The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became President: A Book Talk with Doris Kearns Goodwin, in conversation with NBC News’ Kristen Welker
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
From #1 New York Times bestselling author, Pulitzer Prize winner, and leading historian Doris Kearns Goodwin comes an essential middle grade guide to Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson and how they became leaders. They grew up and lived in very different worlds—Lincoln was poor and uneducated, his frontier cabin home deep in the harsh wilderness; Theodore Roosevelt hailed from an elegant home in the heart of New York City and traveled the world with his family; Franklin Roosevelt loved the outdoors surrounding his family’s rural estate where he was the center of attention; and Lyndon Johnson’s modest childhood home had no electricity or running water but provided a window into Texas politics. So how did each of them do it—rise to become President of the United States? What did these four kids have individually—and have in common—that made them the ones to lead the country through some of its most turbulent times? Come hear the answers from Doris Kearns Goodwin on October 23!
About the Author: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin is a presidential historian, international keynote speaker, Pulitzer Prize-winning, New York Times #1 best-selling author and a partner in Pastimes Productions.
Doris is often called upon by the news media and late night TV hosts as well as hundreds of companies, educational institutions and nonprofits to share her vast knowledge of leadership and provide historical context for events of the current day.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers published Doris’ first book for young readers, The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became President, illustrated by award-winning artist Amy June Bates. Especially tailored for use as an educational tool, Doris brings to this new book decades of scrupulous research combined with deep knowledge of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson. Adapted by Ruby Shamir from Doris’ seventh book, Leadership In Turbulent Times, the two books have in common that they provide an accessible and essential road map for aspiring and established leaders in every field, and for all of us in our everyday lives. To learn more about Doris Kearns Goodwin, visit doriskearnsgoodwin.com/about-doris.
Kristen Welker, NBC News
Moderator, Meet the Press
Kristen Welker is moderator of NBC News’ Meet the Press. She is the second woman and first journalist of color to moderate the program and her reporting and analysis appears across all NBC News platforms, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, TODAY, NBC News NOW, and NBCNews.com. Prior to assuming the moderator’s chair in September 2023, Welker served as the co-anchor of Weekend TODAY and NBC News chief White House correspondent, where she led the network’s coverage of the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.
Since assuming the moderator’s chair, Welker has conducted news-making interviews with administration officials, candidates, elected leaders, and foreign heads of state – including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, every major 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, House Speaker Mike Johnson and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Welker was first introduced to Meet the Press audiences in 2022 as a co-anchor for Meet the Press NOW, the daily streaming program on NBC News NOW, and as a fill-in anchor for Sunday’s Meet the Press.
Kristen Welker is moderator of NBC News’ Meet the Press. She is the second woman and first journalist of color to moderate the program and her reporting and analysis appears across all NBC News platforms, including NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, TODAY, NBC News NOW, and NBCNews.com. Prior to assuming the moderator’s chair in September 2023, Welker served as the co-anchor of Weekend TODAY and NBC News chief White House correspondent, where she led the network’s coverage of the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.
Since assuming the moderator’s chair, Welker has conducted news-making interviews with administration officials, candidates, elected leaders, and foreign heads of state – including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, every major 2024 Republican presidential candidate, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, House Speaker Mike Johnson and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Welker was first introduced to Meet the Press audiences in 2022 as a co-anchor for Meet the Press NOW, the daily streaming program on NBC News NOW, and as a fill-in anchor for Sunday’s Meet the Press.