Doris Kearns Goodwin says Obama has the stuff of greatness

[BeyondGeography]

Hillary, not so much.

Here's what she had to say on Russert's Saturday evening show last night re. qualities that make a great President. This is lifted from the Obama blog, with many thanks to Arizona Grandma:

1. withstand adversity
She feels that it tells a lot about a candidate if that person has faced adversity and survived. In regard to Obama said “he had fear growing up from not knowing which world he belonged in and struggled with that. That strength,” she said, “makes him a more empathetic person and can now draw from that strength. And it will make him able to handle the adversity as president.”
2. Diverse perspectives.
The candidate that has diversity can see the world through diverse perspectives. That person is willing to listen to all points of view and then make a firm decision. She questioned Hillary’s inner circle, her “handlers” and wondered if they were leading her in accordance with the polls rather than with her personality.
3. Loyalty
The candidate must have the capacity for inspiring loyalty through their warmth, optimism, magic, inspiration. Those qualities will bring enthusiasm from their supporters. She said Barack connects to the hearts and minds with his extraordinary strength making people open and willing to his qualities and fresh ideas like they did with Kennedy. She said that Hillary doesn’t show empathy.
4. Ability to admit mistakes
People will reward for candor. For Hillary, she used the word rigid. For Romney, he flip-flops to curry favor. For Bush, his adamant denial of mistakes. On Obama, she said that speaking out strongly against the war counters his inexperience problems – it’s a judgment vs. experience issue and his judgment outweighs any perceived inexperience.
5. Manage emotions
This takes focus and control. They shouldn't blame and humiliate.
6. Define goals
She said the candidates need to define their goals for the nation which will mobilize their followers into action. She said Obama convinces people by educating them in a conversational manner that draws them in and makes them feel like they are a part of his big picture. She said Obama is not afraid to compromise and listen to other ideas.
7. Relax
She said the candidates need to learn how to relax and reflect to replenish their energy. They need to use humor and spend time with their family. They need to dedicate time to work, love and play equally. She mentioned Barack’s love of basketball and how it humanizes him.

[zanne]

1. `A few words on the "loyalty" part....

I went to my first Obama townhouse meeting about a week ago. It was a beautiful day, so they decided to hold it outside. It was very crowded, but I managed to get up front, becuase I'm an old lady with a cane. A young woman on crutches was right next to me. When he came out, we didn't realize it at first, because he was dressed so casually and has the air of someone who is never a stranger. He shook hands with everyone, which took awhile, then started with a greeting and took questions.

I'm kind of a shy person and hate speaking up in public, but everything felt so laid back that I asked him a question. After he answered me, the woman with crutches next to me said "I'm gonna try to get him to sign my cast". I told her I'd help her, but there were barricades and I wondered how she'd do it. When he was leaving, he passed by us and we both yelled out his name. She asked him about the cast and he said "Well, I don't know how I could do that with this barricade". She said 'no problem' and lifted her leg up on the barricade. I held her around the waist. He chuckled and said "you're shaking". She said "That's because of you". Then he flashed that bright smile and went back into the building. He has charisma and, like you posted, "connects to hearts and minds". Everybody who sees him speak is smitten.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Delightful story. Thanks for sharing.

:hi:

[liberaldemocrat7]

7. Edwards / Obama and put Bush and Cheney in the slammer.

Yes I will make that a bumper sticker later.

Oh and if you did not notice, Edwards looks a little like the late Robert F Kennedy Sr. and Obama looks a little like John F. Kennedy.

[zanne]

10. He does remind me a bit of JFK....

One of the people in the crowd said "I'd like to see children in the White House again". Those of us old enough to remember the administration of JFK knew what he was talking about.

[elizm]

4. LOVED your story...

And you are so right. He has Charisma. Everyone who sees him sees it instantly! :)

[Karmadillo]

3. Why Does Anyone Pay Attention To Doris Kearns Goodwin?

Not sure I would quote her with much enthusiasm. Obama has far more credible supporters elsewhere. Wonder why Russert had Goodwin on? Was liberal Democrat Margaret Carlson too busy pining for Fred Thompson?

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2007/5/6/111535/2902

Why Does Anyone Pay Attention To Doris Kearns Goodwin?
By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Sun May 06, 2007 at 10:15:35 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Putting aside her professional failings, which were very serious, plagiarism is one of the most serious sins in academia, why does anyone take Doris Kearns Goodwin seriously? As Atrios point out, she has said so many stupid things, such as this one on Bush's Mission Accomplished stunt:

Well, you see, I think what worked about the speech the other night was not only the imagery. The imagery is a kind of static thing, even the plane going in, but what made it work was partly what David said. There’s a war behind it. It was a real event, and by speaking to those soldiers who were on their way home, it gave it such an emotional connection between him and the soldiers, just like when Reagan spoke on the anniversary of D-Day before that incredible rock. And people had climbed up that rock and those rangers were there. There’s a connection then between the commander in chief and the troops that you cannot take away. So I think it is crazy to criticize it. I think it was a good thing he did for himself, for the country and the Democrats have plenty of other things to criticize, but it’s silly to go on about that.

(Emphasis supplied.) Doris Kearns Goodwin is silly, to put it mildly. Tim Russert is grilling George Tenet this morning on all the things he said in the past. When do pundits get grilled for all the things they said in the past? When is there accountability for them?

http://www.slate.com/?id=2061056

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Liar
First she plagiarized. Then she claimed it wasn't plagiarism.
By Timothy Noah
Posted Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2002, at 4:43 PM ET

<edit>

Goodwin no longer teaches at Harvard, but last year the Ann Radcliffe Trust gave her a Women's Professional Achievement Award, which is granted to someone who shows "exceptional leadership in his or her professional field, and has used this leadership position to have a meaningful impact on women and to benefit his or her community." In 1996 Goodwin was awarded the Radcliffe Medal, which honors individuals "whose lives and work have had a significant impact on society." Now that Goodwin has not only committed plagiarism, but lied about whether it was plagiarism (and, incidentally, paid hush money to one of the people she plagiarized), Harvard's Board of Overseers (i.e., its board of directors) might ordinarily be expected to revoke these awards. Except—whoops!—Goodwin is also a Harvard Overseer!

Please don't tell the freshmen.

<Update, Jan. 25: The author Goodwin paid off, Lynne McTaggart, now tells the Weekly Standard's Bo Crader (who broke this story) that the plagiarism was more extensive than has been reported. She also says that she received "a substantial monetary settlement" from Goodwin, not "a token sum.">

[mahina]

12. I've read several presidential biographies that she wrote,

and I think she knows a lot. She's got an excellent background, better than any other historian I've read anyway, on American presidents.
I've read her books on Lyndon Johnson and FDR, and I think she's damned smart. That she blew it once does not eliminate the rest of her excellent work.
Plus I happen to agree with her points.
That's why.

[Karmadillo]

14. Maybe knows a lot, but demonstrates poor judgment.

She plagiarized, lied about it, apparently paid off one of her plagiarized sources, and supported Bush's Mission Accomplished statement. With that kind of background, one might want to think twice before embracing the psycho-babble cited in the original post.

[Captain Hilts]

19. She hires too many other people to do research. Her FDR biography was missing...

some important first-hand sources.

She does, however, pick great topics and structures. The book on FDR and ER had a great premise as did the one about Lincoln's cabinet.

[PurityOfEssence]

26. She made a grade-school blunder about Appomatox...

Althought the Lincoln book was very good in many ways, she's obviously a serious hero-worshiper and she made a classic goof that sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb.

She says that Lee surrendered at the Appomatox Court House, as if it's a municipal building. Sheesh. Although many make this mistake, it's unseemly for a major historian to do so.

The name of the municipality was Appomatox Court House, and the surrender took place in the house of a private citizen named Wilmer McLean. It's not like this is an obscure fact or anything, he was quite a media topic of circumstances: Confederate officers used his earlier house in Northern Virginia as a headquarters during the first battle of Bull Run (okay, call it Manassas if you're a reb...) and a shell exploded in his kitchen. Since this was the first major battle of the eastern theatre of the war, he was quoted as saying that "the war began in my dining room and ended in my parlor". (Sure, there was significant fighting before and after, but it was a fun quip and a fairly well publicized bit of trivia at the time and since then.) There are also some alternate versions for "dining room", too, but the point's amply made, and it was widely known at the time.

I suppose if he'd surrendered at Harper's Ferry she'd think it happened on a boat in the middle of the river...

Quick edit here for fairness' sake: much as her propensity for hero worship wore thin during my reading of "Team of Rivals", it's a very interesting book and she has a lot to say. Obama's got a lot going for him, and it's not surprising she's a fan; there are more than a few parallels between him and Lincoln.

[State the Obvious]

5. I enjoyed that interview very much.

Just learning how each of these principles applied to different presidents was amazing.

Lincoln chose to work with those who ran against him. He didn't want a bunch of "yes men" around him.
JFK was able to define his goals in a way that would make people open to his ideas. (charisma)
LBJ never learned to relax....even at his ranch....

When she talked about "ability to admit mistakes", I could only think of President Bush....who obviously cannot. Only a strong leader can admit this.

I hope there is a repeat of the interview.

[nealmhughes]

6. Frankly, I am more interested in what Zinn, Foner, West and Smiley have to say than

Doris. . .

[Captain Hilts]

20. Zinn's turning into an old crank. nt

[illinoisprogressive]

8. what a fun article. Goodwin would know with her bios of lincolln and FDR

[Kingstree]

9. Go Obama!

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Doris Kearns Goodwin says Obama has "inexperience problems"

On that point, the famous plagerist is correct.

[AtomicKitten]

13. He could be a contender.

And he is grossly misunderstood by some here who carelessly lump into the typical anarchist categories of "corporatist" and worse.

Obama has all the right stuff. He just needs to break through the already-decided-by-the-establishment candidate's machine.

[Ethelk2044]

15. He is a good politician. He takes his time to build his base.

[Colobo]

16. Obama has greatness indeed. His presidency will be legendary.

[dansolo]

17. My only hope with Obama

Is that the party leaders who are trying to sabotage him in favor of Hillary piss him off to the point that he no longer feels beholden to them. I've always felt that he has a lot of potential, but that he has sided too much with the corporate interests in order to curry favor with the party leaders. That may change if he comes out on top of a bloody primary.

[Captain Hilts]

18. She could be right. But her Franklin and Eleanor book had lousy research. nt

[wisteria]

21. She also thinks McCain is wonderful and could be as great a president. n/t

" On Thursday morning, she called Don Imus and confessed her love for the sainted McCain. We don’t know if she’d read Broder’s column. But its themes? She had them down cold:

IMUS (5/11/06): Now, I’m hangin’ everything on McCain. And, um—

GOODWIN: Well, you know, he has this wonderful quality, I think, that people see in him what they want to see in him. You know, that, they—if they’re liberal, you know, they hope that there’s a liberal part of him. If they’re conservative, they hope there’s a conservative part in him. And that’s a really important quality, I think. And the most important thing is he’s got to keep that straight-talking honesty—not seeming to move for the wrong reasons. And I think he’s got a great shot because of that. I mean, I like him enormously too. And I’m sure he and I disagree on a lot of issues, and yet I have this feeling that he’s going to be a good leader. "


http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh051206.shtml

[oasis]

22. "Stuff of greatness". A shopworn phrase, but Doris is safe from copyright infringement.

This time.:eyes:

[gulliver]

25. Chuckle/smile.

;-0

[MODemocrat]

23. If Ego makes one great, Obama should make it to the top

At one time, I was rooting for him, but I believe he's too in love with himself now. He's being
accepted on his word, not his experience!

Go ahead, flame me, but I'm tired of him thinking he can walk on the water.:shrug:

[Colobo]

24. You support "Madame Inevitable"... so what can one expect?

[Guaranteed]

27. This is quite the endorsement. She makes interesting points as well. nt