It only took three chapters of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s nascent and unfinished biography of the country’s sixteenth president to spark Steven Spielberg’s interest.
In this week’s PRESS Pass conversation, David sat down with the author and historian to talk about the backstory behind Spielberg’s Lincoln, out now in theaters.
“He found out that I was doing Lincoln, and so he had me shake hands that he’d have the first look,” she said of the initial encounter. So when she finished the first three chapters, she gave Spielberg a sample and the deal was done -- he bought the rights to the film. From then on, the Academy Award-winning director had the world’s pre-eminent Lincoln biographer at his side. “He would call me up and just … say … ‘What did Lincoln do today?’” Kearns Goodwin said recalling speaking to Spielberg’s attention to detail during production.
And it wasn’t just Spielberg. Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays the lead as Honest Abe, insisted on an extra year to fully prepare for the role. In fact, once filming started he insisted on being called Mr. Lincoln on and off camera – and the crew obliged.
“They’d have pictures of Sally Field and Mary [Lincoln]” on the set, Kearns Goodwin said. “They’d have pictures of Thaddeus Stevens and Tommy Lee Jones.”
But for Lincoln, it was simply “Mr. Lincoln.” No Day-Lewis.
President Obama, who is famously a fan of Team of Rivals, should follow Lincoln’s example of achieving compromise with a difficult Congress by using his presidential influence over the American people in his second term, Kearns Goodwin said.
“The one thing that President Obama said he’s learned from his first term, is that his communication skills were not as he wished them to be. … It’s not a question of his not having the words; I think he needs to connect himself more with the people in this second term.”
For much more on the behind-the-scenes of the new movie and how it translates into the modern-day political environment, watch the full PRESS Pass above.
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As I have re-read my "Tof R" and my Sandburg Sangamon Edition, and being a miniature Civil War scholar with a 50-70 volume Civil War library, I think that Obama(my President) might do well to add a rival or two to his cabinet in this term. It worked before. It ultimately validated Lincoln as a President and we are in a "no shootin'" civil war right now. My deepest respect and appreciation go out to this author and "Ideal Cartographer" in a time of "war."
He tried-remember Judd Gregg, who aceepted a position, and then ran away because the GOP went postal on him for accepting?!?!
Look at how Huntsman was treated.
For a Republican to work for Obama is the political kiss of death.
That's on the GOP, not Obama.
He has no issues working with the other side-he kept on a couple of Bush's team, who apparently had more guts or less ambition than other GOP'ers.
You guys need to get out more.
J.E.
It is not Obama's responsibility to bring in Republican cabinet members. It is up to Republicans to have the balls to tell the Tea Party to screw off. No one has a big enough set to do this in the party save for a few Governors (Jindel, Christie, and Barber).
J.E. I too have read "T of R" which was outstanding.
I love the way she addresses topics and am a big fan of her writing style.
She's also a very reasoned voice in political roundtables. Something of a lost art these days...
all please help me winclick vote and like on FB share and tweet if you can.
The book was interesting and shows a side of the Lincoln administration that few historians portray but, for me, was a little too heavy into attending to associated female interests. I did find it interesting enough to finish in several casual readings. Look forward to seeing how close the film will follow Kearns' assumptions about the men in Lincoln's cabinet.
When you breakdown a historical comparison of Lincoln's presidency to any recent administration, it compares so very little as it was in a stronger culture of character and honesty, which were less abridged in his time, than they are today.
Today, it is acceptable to say one thing and do another without any consideration and expectations that as a candidate who talks the talk, that they will be expected and must if elected, then walk the walk.
It is really a shame she has no political ambitions as she seems, unlike so many others in DC, to understand what history can teach us. Obama seems to suffer from "smartest fellow in the room syndrome" and she could cure that or at least tone it down a little.
Actually, I want my President to be the smartest person in the room. I want said person to understand that others will know more than s/he on various topics, but I prefer our leader to be someone who is a lifelong learner who has strong views but seeks and can quickly grasp new information and change accordingly and be able to explain why.
In a discussion with a Republican acquaintance we got into a discussion over the question "Who makes a better President a Business Man or a Lawyer?' My answer was simply an Historian.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
I DOUBT THIS WILL STAY UP OR MAKE IT UP AT ALL!
I agree with you Tobey. I did not vote for BHO but he needs to get other sides in the cabinet and less "yes men". Just because he might be the smartest guy in the room does not mean he needs to act like it. If he does that I may actually not despise him during his sceond term.
This movie will undoubtedly evoke comparisons to Obama and this is most certainly intended. However to compare Lincoln to Obama is a great disservice to Lincoln.
Not really. In terms of accomplishment yes. In terms of ideology no. Lincoln would be a Progressive by the light of the Modern era.
I could listen to her talk history all day...
Name the Democrats invited into the Reagan, Bush the Greater, Bush the Lesser administrations. For Obama, he retained the Republican SecDef (Gates), appointed a Republican as Director of the CIA (Patraeus), attempted to appoint Judd Gregg (Republican) to his Cabinet.
The Republican Party has waged a non-stop no holds barred war against the Obama Administration since BEFORE he was even nominated. And some say he needs to bring in more republicans into his administration? Maybe, just maybe John Huntsman as Ambassador to the UN. Otherwise, the entire Republican Party has proven they are an enemy of this Administration, and willing to subvert it.
I know the old LBJ line of having the camel inside the tent pissing out rather than outside the tent pissing in, but the R's are puppies pissing everywhere without consideration.
WOW...it must be AWE INSPIRING...to see a Black man who possesses intellectual prowess, self-control, opinions, social acceptability, political largess and has ONCE again been ELECTED..."by the WILL of the people!" Don't stand "ye gazing with amazement"...many Black people have been smart...since American slavery. However, they had to do their "bidding" on the DOWN LOW during slavery. Remember, they DID NOT receive ESL training and it was AGAINST the law to learn...anything. Moreover, these American slaves were given the "daunting task" of housekeeping, child rearing and gardening (the HEAVY LIFTING of this nation)...under the worst circumstances recorded by history or mankind. Yet, with strength, determination...dignity of purpose and survival.
President Barack Obama is a STUDENT of the people. He has observed and operated within multicultural and white circles. Obama, over many years, has "quantified and qualfied" those behaviors NECESSARY to successfully succeed in office and AMPLIFIED his wisdom (led by GOD) to become...DESERVEDLY...The President of these...United States. I am CERTAIN...he will do what is BEST for this Nation...even in the face of the most FIERCEST OPPOSITION...which means this Nation has gone...FULL CIRCLE. The way things were at the beginning...is the way they are at the end! How befitting that a Black man should be CHOSEN...to lead in times such as these.
Thank you Reverend Wright....yep that time as a Neighborhood Organizer qualifies him to be President.
soxfan
You appear to have all of the intellectual tools of a sock puppet. Barack Obama was a community organizer in his 20's, before he was an elected state and US Senator. His experience actually solving employment problems in an inner-city environment was far more applicable to the role of US President than was the so-called "business experience" of Mr. Romney. "Harvesting" businesses (his term, not mine) by cutting jobs, terminating contracts, transferring pension obligations to the federal government and off-shoring jobs does not prepare anyone for political office and we are lucky to be rid of Romney for all time.
NewsBusters| NBC's Gregory to Liberal Historian: What Can Obama Learn From Lincoln to Be a 'Great President'?