re: Looking for a good Teddy Roosevelt bio

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin is actually a really great read because it’s not only a great bio of Teddy, but she gives a great in depth look at Taft as well.

The two were contemporaries that came up at the same time, became great allies to the point that Taft became his hand picked successor, but ultimately rivals.

I knew a lot about Teddy but Taft has been kind of forgotten and I have to say I gained great respect for him and sort of lost some for TR in the way he handled their relationship.

It’s also, as the name suggests, a study in the office of the Presidency itself at a time of intense change throughout the country and looks deeply into the role of the press and their influence on politics and society in general.


It’s honestly a fascinating read about a fascinating period of history in the same way her Team of Rivals encapsulated Lincoln and his cabinet during The Civil War.