Quotes From "The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft And The Golden Age Of Journalism" By Doris Kearns Goodwin

We have the right to demand that if we find men against whom there is not only suspicion, but almost a certainty that they have had collusion with men whose interests were in conflict with the interests of the public, they shall, at least, be required to bring positive facts with which to prove there has not been such collusion; and they ought themselves to have been the first to demand such an investigation." -Teddy Roosevelt . Doris Kearns Goodwin

Go ahead, and fear not. You will have a full library at your service. Doris Kearns Goodwin

(Taft's mother's) losing her firstborn had convinced her that children are treasures lent not given and that they may be recalled at any time. Parents, she firmly believed, could never love their children too much. Doris Kearns Goodwin

I read them (articles TR wrote on his honeymoon) all over to Edith and her corrections and help were most valuable to me. Doris Kearns Goodwin

One journalist complemented another that his article on a dispute, "had made both sides see themselves as they are. Doris Kearns Goodwin

He (William Howard Taft) had little patience with the unconscious arrogance of conscious wealth and financial success. Doris Kearns Goodwin

I have plenty of information now, but I can't get it into words. I'm afraid it's too big a task for me. I wonder if I will find everything in life too big for my abilities. Well, time will tell." Theodore Roosevelt, writing in naval history in his spare time while in law school Doris Kearns Goodwin

As soon as (Teddy Roosevelt) received an assignment for a paper or project, he would set to work, never leaving anything to the last minute. Prepared so far ahead "freed his mind" from worry and facilitated fresh, lucid thought. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Of Teddy Roosevelt and his siblings, the author writes they were, "armed with an innate curiosity and discipline fostered by his remarkable father. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Their lifelong love of learning, their remarkable wide-ranging intellectual curiosity, was fostered primarily by their father. He read aloud to them at night, eliciting their responses to works of history and literature. He organized amateur plays for them, encourage pursuit of special interests, prompted them to write essays on their readings, and urge them to recite poetry. Doris Kearns Goodwin

She was never satisfied with anything less than perfection, but she was no grind. She was too interested in people. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Whereas Taft discouraged the young Yale student from extracurricular reading, fearful it would detract from required courses, Roosevelt read widely yet managed to stand near the top of his class. The breath of his numerous interests allowed him to draw on knowledge across various disciplines, from zoology in philosophy and religion, from poetry and drama to history and politics. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Why bother with fictional characters and plots when the world was full of more marvelous stories that were true, with characters so fresh, so powerful, so new, that they stepped from into the narratives under their own power? Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Yale graduate who had refused to read outside the course curriculum (the future Pres. Taft) suddenly found himself inspired. Doris Kearns Goodwin

If he (Teddy Roosevelt) lacked Will Taft's immediate charisma, gradually his classmates could not resist the spell of his highly original personality. Doris Kearns Goodwin

(Theodore) Roosevelt confessed early fascination with "girls'stories" such as Little Man and Little Women and An Old-Fashioned Girl. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Edith (the future Mrs. Teddy Roosevelt) developed a lifelong devotion to drama and poetry. "I have gone back to Shakespeare, as I always do, " she would write seven decades later. Doris Kearns Goodwin

As ever, books remained a medium through which Theodore and Edith connected and interpreted larger world. Doris Kearns Goodwin

According to his habit, Theodore Roosevelt sought to harness anxiety through action. Doris Kearns Goodwin

Theodore Roosevelt's father wrote him, "I fear for your future. We cannot stand so corrupt a government for any great length of time. Doris Kearns Goodwin

People will love him (Theodore Roosevelt) for the enemies he has made. Doris Kearns Goodwin