Leadership in turbulent times

By: Judy Menish

Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian and Pulitzer Prize winning author, uses her considerable research skills and storytelling capabilities to give us a profile of four American presidents who became great leaders of this country during very difficult times. From Abraham Lincoln, through the Roosevelts and, finally, Lyndon Johnson, we hear amazing stories and facts in her 2018 book, “Leadership in Turbulent Times.”

Lincoln and Johnson came from humble beginnings; the Roosevelts from wealth.

Each man suffered personal tragedy which could have “done him in.” It would be years before any one of them would be ready to serve this nation as president. Abe Lincoln lost his mother when he was very young. Theodore Roosevelt lost his wife and mother within 12 hours of each other; and Johnson lost his father. Franklin Roosevelt contracted poliomyelitis and lost the use of his legs. Each man grew from their time of confusion and disappointment.

So how did they each bounce back from the tragedies and grow the “stuff” with which to be a great President? They each went in their own direction and found the strength they needed to face the future. Lincoln busied himself in extensive study and oration; Theodore left the New York assembly for the badlands of South Dakota; Franklin fled to his rehab center in Warm Springs, Georgia, and Johnson worked with youth in Texas and ran a Senate office in Washington, D.C. The Roosevelts and Lyndon Johnson all accepted lowly appointed government positions against the advice of their friends and/or party bosses. Success in those jobs was a great confidence builder for each.

All lost elections but they each ran again until they achieved victory.

When ready, they also had one understanding in common. They each believed they were elected to serve the citizens of this country. “What is best for the nation” was their driving motivation.

Lincoln’s huge challenge was keeping the nation together when the South wanted to secede from the Union and maintain slavery. His success in winning the civil war cost him his life but saved a nation.

Theodore Roosevelt, known as “the reformer,” fought for fairness in social and economic arenas in the wake of the industrial revolution. Party bosses wanted him to “go away” and decided the best thing to do was put him in as vice president, where he would have nothing to do and would be quiet. Who knew President McKinley would be assassinated?

Franklin Roosevelt inherited the Great Depression; he was successful in reforming the banking laws and practices and shoring up the economy, and with the use of fireside chats on the radio, he helped to restore the country’s faith in our democracy, all from a wheelchair.

Johnson also came into the presidency through tragic circumstances. The nation was in deep mourning over the death of John Kennedy. A master at getting things done in the Senate, LBJ was able to use his negotiating powers and skills to move forward civil rights legislation, passing laws which never before could be accomplished

So I ask, is the time for great presidents only past history? We still live in turbulent times.