The Bully Pulpit

Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism

By: Doris Kearns Goodwin

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 36 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the 2015 Audie Award for History/Biography and Finalist for Audiobook of the Year

Audie Award, History/Biography, 2015

After Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, Doris Kearns Goodwin wields her magic on another larger-than-life president, and another momentous and raucous American time period as she brings Theodore Roosevelt, the muckraking journalists, and the Progressive Era to life.

As she focused on the relationships between Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in No Ordinary Time, and on Lincoln and his team in Team of Rivals, Goodwin describes the broken friendship between Teddy Roosevelt and his chosen successor, William Howard Taft. With the help of the "muckraking" press - including legendary journalists Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, William Allen White, and editor Sam McClure - Roosevelt had wielded the Bully Pulpit to challenge and triumph over abusive monopolies, political bosses, and corrupting money brokers. Roosevelt led a revolution that he bequeathed to Taft only to see it compromised as Taft surrendered to money men and big business. The rupture between the two led Roosevelt to run against Taft for president, an ultimately futile race that resulted in the election of Democrat Woodrow Wilson and the diminishment of Theodore Roosevelt's progressive wing of the Republican Party.

Like Goodwin's chronicles of the Civil War and the Great Depression, The Bully Pulpit describes a time in our history that enlightened and changed the country, ushered in the modern age, and produced some unforgettable men and women.

©2013 Doris Kearns Goodwin (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

“Few audio productions this year are likely to match, or deserve as much praise as, this history of the Progressive Era and the presidential friendship that shaped, and was destroyed by, its politics... Edward Herrmann is simply her most simpatico reader...his steady, unflagging delivery is perfectly attuned to her narrative voice and, without mimicry, to the broad array of voices, personalities, and events that highlight this rich personal and social drama.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“Swiftly moving account of a friendship that turned sour, broke a political party in two and involved an insistent, omnipresent press corps. . . . It’s no small achievement to have something new to say on Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency, but Goodwin succeeds admirably. A notable, psychologically charged study in leadership.”(Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

Who Knew?

DKG and her incredibly researched work opened my eyes to the era of the turn of the century. I had no idea about McClure's magazine and the evolution of the importance of journalism at that time. I also had no idea just how progressive the Republican party had been at some point in the past, though those days are long gone.

Great read, albeit lengthy and detailed. Recommend for anyone with an interest in critical periods of American history.

Very timely for a century old tale

Well read and meticulously researched. In light of the politics and journalism of today, it is very enlightening.

A fabulous book

Profoundly well researched & presented. This book absolutely brings to life the political careers of T Roosevelt and W Taft, the press- the "fourth branch" of the government, and the United States. It is so much more germane now!

Great, but not Team of Rivals

Great narrator, good story, just not as good as DKG's Team of Rivals. I didn't expect the stories of McClure's staff, which was beautifully woven in and interesting. there were a few set spots in the early middle and the story lacked any real suspense or conflict until the 1912 election. Still worth the read.

Excellent way to tell each man's story.

Would you consider the audio edition of The Bully Pulpit to be better than the print version?

No

What did you like best about this story?

Using the contrast in their respective personalities to tell the story of each man. Also, the considerable research into their lives and excerpts.

Which scene was your favorite?

No scene in particular, just the relationships revealed, not only between TR and Taft, but the role their wives played in their lives.

Fantastic Book, Very Good Narration

Once again, Goodwin has written a masterpiece. The topic itself is engaging, and Goodwin digs into the historical material with care and enthusiasm. She also weaves the facts into a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable narrative. There are few serious scholars with Goodwin's skill at storytelling. Moreover, the narration was very well done. Clean and crisp, consistent without being boring. Highly recommend both this book and this audiobook.

History Comes to Life

Doris Goodwin does it again capturing presidential politics, journalism, a time, using incredible prose, insight, and expansive knowledge.

Exciting, Detailed, and Comprehensive

an outstanding read. Narration is excellent. the writing is paired so well with narration that when the relationship between Theodore and Taft is jubilant you can't wait to hear more. but when the split occurs you're left sadden. the portrait both men seems fair and unbiased. for the Casual history fan the enlightenment of Sam McClure's influence in the political landscape is eye-opening.

Guidebook for Effective Politicians

What did you love best about The Bully Pulpit?

This book had such an enveloping sense of context. The time period covered is relatively short, but showing the perspective from the Taft's point-of-view and the "muckraker" journalists integration into the happenings of the time provide a well-rounded picture of the characters and made clear the significance of the relationships on the policies of the day.

Have you listened to any of Edward Herrmann’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first performance by Ed Hermann that I've heard on Audible choices. He told thie story with perfection and I will be checking out any others that he has don.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene in the restaurant where Taft approached Roosevelt and they both moved toward toward a more congenial relationship because they were not "small" men, after all.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed getting to "know" Edith Roosevelt, Nellie Taft and the entire cast of muckraker journalists as people. This was the personal layer of the context. I'm glad there was room for it, even though the policy and historical events were the engine that drove the book for me.

Excellent combination of three different subjects

Any additional comments?

I bought this audiobook since I enjoyed other books by Doris Kearns Goodwin, I think Edward Hermann is a great reader, and the reviews looked good. I didn't pay much attention to the title, other than Theodore Roosevelt appeared to be the main subject.

But actually, all three subjects (Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and the "birth" of investigative journalism) were treated almost equally, and were interwoven with great skill throughout the book. I already knew a great deal about Theodore Roosevelt, but knew next to nothing of Taft. I greatly enjoyed learning more about him, and also about the history of some of the great investigative journalists in the early 20th century.

This book is long, but well worth it. I highly recommend it.