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

Winner of the Carnegie Medal — From Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin comes a sweeping narrative of Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and the transformative first decade of the Progressive Era.

The Bully Pulpit captures a time when America was on the brink of change—industry booming, corruption rampant, and reform in the air. At its heart is the powerful friendship between Roosevelt and Taft—two men whose bond shaped the nation before political ambition tore them apart in the brutal 1912 presidential race, dividing their party and reshaping American politics forever.

Goodwin also brings to life the muckraking press—the fearless journalists who exposed greed and corruption, inspiring reform. She follows the legendary writers of McClure’s Magazine—Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, Ray Stannard Baker, and William Allen White—whose groundbreaking work fueled Roosevelt’s progressive vision.

Drawing from thousands of letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts, Goodwin reveals the deep humanity, ideals, and flaws of her subjects. Through her vivid storytelling, she shows how leadership, moral courage, and the power of words can shape a nation.

The Bully Pulpit is a masterful study of political friendship, journalistic courage, and the reform movement that brought America closer to its founding ideals—a quintessential work from one of America’s greatest historians.