In This Issue The Director’s Chair .........................1 A Conversation with Bob Taft.........1 Reviews ..............................................3 New Books ........................................3 Coming Soon ....................................5 Connecting Readers and Ohio Writers September/October 2014 A Conversation with Bob Taft The Director’s Chair by David Weaver Dear Friends, On October 10, the Ohioana BT: Thanks, David. The Ohioana Library will celebrate its 85th Library has always had a special Eighty-five years—and counting. anniversary and present the 2014 significance for Hope and me-as On October 5, 1929, Ohio First Ohioana Awards in a special event a place that helps create an Ohio Lady Martha Kinney Cooper held at the Ohio Statehouse. We identity by highlighting and convened a meeting of thirteen are honored that former Ohio preserving the works of Ohio leaders from across the state to Governor Bob Taft will join us authors. set up an organization that would as a special guest and to accept solicit the donation of books by the Ohioana Book Award on DW: Governor, Theodore Ohio authors and on Ohio subjects behalf of presidential historian Roosevelt and William Howard for the library at the Governor’s Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her latest Taft made a great team in that Mansion. By the end of that book, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore historic period we know as the meeting, a board of trustees had Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Progressive Era that Doris Kearns been formed, a list of objectives and the Golden Age of Journalism, Goodwin writes about in The Bully adopted, and a director chosen. The is this year’s winner in the About Pulpit. They were very different Ohioana Library Association was Ohio category. I spoke with men in style, temperament, and born, embarking on a remarkable Governor Taft recently about personality. Do you think those journey that continues today. Ohioana, Goodwin’s book, and differences explain why they the remarkable legacy of his great became such great friends and On October 10, we will celebrate grandfather, William Howard Taft. allies and then, later on, such our 85th anniversary with two determined foes? events. First, our annual meeting DW: Governor Taft, let me first of will be held at the State Library of all thank you. You and Hope have BT: Their friendship had been Ohio at 2 p.m. At 6 p.m., we move been great friends and supporters formed in their earlier years to the beautiful Museum Gallery of of the Ohioana Library for many together in Washington. Taft and the Ohio Statehouse for the 2014 years. We’re delighted that you can Roosevelt were both progressives, Ohioana Awards. We are honored join us for the Ohioana Awards and advocates for civil service reform that former Governor Bob Taft to celebrate the 85th anniversary and efforts to break up business will be among our special guests. of Ohioana’s founding by one of monopolies. Their personalities With our award-winning authors, Hope’s predecessors as First Lady- were complementary-Roosevelt wonderful hors d’oeuvres, and Martha Kinney Cooper. an energetic talker and Taft a good Ohio wines, it promises to be a listener. TR was a natural political memorable night. 1 leader, bold and self-assured. But art of the sound bite or the kind Through its collection, publications, he needed someone like Taft, who of concise, direct talk required by awards, and events, Ohioana was steadier and worked well with electronic media. has truly become, in the words others, to help put his policies into of Cleveland playwright Jerome effect and troubleshoot problems DW: In 1921, President Taft Lawrence, “the literary Fort Knox that would arise, whether in realized his greatest ambition when of our state.” But we are not simply Panama, Cuba, or elsewhere. President Harding appointed him resting on our laurels. October as Chief Justice of the Supreme will also see the debut of the newly Of course their friendship ended Court, a role in which he would redesigned Ohioana Quarterly. with the election of 1912. Roosevelt serve until a month before his And next spring, we will move the was unhappy out of office and death in 1930. No man before or Ohioana Book Festival, our largest felt Taft was not carrying on a since has held both our nation’s and most popular event, to the heart number of his policies. Taft felt highest executive and judicial posts. of downtown Columbus. betrayed when his former friend The Bully Pulpit is the fourth book ran against him and, as a former about William Howard Taft to win We’re proud of Ohioana’s past. We’re judge, was shocked by Roosevelt’s an Ohioana Award-no other Ohio excited about its future. And we more radical proposals, such as political leader has been written thank all of you who have helped submitting judicial decisions to about as much. What would you to make this possible. Here’s to the public referendum. say is his greatest legacy? NEXT 85 years! DW: Stephen Colbert interviewed BT: Taft was miserable as president. David E. Weaver Doris Kearns Goodwin recently, He said, “Politics, when I am Executive Director and she said that while both in it, makes me sick.” He had a Roosevelt and Taft were passion for the law and his only important that we continue to study Republicans, today they would aspiration was to serve as Chief this period of American history? undoubtedly be called RINOs Justice. It was in that role that he by many in their party. I had to made his greatest contribution. He BT: It’s unfortunate that few young chuckle, because I know that’s a streamlined the administration of people today have a deep interest label you found yourself tagged justice and eliminated the court’s in the Progressive Era. It was a time with several times! In this age of backlog. Working collaboratively of excitement and reform in local, cable television, talk radio, and with other members of the court, state, and national governments. social media, how do you think he sought consensus among the It was the beginning of the end for Theodore Roosevelt and William justices wherever possible. One of smoke-filled rooms and corrupt Howard Taft would fare today as his great legacies is the stately and city bosses. The people won the candidates for political office? historic building that is home to right to directly elect U.S. senators the U.S. Supreme Court today. He and initiate laws and amendments BT: I think Goodwin is right, conceived of the need for a separate to their state constitutions. Fresh although the election of 1912 building for a separate branch of breezes were blowing through the pushed Roosevelt to the left and government, won approval from corridors of power, and government Taft to the right. As Goodwin the Congress, and was active in became more responsive to the points out, TR was a master in its design. Unfortunately, he died concerns of average workers and dealing with the media; I think he before the building was completed. families. Finally, that era reminds us would still be able to dominate the that with strong leadership, change debate if he were governing today DW: Finally, Governor, since for the better is possible. because he was such a dynamic, leaving office in 2007 you have fascinating personality. My great taught education and government DW: Thank you again, Governor grandfather would not do so well. at the University of Dayton. Do Taft, for taking time to talk with me. He was thoughtful about issues, but you find that young people are We look forward to seeing you at not politically very astute. I don’t interested in the Progressive the Ohio Statehouse on October 10. think he could have mastered the Era-and why do you think it is 2 Reviews Long, Loren. Otis and the Scarecrow. Philomel Books (New York, NY) 2014. HC $17.99. When a scarecrow is added to the farm where Otis the tractor lives, Otis and the farm animals are excited about making a new friend. When they greet him, however, he just stares at the cornfield with a frown on his face. So they leave him alone, and weeks pass. One rainy autumn day, however, when he and the animals are snuggled together under a tree, Otis can’t stop thinking about the solitary figure in the cornfield... Long’s illustrations, done largely in earth tones with pops of fall color, perfectly evoke rural autumn days and the playful antics of the farm animals. Although the scarecrow’s reaction at the end of the rainy day is unclear, this story does a wonderful job of showing how one small act of kindness can grow. Reviewed by Stephanie Michaels Univ. of Illinois Press (Urbana, IL) after a decade of job loss. Because NEW BOOKS 2014. PB $25.00. the city was home to the world’s The following books arrived at the This is the first comprehen- largest popcorn exporter at the Ohioana Library in August. Look sive history of Cincinnati’s King time, the Marion Popcorn Festival for them at your local library or Records, an influential independent was born. Rotuno-Johnson doc- bookstore! record label that released music uments the festival’s growth from by artists ranging from legendary that first year to an annual event Nonfiction banjo player Grandpa Jones to a that attracts more than 200,000 Dehan, Amy Miller. Cincinnati young James Brown. people for a weekend of parades, Silver 1788-1940. Cincinnati pageants, concerts, sports, and-of Art Museum & D Giles Limited Polley, Eva Louise.