Presidential Historian & Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author

Massachusetts, USA
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Doris Kearns Goodwin Biography

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, public speaker, and Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times #1 best-selling author. Her eighth book, "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s," will be published on April 16, 2024. Artfully weaving together biography, memoir, and history, this new book takes readers on the emotional journey Doris and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin, embarked upon in the last years of his life as they delved into more than 300 boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved for more than fifty years. They soon realized they had before them an unparalleled personal time capsule of the 1960s, of the events and pivotal figures of the decade—John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, and especially Lyndon Johnson, who greatly impacted both their lives. The voyage of remembrance brought unexpected discoveries, forgiveness, and the renewal of old dreams, reviving the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this unfinished love story with America.

Goodwin’s previous books include the critically acclaimed and New York Times best-selling "Leadership: In Turbulent Times," which incorporates her five decades of scholarship studying Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. "Leadership" inspired the History Channel’s miniseries events "Abraham Lincoln," "Theodore Roosevelt," and "FDR," which Goodwin executive produced through her production company, Pastimes Productions, Inc.

Goodwin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in history for "No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II." Her "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" was awarded the Lincoln Prize and was in part the basis for Steven Spielberg’s highly acclaimed film "Lincoln." Well known for her appearances and commentary on television, Goodwin is seen frequently in documentaries and on television news, cable networks, and late-night talk shows. She even portrayed herself on an episode of the enduringly successful television show "The Simpsons."

Goodwin’s interest in presidential leadership was inspired by her experience as a 24-year-old White House Fellow, working directly for President Johnson in his last year in the White House, and later assisting him in the preparation of his memoirs. Her first book was the widely praised and enormously popular "Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream."

Goodwin graduated magna cum laude from Colby College. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Government from Harvard University, where she taught Government, including a course on the American Presidency. Goodwin lives in Boston. She was the first woman to enter the Boston Red Sox locker room in 1979 and is a devoted fan of the World Series-winning team.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/30/2025.

Doris Kearns Goodwin Speaking Topics

  • Leadership Lessons From The 1960s: A Front-Row Seat To History

    America’s “historian-in-chief” Doris Kearns Goodwin shares powerful insights from her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, providing a front-row seat to the corridors of power based on her own White House experiences and those of her husband, Richard Goodwin. Offering a captivating look at one of America’s most transformative decades and the leaders who shaped it, Goodwin reveals intimate examples and keen analysis of iconic figures—John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.—demonstrating how they influenced and navigated change, supplying invaluable insights for today’s leaders.

    Drawing poignant parallels between the turbulent 1960s and our own complex time, Goodwin offers timeless lessons that illustrate how effective leaders can galvanize public sentiment and drive progress, overcoming even the greatest of challenges.

    Through her masterful storytelling, audiences will gain fresh perspectives on leadership—change management, recruiting talent, decision making, teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence, resilience, and much more—that is sure to inspire and guide today’s leaders.

  • Leadership in Turbulent Times: Virtual Fireside Chat or Lecture

    At this challenging time in our nation’s history, as we face a cascading series of crises—a fight to protect democracy in Ukraine while we worry about the fragility of our democracy at home, a country more polarized than any time since the Civil War, “America’s historian-in-chief” Doris Kearns Goodwin puts this defining time in historical context. Not since the 1850s has our country been so politically divided, not since the Great Depression and World War II have we experienced such a string of collective hardships, and not since the 1960s have we struggled so for social and economic equality.

    Drawing from her most recent book, Leadership: In Turbulent Times, Goodwin transports us back in time to provide perspective and analysis as she helps us understand how the presidents she’s studied most closely—Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson—provide proof that as a country and a people we’ve been through most difficult times before and came through stronger. History, as Goodwin demonstrates, provides lessons, solace, and even hope.

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Doris Kearns Goodwin Videos

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Leadership In Turbulent Times - YouTube

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Leadership In Turbulent Times - YouTube

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The author, most recently, of Leadership in Turbulent Times ...

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Leadership in Turbulent Times (HD ...

Doris Kearns Goodwin: Leadership in Turbulent Times (HD ...

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin unveils her new book, Leadership: In Turbulent Times; a culmination of five decades of ...

Doris Kearns Goodwin: What we can learn from past presidents ...

Doris Kearns Goodwin: What we can learn from past presidents ...

http://www.ted.com Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about what we can learn from American presidents, including Abraham Lincoln and ...

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  • What topics does Doris Kearns Goodwin speak about?

    Doris Kearns Goodwin is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Female Leadership, History, Influential Women, Journalist, Leadership, Political, Women
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Doris Kearns Goodwin is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leadership Lessons From The 1960s: A Front-Row Seat To History, Leadership in Turbulent Times: Virtual Fireside Chat or Lecture, Inspiring and Motivating Employees in Turbulent Times, Team of Rivals: The Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln and No Ordinary Time: Three Leaders Who Shaped the American Century: Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt . The estimated speaking fee range to book Doris Kearns Goodwin for your event is available upon request. Doris Kearns Goodwin generally travels from MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tania Israel, Jodi Kantor, Laura Ling, Kimberlé Crenshaw and Reshma Saujani. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Doris Kearns Goodwin for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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