Description

An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a beloved historian and bestselling author, masterfully blends biography, memoir, and history. In this deeply personal narrative, Goodwin takes readers on an emotional journey through the final years of her husband Richard (Dick) Goodwin’s life as they revisited the pivotal moments of the 1960s.

Married for forty-two years and devoted to American history even longer, Dick and Doris Goodwin were witnesses to and participants in some of the most significant events of their time. In his twenties, Dick was a key figure in John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier. In his thirties, he helped shape Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and served as a trusted speechwriter and advisor to Robert Kennedy. Doris Kearns, at just twenty-four, was selected as a White House Fellow, working closely with Lyndon Johnson and later assisting with his memoir. Over the years, the couple often debated the accomplishments and shortcomings of the leaders they served, reflecting on the nation’s progress and its unfulfilled promises.

Their last great undertaking together was the exploration of more than three hundred boxes filled with letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had preserved for decades. What they discovered was an extraordinary personal archive of the 1960s—offering insight into both public milestones and private moments during a time when individuals believed in their power to instigate change. Much like today, it was a period defined by struggles for racial and economic justice, where allegiances were tested, and ideals were challenged.

For Dick, this endeavor brought renewed energy and purpose; for Doris, it provided a chance to reconnect with those who had experienced these historic moments alongside them. Together, they reassessed key figures of the time—John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, and particularly Lyndon Johnson, whose influence shaped both of their lives. Their journey of rediscovery led to unexpected revelations, moments of reconciliation, and the revival of old aspirations, inspiring hope that a new generation will continue this unfinished love story with America.