Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin expressed her concern on Sunday, describing the United States as being in the midst of a “moral crisis” amongst deep political divisions within the nation.
Reflecting on the current state of affairs during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Goodwin invoked a quote from Dante, emphasizing the danger of remaining neutral or silent in times of moral crisis. She emphasized the urgent need for action, stressing that the country cannot afford to simply be passive observers of its own turmoil.
Doris Kearns Goodwin (Credits: CBS News)
“We are in a moral crisis right now, and I always feel so positive about what history can teach us because we’ve lived through really hard times before,” Goodwin remarked.
“And these are hard times; however, it won’t get better unless we act, unless we take seriously our citizen responsibilities and use the qualities of character that we need to bring into politics.”
Goodwin, renowned for her biographies of former presidents such as Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, has been promoting her latest book, “An Unfinished Love Story,” which delves into her personal history with the tumultuous 1960s.
During the discussion, Goodwin drew parallels between the current political landscape and the historical tensions leading up to the Civil War in the 1850s. She highlighted divisions in the media and concerns about the peaceful transition of power, echoing anxieties from that era.
Doris Kearns (Credits: AARP)
Expressing apprehension about the upcoming presidential election, Goodwin stressed the importance of voting and the need for a peaceful transition of power. While acknowledging concerns about the possibility of unrest, she expressed hope that a decisive voter turnout could help ensure a clear outcome.
“I am concerned that it may not happen, but I somehow think if the majority of the people come out who have different values from that and they vote, voting is absolutely essential,” Goodwin stated.
“And I just hope they feel that this election could turn on them, and the uncommitted people and the undecided people have to come out and vote, and we have to just take the results of the election.”
