The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism by Doris Kearns Goodwin explores the vibrant and interconnected relationship between two of the most influential presidents of the United States—Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft—and their reliance on the power of the press to shape public opinion in the first decades of the 20th century.

Drawing on a wealth of research and interviews, Doris Kearns Goodwin paints a vivid picture of how two vastly different presidents worked together to promote national reform from the presidential office. Theodore Roosevelt recognized the importance of press coverage early on in his career and became the first president to actively court the press. Through his bold and flamboyant style, Theodore Roosevelt earned the nickname “Teddy the Roughrider,” which the press eagerly promulgated. He also developed a close relationship with a select group of muckraking journalists, who were dedicated to covering the injustices of the Gilded Age.

Goodwin recounts how Theodore Roosevelt successfully used the press to shape and promote his reform agenda, The Square Deal. He also utilized his “bully pulpit”—the powerful platform of presidential authority—to reach out to millions of citizens and convince them of the necessity of new governmental regulations and laws. Before Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure, the public was largely unaware of the abuses taking place in the corporate world. His Square Deal quickly garnered public approval and support, and he used the press to bring convincing reports of corporate malfeasance to the forefront.

William Howard Taft, who succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as president, was a far less flamboyant and charismatic leader. He approached the press with utmost caution, lagging far behind his predecessor in his relationship with journalists and their coverage of his administration. As a result, he did not take on the same iconic status with citizens that Roosevelt had enjoyed.

Taft’s reliance on the press was limited, but Goodwin draws a correlation between Roosevelt’s progressive legacy and Taft’s continued public outreach through press coverage. Although Taft shied away from the spotlight, his political style was in many ways just as revolutionary. He developed a confidential partnership with muckraking journalists, granting them private access to his thoughts and plans. In this way, Taft was able to maintain a strong relationship with the press and build his reforms on the foundation set by Roosevelt.

Goodwin’s book is an insightful and detailed account of two dynamic, yet interconnected, presidents and their use of the press to form, execute, and influence their reform agendas. Readers are given an in-depth glimpse into the relationship between the two presidents and how they used the press and public outreach to shape modern politics. The book offers a valuable look at how two of the most influential administrations shaped the newspaper media and journalism of the early 20th century, creating the golden age of American journalism. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American politics and the press.