. the end was a little draggy, but this totally kept my attention. not as dramatic as team of rivals, but a great read that really made history come to life. lots of parallels to issues being debated today.
expatally's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect read for today's political times. Interesting to see how important journalism was to control the monopolies during Roosevelt and Taft's tenures as Presidents and interesting to apply that to today's focus on the media and politics.
I knew very little about Taft except his physical side. After reading this book, I find it disappointing that the bombastic and charismatic personality of Roosevelt completely overshadowed such a quiet and ethical man.
And the primaries....to learn that the discord of modern primaries is nothing new. Doris Kearns Goodwin makes history interesting and applicable to modern times again in this extensively researched book.
I knew very little about Taft except his physical side. After reading this book, I find it disappointing that the bombastic and charismatic personality of Roosevelt completely overshadowed such a quiet and ethical man.
And the primaries....to learn that the discord of modern primaries is nothing new. Doris Kearns Goodwin makes history interesting and applicable to modern times again in this extensively researched book.
gentlemangeek's review against another edition
5.0
Doris Kearns Goodwin has to be one of my favorite biographers. In Bully Pulpit she managed to craft a vivid image of two fascinating men and the impact they had on a rapidly changing early 20th century America.
What surprised me was how often I found parallels between 1900 America and 2015 Mexico.
The lack of regulation, a democracy rife with cronyism and corruption, and very powerful group of business that exploit all of the above to further enrich themselves.
Mexico desperately needs a 21s century Teddy Roosevelt.
What surprised me was how often I found parallels between 1900 America and 2015 Mexico.
The lack of regulation, a democracy rife with cronyism and corruption, and very powerful group of business that exploit all of the above to further enrich themselves.
Mexico desperately needs a 21s century Teddy Roosevelt.
modernviking's review against another edition
5.0
As with all her books, it's a massive and superb work of history and analysis. What I didn't expect was how it would entirely change my view of Taft, from little more than a punchline to someone who has unfairly been forgotten by history.