She told The New York Times, "If I am writing up a passage ... and part of it is from other people's writing, I just type it up and put it in a footnote."

Subsequently, universities around the country that had invited Goodwin to deliver commencement addresses disinvited her. She was dropped as a historical commentator on PBS's "The Newshour with Jim Lehrer."

Publishers promised new editions of some of her books but never delivered. Then the scandal just died down, and Goodwin kept writing; her latest is about Lincoln and his Cabinet, "Team of Rivals," and it has sold very well.

So far, no charges of plagiarism have been leveled at her latest book.

For some time she has been appearing on NBC to offer political commentary based on her historical knowledge. It would appear that she is now operating as a scholar and historian whose reputation for plagiarism is no longer relevant.

I beg to differ.

Since she has never admitted to plagiarism in spite of overwhelming evidence against her, I think Goodwin's lectures and books should both be taken with a grain of salt.

---

E-mail: dennis@desnews.com

If you go ...

What: Doris Kearns Goodwin, historian and author of Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, lecturing on Lincoln's leadership lessons and storytelling characteristics

Where: Meridian Ballroom, Davis Conference Center, Layton

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

How much: $70 per person

Phone: 402-5182