An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin

An Evening with Doris Kearns Goodwin
In Conversation with Clay Jenkinson
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Clay Jenkinson

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a world-renowned presidential historian, public speaker, Pulitzer Prize–winning and #1 New York Times best-selling author, and a partner in Pastimes Productions. Goodwin is often called upon by the news media, late-night TV hosts, and hundreds of companies, educational institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits to share her vast knowledge of leadership and provide historical context for current-day events, especially as our democracy is challenged, international wars rage, and we continue to struggle in a divided and polarized country.

Her eighth book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, was published in Spring 2024, became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and is being developed as a feature film by Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, Eon Productions’ Barbara Broccoli, and Goodwin’s own Pastimes Productions. Artfully weaving together biography, memoir, and history, this new book takes readers on the emotional journey Doris and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin embarked upon in the last years of his life as they delved into more than 300 boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved for more than fifty years. The Goodwins quickly realized they had before them an unparalleled personal time capsule of the 1960s of the events and pivotal figures of the decade—John Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, and especially Lyndon Johnson, who greatly impacted both their lives. Their voyage of remembrance brought unexpected discoveries, forgiveness, and the renewal of old dreams, reviving the hope that the youth of today will carry forward this unfinished love story with America.

In 2020, Goodwin executive produced her first documentary miniseries, “Washington” for the History Channel, through her independent production company, Pastimes Productions Inc. Miniseries on Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt followed and are all slated to debut on Netflix in May 2026. Pastimes also executive produced an eight-part docuseries, “Kevin Costner’s The West” for the History Channel last year.

Goodwin is the author of nine critically acclaimed and bestselling works, including Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which served in part as the basis for Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award®-winning film Lincoln. The film earned 12 Academy Award® nominations, including the Best Actor Oscar for Daniel Day-Lewis’ portrayal of the 16th president. Team of Rivals has been widely cited as an inspiration for political and business leaders, including President Barack Obama, and received the prestigious Lincoln Prize and the inaugural Book Prize for American History. In 2016, Goodwin became the first historian awarded the Lincoln Leadership Prize from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

Clay Jenkinson, a sought-after humanities scholar, host of “Listening to America” and National Humanities Medal award winner, will moderate this conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin. Join us as Goodwin offers context for America at 250 and shares lessons we can carry forward from our history.

Presenting Sponsor: Colorado Mountain College Center for Civic Education & Engagement

Supporting Underwriters: Obermeyer Wealth Partners, Shannon & Todger Anderson, The Groff Family, Cathy Pollard & Dr. Alan Markowitz

Community Underwriters: Courageous Colorado, Donna & Ward Katz, Sue & Mike Rushmore