She still has hope

Let’s start with the confession. I have not read any of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s books.

But after attending the Weinstein-Rosenthal Forum on the evening of Monday, October 7 at the University of Richmond, before I croak I will read her books.

Author Goodwin’s four books about “her guys”—Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson have forever placed her as the extraordinary storyteller of the lives of these unique American presidents.

For over an hour, she handled every question from former University of Richmond president, Ed Ayers, who served as the moderator.

A fast talker, Mrs. Goodwin explained why her books have been so successful—she knows how to tell the stories that formed the lives of her subjects. She answered with transparency, grace, dignity, respect, humor, deep thought, and personal anecdotes about her focused research and writing on these presidents.

The Steven Spielberg movie, Lincoln, is based upon Goodwin’s book, The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. She took the audience on a brief, but insightful walk into how the movie was developed from a behind the scenes perspective.

Throughout the interview, Mrs. Goodwin gave the audience lots to ponder. She easily transitioned on topics from the past to the present.

She cited examples of leadership from each president. And it was very clear that each man possessed a dogged determination and endurance to lead America.

Without any hesitation, Mrs. Goodwin said that “empathy and humility” are essential leadership traits that are sorely absent in many of America’s political candidates today.

And despite the internal and world challenges that America now faces, Mrs. Goodwin still has hope for our country.

Her hope is grounded in her study of our history.

She reminded the audience that America persevered through the challenges of the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II, our struggles with racial injustices and the Vietnam War.

I agree with Mrs. Goodwin that we persevered. However in my 71 years of living, I have never been so concerned about the internal instability of our imperfect America.

In the movie, Lincoln, there is an intense scene where President Lincoln is working to secure two votes for the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery.

Around a table, emotionally charged statements and questions are rapidly fired at him from Preston Blair, James Ashley, and Montgomery Blair.

In the midst of this verbal fury, Mr. Lincoln slams his hand down on the table. For a few seconds, the room becomes quiet.

Then, Mr. Lincoln launches his own passionate points countering their objections.

Screenwriter, Tony Kushner’s words in that scene are compelling. I’m reminded of America’s current political situation, when Mr. Lincoln states: “See what is before you, see the here and now, that’s the hardest thing, the only thing that accounts.”

Our empathy and humility have been blindsided by our political division. I fear we are incapable of seeing what is currently before us. Our ailment, our nonstop political bickering, prevents us from seeing the urgency of our here and now.

Why is it so hard for us to see that these political liabilities can potentially lead to a complete downfall of America?

Is this what we want for our children and grandchildren?

Monday night, I could hear in Mrs. Goodwin’s voice that hope has not departed her soul.

With hurricanes pounding our shores, a perilous November election rapidly approaching, and troubling turmoil throughout the world, it would be easy to abandon hope and let doom and gloom sink our hearts.

Yet, my old heart hopes that we, Americans, will do the hardest thing— regain our sight with empathy and humility so that we can see the “here and now of what is before us.”