Brian Jackson

Associate Professor of Physics at Boise State University

  • About
  • Research
    • CV
    • Joining the Boise State Planetary Science Research Group
    • Ultra-short-period planet database
    • The Short Period Planets Group — S(u)PerP(i)G
    • Google Scholar Page
    • Code
  • Teaching
  • Press
  • Extracurricular Activities
    • Field Trips
  • Public Outreach
    • Boise State’s Astronomical Observatory

_The Bully Pulpit_ by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Posted by admin on June 6, 2016
Posted in: Books. Tagged: American history, politics, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft.

51+mQ-ZXBcLUntil very recently, I didn’t think I had a real interest in history. I don’t remember my high school history classes too fondly, and most of the history books I’ve read are about the history of science.

That really changed after I read Goodwin’s Team of Rivals on Lincoln’s life. She painted such a detailed and lively portrait of Lincoln and his world that it read more like a movie script than a textbook.

The Bully Pulpit was the same for me. The few times I’ve encountered documentaries of Theodore Roosevelt, he certainly seemed a compelling character, but this was the first book I’ve ever read about his life.

It was also the first time I ever read about journalism in the Progressive Era, and although I’d heard the term “muckrackers” before, I had no idea it originated with Theodore Roosevelt.

I also had no idea that the Philippines was once controlled by the United States or that William Howard Taft was the first governor.

Goodwin explores Roosevelt’s and Taft’s youths and the development of their deep friendship as they embarked on their political careers in Washington DC. She follows the intertwined ascent of both men into the presidency and the subsequent presidential campaign which dissolved their friendship, paining both men and the American people. Finally, she recounts the heart-warming scene of their reconciliation in the lobby of a hotel not too long before Roosevelt’s death, a reunion that drew applause from the gathered crowd and helped heal the nation.

Only two things I found a bit wanting in the story:

(1) Goodwin doesn’t discuss in much detail what both men did legislatively during their presidencies. Instead, she focused on a handful of specific bills and executive actions, such Roosevelt’s use of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up large, market-manipulating trusts, although I suppose such a discussion could easily devolve into mind-numbing details.

(2) I also wasn’t completely clear on why or when Roosevelt turned against Taft. To be sure, Goodwin describes the scandals that probably soured the relationship (e.g., the Pinchot-Ballinger Controversy). But given how close the two men were before and how loyal Roosevelt was to other friends, it wasn’t clear to me why such controversies made Roosevelt so hostile toward Taft. Goodwin never really pinpoints a time when the relationship turned. Given how central that change is to the story, it would have been nice to know more about it. Since Roosevelt seemed convinced of his own indispensability to the Progressive movement, maybe he would have been dissatisfied with anyone else as president, no matter what he did.

But, on balance, this book is really a fascinating read, even to a non-history-buff.

Posts navigation

← A Man Named “Couch” and an Imposter Moon
Sand and Stars at the Boise WaterShed →
  • Twitter: decaelus

    Brian Jackson
    • @TylerJ_Brown @KTVB People do wear masks during flu season. If you rode a train in Tokyo even before covid, you wou… https://t.co/eG1gvAV5Gw about 3 hours ago in reply to TylerJ_Brown
    • @TylerJ_Brown @KTVB They have saved lives - https://t.co/V3YklgxjCE. about 3 hours ago in reply to TylerJ_Brown
    • @TylerJ_Brown @KTVB It doesn’t. Madison County has the highest infection rate. Ada is 13th. -… https://t.co/Ej6EEtUiwI about 3 hours ago in reply to TylerJ_Brown
    @decaelus
  • Recent Posts

    • Third Thursday Planetarium Show – 2021 Feb 18
    • First Friday Astronomy – Psyche: Journey to a Metallic World – 2021 Mar 5
    • Borah High School Career Fair – 2021 Jan 26
    • Third Thursday Planetarium Show – 2021 Jan 21
    • First Friday Astronomy – How To Talk So Science Journalists Will Listen – 2021 Feb 5
  • Archives

    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Parament by Automattic.