Cognotes 2018 Annual Conference Highlights - 9

2018 ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

COGNOTES

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Doris Kearns Goodwin Explores Leadership in Turbulent Times
by Kate Sanders, University of Oklahoma

Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prizewinning author Doris Kearns Goodwin
addressed a full auditorium June 23. She
interspersed reading selections from her
forthcoming book, Leadership in Turbulent
Times, with anecdotes discovered from over
five decades of research on U.S. presidents.
Her only fear, she quipped, is that there
will be a panel of presidents in the afterlife
judging the work she has done.
She began by telling of her love of libraries, and the way the books sustained
her invalid mother. The stories she encountered fueled her career in historical
research. Rather than leave behind any of
her "guys," Goodwin chose to write using
a theme that united them all - leadership.
She outlined major parts of her book:
Abraham Lincoln (who brought the country
through the Civil War), Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt (who gave the
people hope and progress during the Great
Depression), and Lyndon B. Johnson (who
fought for civil rights and racial equality).

She highlighted each story by telling about
their first attempt for public office, their
resilience through crises, and their time in
the White House.
She began her career at age 24 as a
White House Fellow under President Johnson, with whom she maintained a friendship until his death. She was able to study
him closely and published her first political
biography, chronicling his life and career.
She described him as a man who loved
to tell tall tales and who appreciated her
company because she was a great listener.
When he brought her to an outdoor picnic
to "discuss their relationship," she feared it
was a romantic overture. However, he told
her that, "More than any other woman I
have ever known, you remind me of my
mother."
Through her research Goodwin identified no single common factor that led each
of these men to the White House. They
came from varying financial and family
backgrounds, with differing academic performances and financial histories. She did
conclude, however, that they each had the

Doris Kearns Goodwin delivers her Auditorium Speaker Series presentation.

confidence to surround themselves with
strongminded people who would challenge
them. They did not coddle themselves in
echo chambers of yes-men. In addition to
their advisors, they made regular contact
with the public and communicated with
them in everyday language. Lincoln met
regularly with soldiers and heard from his
countrymen; Roosevelt was accessible via
the newspaper; and FDR joined folks in

their living rooms with his fireside chats.
Finally, she found that, except for Johnson,
each of these men found it necessary to
make time for themselves to relax and set
aside the burden of running the nation.
Johnson later had three heart attacks, demonstrating that being unable to take time off
was not the healthiest of choices.
She concluded by quoting Abigail Adams
- "Great necessities call out great virtues."

Charlemae Rollins President's Program:
The Influence of Books on American Children Today
By Wendy Bundy, Clarion University, PA

Everywhere we look we see division and
negativity as it is reflected in all forms of media, including books. But what do "quality"
and "excellence" really mean in the canon of
American literature for children? Panelists at
the ALSC President's Program on June 25
explained that we must consider the child
when we evaluate books for distinction.
Debbie Reese, educator and advocate for
Native representation, said that children may
learn to not like who they are because of portrayal of their culture in books. She referenced
the book Little House on the Prairie, because
of the way it represents Native Americans.
When it comes to choosing the best books
for children, "if they shape us in good ways,
they can shape children in bad ways as well,"
Reese emphasized.
Ebony Thomas, assistant professor, University of Pennsylvania, noted that instead
of being so focused on diversity in children's
books, we should be more focused on whether
a child is reading, period.
Award-winning author and 2018 National
School Library Month spokesperson Jason
Reynolds agreed with Thomas, that looking

Obama
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resilient... even one interaction with them
can change a kid's life for the better," she said.
She noted that librarians are often those who
provide these opportunities to children, and
that none of us parent in isolation.
Obama is hoping that those who feel
faceless or invisible will take pride in their
own stories, as she continues to help others
advocate for themselves. She said that in this
way, we can remember the humanity and experiences of each and every person and learn
to be more open to what we can learn from
them. "You can have it all," Obama declared,
"but perhaps just not all at the same time!"

at whether a child is reading is important.
Additionally, the bigger question to answer
if a child is not reading, is why that child is
not reading. It could be that the child does
not have access to books to read or anything
that appeals to their demographic. Children
especially need to see demographics like their
own, characters they can relate to, and stories
that will motivate them.
Margarita Engle, the current National
Young People's Poet Laureate and awardwinning author said, "Children are the only
possible peacemakers of the future." We must
give them the tools to be those peacemakers.
Tools that come in the form of knowledge
and words, tools that they only can get from
reading.

Viola Davis on Escaping 'Into' the Library

Ebony
Thomas,
University of
Pennsylvania,
shares during
the ALSC
President's
Program.

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