“A Personal History of the 1960s” is the subtitle of this fascinating book. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin and her late husband, Richard Goodwin, worked in Washington, D.C., during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations—though they didn’t meet until the early 1970s. They married in 1975.
About ten years ago, they decided to sort through their hundreds of boxes filled with documents, diaries, and letters. Thus began a collaboration to recount their experiences during one of the most pivotal decades in American history—a time of assassinations, the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the moon landing. The book has many backstories, intriguing details, and personal insights about the era.
Although Richard Goodwin passed away before they could complete the project together, Doris finished the book in 2024. Written in chronological order, it’s thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and an absolute must-read!
Personal Note: The library has a copy of this book, but I have my own story with it! I accidentally left my checked-out book at SeaTac (Seattle Airport) in mid-December, and somehow, it made its way back to the Carmel Valley Library about a month later. In the meantime, I assumed I’d have to replace it, so I bought another copy—lucky me! Now I own it, and I’m so glad I do. It’s a great book!
You can borrow this book from the MCFL catalog here, but be sure to check out many other books from Doris Kearns Goodwin here. She’s a Pulitzer Prize winning author, so you’ll be sure to find one you like!