(I’m liveblogging from TED 2008, in Monterey, CA)
Presenter: Doris Kearns Goodwin is a historian who looks into the lives of US presidents.
The richest and fullest lives balance work, play and love. All three must be pursued with equal dedication.She is talking about Abe Lincoln and Lyndon Johnson.
Lincoln: Fierce ambition is a good thing, not just power celebrity and fame, but to make the world a better place. He became depressed, people thought he was suicidal. He was, but wouldn’t do it because he wanted to change the world for the better.
When he was elected president, he selected three of his rivals for the cabinet. Learned from his errors, acknowledged his mistakes, didn’t harbor grudges.
What made Lincoln so great: integrity of character and moral fiber of being. Driven through tough times by his ambition.
Lyndon Johnson: Goodwin was selected as a White House fellow when she was 24. When she danced with Johnson at a party, he told her he wanted her to work directly in the White House. She eventually helped him with his memoirs in his later years. He was a good story teller, but a lot of them were tall tales. He was known as a minor league womanizer, she was worried until he told her “you remind me of your mother.”
He had servants, family who loved him, lots of money, but in later years could find no solace in hobbies or family. Goodwin says it was because he did not pursue love or play with as much determination as he did with work. Needed a love of humor to keep from letting seriousness of life drag you down.
