The Makings of a Leader: A Review of Doris Kearns Goodwin's Leadership in Turbulent Times

Madison Stern

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Volume 20, Fall 2019, pp. 154-156 (Review)

Published by Johns Hopkins University Press DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/gia.2019.0027

For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/741056

[ This content has been declared free to read by the pubisher during the COVID-19 pandemic. ] travels with them all the way to their deaths. The Makings of All four have very divergent experiences, a Leader though Goodwin identifies certain facets of their lives, such as personal tragedy and A Review of Doris Kearns good timing, as key in their success as lead- ers. Though the book focuses entirely on the Goodwin’s Leadership in past without reference to the modern day, Turbulent Times Goodwin’s critique of modern leadership shines through the prose. Goodwin’s book Madison Stern examines the importance of adept leader- ship in times of division, though the traits that make these leaders well-suited for their Doris Kearns Goodwin. Leadership times vary. in Turbulent Times. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018. 473 pages. Hardcover $30. Becoming the Man Goodwin’s stories of the four men’s vastly different childhoods show the importance rom red apparel emblazoned with the of character that goes beyond formation by phrase “Make America Great Again” mere circumstances. Abraham Lincoln, her to increasingly divided rhetoric in first study, displays humility and a voracious FAmerican politics, any citizen of the world mind as he grows up in poverty, with anec- cannot help but watch as the United States dotes of the future president walking miles devours itself with its own polarized system. to find a proper English grammar book Some argue that the era of American hege- or borrowing books and candlelight from mony is over in part due to isolationist poli- neighbors.2 She particularly highlights his cies.1 As the future begins to look less certain empathy, noting his “ability to put himself for the country, one must ask: what American in the place of others, to imagine their situ- era are we hailing as great, and what made it ations and identify with their feelings.”3 For so? In Leadership in Turbulent Times, Doris Goodwin, this early empathy, mixed with a Kearns Goodwin examines the effects that growing ambition and an unsurpassed elo- four leaders in American history had on the quence, would later become one of the key country in some of its darkest hours. Good- features of his leadership style that she ap- win, a Pulitzer Prize winner and renowned plauds. In Franklin Roosevelt, she recognizes historian with over fifty years of experience, his adaptability, gained through continual follows Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roo- shifts in his life circumstances after his fa- sevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon ther’s health declined.4 For Goodwin, these B. Johnson through their lives. The book, vignettes of the great men’s youths aim to enlivening history with its heavy reliance provide the reader both a vivid, engaging on firsthand accounts of the four men in story and the honest truth that no single action, begins with the ripples of their up- formula made these men. Each grew up in bringing and their interest in politics and his unique situation, with varying degrees

madison stern is a student in georgetown university’s school of foreign service.

154 georgetown journal of international affairs tHe maKings of a leaDer of parenting and wealth and different paths the best and brightest, but those with dif- that led them eventually to politics. fering opinions to fill the seats in their cabi- nets. They learned to both hear the values of these dissenters as well as plug holes in their Living Up to the Challenges own arguments in order to present legisla- A key aspect of the narrative of each life that tion and compelling speeches to both Con- Goodwin focuses on is the personal trag- gress and the divided people of America. edy that befalls each leader in turn. From Goodwin identifies one of Johnson’s greatest these tragedies, Goodwin asserts, these men failures as his foreign policy in Vietnam, in learned some of their most critical lessons which he worked in an echo chamber, fail- as they dragged themselves up through the ing “to reach out either to dissenters within darkness and came out the other end. Cer- his own administration or to Southeast Asia tainly, just as their early lives are different, so scholars in universities and think tanks.”6 too are their tragedies. Lincoln copes with Otherwise, Goodwin asserts that each crippling depression, while Theodore Roos- successful leader had very particular traits evelt says that “the light has gone out” of his that fit like puzzle pieces with the needs of life after losing his mother and wife within the time, using their unique skills gained twenty-four hours, and Franklin Roosevelt primarily outside politics to better serve the is paralyzed by a sudden polio infection.5 In American people through action or legis- this, Lyndon B. Johnson’s narrative of losing lation. Lincoln’s empathy and level-head- an election to the Senate seems a little bit out edness helped guide America through the of place. It particularly stands out since the “fire” of the Civil War.7 Theodore Roosevelt other men had experienced their own failures learned through failure that humility could in politics, and those failures did not break serve one better than overabundant confi- them down, only pushed them to question dence. For FDR, his resilience and willing- their previous tactics. However, the ability ness to try any solution led to the economic to overcome adversity through reflection revival of a country in the midst of the Great and personal strength remains a theme that Depression. Johnson used the ambition that Goodwin identifies in their later successes had carried him all the way to the White as leaders. This section also helps to human- House to enact rapid domestic change. Each ize these revered men by telling some of the of these men showed excellent leadership lesser-known stories of their struggles as they traits, but the importance lies in how said moved toward their leadership positions. traits fit their times.

Becoming Great Moving Forward If the first two sections of the book seemed Goodwin’s Leadership in Turbulent Times to roam, each identifying myriad laudable offers an engaging picture of four critical qualities in the men without explicitly stat- American presidents, giving life to them so ing which would be useful to them, the third that they become more than history. This section finally brings together all of these life book suits both the casual reader of his- stories to help create a better understanding tory and a more deeply interested student of each president’s success in office. Here, or researcher, though it may hold the most Goodwin seemed to especially underline appeal for those aspiring to or holding lead- moments in which the men sought not only ership positions of any sort. Goodwin is

fall 2019, Volume XX 155 maDison stern

very careful to never offer a strict definition who would make the best leader, and what of leadership or a plan to gain power, sug- being a leader fit to the country’s unique po- gesting instead that, though eloquence and litical environment would mean. intelligence certainly play a large role, the best leaders are those who are adapted to their times, and this type of leader cannot be Notes made by any formula. This is neither a biog- 1. “The End of American Hegemony,” Economist, raphy of greatness, nor is it a how-to manual December 28, 2018, https://www.economist. for power. Goodwin creates her own niche com/the-world-in/2018/12/28/the-end-of in commenting on the modern political era -american-hegemony. without mentioning the 21st century, using 2. Doris Kearns Goodwin, Leadership in Tur- bulent Times (New York: Simon & Schuster, history to demonstrate that the unique abil- 2018), 11. ities that an innovative and visionary leader 3. Goodwin, 7. brings to the political scene help shape an 4. Goodwin, 45. era, for better or for worse. As the United 5. Goodwin, 125. States 2020 elections approach, perhaps vot- 6. Goodwin, 339. ers should begin wondering not only which 7. Goodwin, 212. nominee’s rhetoric they like best, but also

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