You may recognize the name Doris Kearns Goodwin as the Pulitzer Prize winning author who penned the book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which would later serve as the basis for the script of Spielberg’s award-showered Lincoln. The renowned writer’s knack for showcasing the thrills of history appears to be once again in high demand, as she has reportedly agreed to a deal with DreamWorks for the rights of her latest, yet-to-be-released work, entitled The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism.
The book, which Goodwin took seven years to complete, is set to release on November 5th by publisher Simon & Schuster. In a statement, DreamWorks contextualizes and summarizes the main focus of both the book and future film:
[It is] the riveting story of two longtime friends who become bitter political opponents. Roosevelt’s fighting spirit and impulsive temperament stood counterpoint to Taft’s deliberative, conciliatory disposition. Yet, their opposing qualities proved complementary, allowing them to create a rare camaraderie and productive collaboration until their brutal fight for the presidential nomination in 1912 divided them, their families, their colleagues, and their friends. It split the Republican Party in two, and altered the course of American history.
Though neither a director nor a screenwriter has been attached to the film, Goodwin’s distinguished reputation within the film industry has yielded a definite sense of optimistic anticipation. Spielberg, for example, acknowledges the author’s unprecedented ability, claiming “Doris had once again given us the best seats in the house where we can watch two dynamic personalities in battle for power and friendship.”
As The Hollywood Reporter points out, DreamWorks’ acquisition of the rights to Bully Pulpit serves as yet another testament to the company’s apparent dedication to American historical notables. Not only did the company produce the above-mentioned Lincoln, which received 12 Oscar nominations, it is in the pre-production stages with a new biographical epic centered on MLK Jr., as well as a historical drama concerning the Chicago Seven.
Commenting on the Hollywood-related attention and success of her two most recent works, Goodwin claims, “Working with Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks on Lincoln seemed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I cannot imagine anything better than the prospect of working with them again, this time to bring Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft to life.”
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