“That experience of just listening to him made me want to study him.” “It was an extraordinary experience to get to know Lyndon Johnson,” she said. Instead, the two developed a close working relationship, and Kearns Goodwin later assisted him in the preparation of his memoirs. Kearns Goodwin shared she was certain Johnson would kick her out of the program after it became known she was an anti-Vietnam War advocate. Kearns Goodwin reflected on her experience as a 24-year-old White House Fellow, working directly for President Lyndon Johnson during his last year in the White House.

Sarah Nytroe, Ph.D., division head of liberal arts and social sciences, moderated the event, asking Kearns Goodwin a range of questions. The world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author shared personal stories and insights into her storied career with a crowd of more than 1,100 during the 32nd Rev. I must say that love of storytelling and wanting to bring my mother back to young life, just wanting to bring people who are no longer alive back to life ended up being a love of history.”ĭoris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Rheumatic fever had left the elder Kearns with a damaged heart, and books gave her an escape into the world. That love developed, in part, due to her mother’s fragile health. Doris Kearns Goodwin has had a love of history since she was 6 years old.

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