Historian and political scientist Doris Kearns Goodwin won the Pulitzer Prize for No Ordinary Time, a biography of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. She wrote the definitive book on Abraham Lincoln, Team of Rivals. Now, with Leadership: In Turbulent Times, out September 18, she reveals the management secrets of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. Here, she talks with Adam Grant—the Wharton organizational psychologist, author (Give and Take, Originals), and podcast host (TED’s WorkLife)—about what we can learn from these presidents about storytelling, crisis management, and having a life beyond work.
Fast Company: What motivated you to write the book?
Doris Kearns Goodwin: I’d been speaking to a lot of business audiences about Team of Rivals, but also about Franklin Roosevelt and Johnson, and I realized that I was talking about leadership. I started looking at [these presidents] through that lens, and I felt like I was finding them anew. This started five years ago. Obviously, I hadn’t thought of leadership in turbulent times as being as important as it is today. But, oh my gosh, we’re in turbulent times! I realize now that seeing these leaders who met the challenges of their times—which were worse than those of today—can provide us with lessons and solace.
FC: I think of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt as among the greatest presidents in history. Why did Johnson also make the cut?
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