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Home › Politics

HerTube | 10/10/2008 12:00 am

HerTube: What We Can Learn From Past Presidents (Video)

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

"The richest and fullest lives attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms: work, love and play." –Erik Erikson

Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin quotes Erikson as she dives into her TED talk on past presidents and what we stand to learn from them, as well as what qualities we should be looking for in the 2008 presidential candidates as based on the examples of Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson. The annual Ted conference joins various thinkers and doers annually, and challenges them to "give the talk of their lives" — in only 18 minutes.

Read more about: Abraham Lincoln, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Election 2008, HerTube, History, Lyndon B. Johnson, TED, Video

14 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Josie Sullivan
I just want to say WOW! Doris was astounding and I will have to listen to that two more times to get all of it. She is a quick thinker. Her experiences and her information sharing on Abe Lincoln….THAT was a wonderful true story! WoW!
By Josie Sullivan on 10/10/2008 1:20 am
Josie Sullivan
Ahhh… and Erik Erikson. What a wonderful way to start and weave a bit…coming from a MS in counseling. And the Lyndon Johnson story of when she is invited out and thinks it’s kind of him to be attracted to her….LOL!…and then the mother statement…Priceless.
By Josie Sullivan on 10/10/2008 1:26 am
georgia fatwood
Hi Josie…Would you agree with Erikson that he got those three things in the right order?
By georgia fatwood on 10/10/2008 3:18 pm
Josie Sullivan
Lyndon Johnson on “better to have your enemies inside the tent, pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in”. ….I had to laugh at that.
By Josie Sullivan on 10/10/2008 1:34 am
phyllis Doyle Pepe
Josie, don’t know whether you are aware of it or not but Doris always joins the bunch Charlie Rose has on his discussions after all the debates. Her input is always significant because she sheds a historical perspective on her comments.
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 10/10/2008 8:42 am
Elisabeth S
phyllis, Have you read DKG? I think all of her stuff is great, but I so loved her autobiography about growing up as a baseball fan. She is the epitome of grace and intelligence; I admire her.
By Elisabeth S on 10/10/2008 9:56 am
phyllis Doyle Pepe
Yes, I have read her. She’s a historian who loves to tell stories. There’s a goodness that she has that shows in her writings. She wouldn’t be my first pick, however, for historical information. I think your description of “grace and intelligence” is perfect.
By phyllis Doyle Pepe on 10/10/2008 10:04 am
Elisabeth S
I agree, she is very readable-not dry. I have always read a lot of history, one of my favorites is David Halberstam and also McCullough. So many-so little time. Who do you recommend? What are you reading right now?
By Elisabeth S on 10/10/2008 3:27 pm
Josie Sullivan
Phyllis- I didn’t know that. My dad and stepmom love his show. Now, I’ll have to watch just to see Doris.
By Josie Sullivan on 10/10/2008 3:37 pm
Dona Howlett
Wow O Wow……………… What a wonderful story teller. I’ve heard her before but this was just fabulous. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.
By Dona Howlett on 10/10/2008 4:31 am
Elisabeth S
Thanks WOW for featuring this most amazing woman. Her books are tremendously good and her insight as a commentator has, for me, been very helpful in placing current events in perspective. It is so refreshing to watch and listen to someone who doesn’t have their ego on the line all the time, and who leaves you room to form your own opinion. DKG-you rock!
By Elisabeth S on 10/10/2008 9:53 am
Ms. Dee
Doris Kearns-Goodwin is a national treasure. I’ve read two of her books, but she really outdid herself with this talk. Brought me to tears. Thanks again, wowOwow, for all the things you’ve brought my way that I never could have experienced otherwise. Thank you.
By Ms. Dee on 10/10/2008 10:05 am
georgia fatwood
Let’s hope that DKG gets wind of this nice breeze blowing her way….I’d just love to see her as a friend who stops by….. I so wish that she’d been the professor(s) in all those history classes I flunked for non-attendance…..(aw-ful…bore-ing!)
By georgia fatwood on 10/10/2008 3:15 pm
Buh- Bye
according to kearns goodwin lincoln demonstrated his emotional strengths as a leader when he “repaired injured feelings that might have escalated into permanent hostility” - further saying that we need these qualities in our next leader. but obama is no lincoln. he is a man who throws salt in the wounds of his opponents. this arrogance will eventually be his undoing as a leader as he stacks his deck with more and more political enemies
By Buh- Bye on 10/10/2008 4:30 pm