Barack Obama and Doris Kearns Goodwin: The Ultimate Exit Interview

Adversity in almost all the presidents I’ve studied changes them. For Teddy Roosevelt, in 1884, losing his wife and his mother on the same day, in the same house. He goes to the Badlands, and he’s suddenly out among people. Both he and F.D.R. had to move beyond their privileged class. Polio and his…

— Doris Kearns Goodwin, vanityfair.com

Empathy Adversity The Obstacle Is The Way

There’s a point where the vanity burns away and you’ve had your fill of your name in the papers, or big adoring crowds, or the exercise of power. And for me that happened fairly quickly. And then you are really focused on: What am I going to get done with this strange privilege that’s been granted t…

— Barack Obama, vanityfair.com

Strange Privilege Ego Seeing Further Burning Focus

I think of the things that have come before me during the day and the decisions that I have made, I say to myself—well, I have done the best I could and turn over and go to sleep.

— Franklin D. Roosevelt, vanityfair.com

Goodnight Night End of the Day Your Life and Your Decisions

I am a firm believer that you don’t do anything significant by yourself.

— Barack Obama, vanityfair.com

It Takes A Village Community Against Individualism

In the United States, hopefully, what we’re building are not just pyramids, are not icons to one pharaoh. What we’re building is a culture and a way of living together that we can look back on and say, this was good, was inclusive, was kind, was innovative, was able to fulfill the dreams of as many…

— Barack Obama, vanityfair.com

The United States Politcal Experiments Building The World Political Structures Social Systems

What is relevant is: What am I building that lasts?

— Barack Obama, vanityfair.com

The Long View Big Picture Work Strategies Aphorisms

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