Seek the qualities of Lincoln, author says

LAYTON — As a White House intern, Doris Kearns Goodwin danced with Lyndon B. Johnson. Later, in the president's waning years, Goodwin spent countless hours working with Johnson on his memoirs at his Texas ranch.

"I have no stronger relationship," Goodwin says, "than with Abraham Lincoln."

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian spent 10 years working on her latest book, the New York Times Best Seller "Team of Rivals."

Goodwin spoke on Lincoln, his legacy and even his impact on the 2008 election in front of a packed house at the Davis Convention Center on Thursday night.

"Team of Rivals" chronicles Lincoln's "political genius" and his willingness to set aside personal glory for the good of the nation. While many counseled him against it, Lincoln appointed his fiercest rivals to his Cabinet because they were the best political minds of the time, Goodwin said.

"The path for success and ambition is broad enough for two people to walk abreast," Goodwin quoted Lincoln as saying.

While it seems unlikely that sentiment would be shared today among the three top candidates jockeying for the presidency, Goodwin said voters should look to the nominee who most shares Lincoln's qualities.

Lincoln overcame both political and personal strife during his presidency. Goodwin compared Lincoln's ability to overcome adversity with John McCain's ability to survive time as a prisoner of war and to Hillary Clinton's willingness to thrust herself back into the public eye after the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Barack Obama "hasn't lost reputation, so we don't know what it would be like for him," she said.

Lincoln was a long shot for the presidency because he lacked the experience possessed by his rivals, but he won support with his ability to motivate, Goodwin said. And the new senator from Illinois is most like the old senator from Illinois when it comes time for a speech, Goodwin said. "In terms of communicating, Obama wins hands down."

Goodwin said the 2008 election would be crucial and wondered aloud what would have happened if, after 9/11, President Bush would have adopted the wartime bipartisanship of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the subject of Goodwin's next book.

"But if there's anything history can tell us," she said, "it's that this country comes through at difficult times."

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