“There was a buzz of excitement when I arrived at my Harvard office at 78 Mt. Auburn Street one June morning in 1972. Richard ‘Dick’ Goodwin had just taken an office on the third floor of our old yellow building to finish a book project.”

The excitement surrounding Dick Goodwin’s presence highlights his prominence and the anticipation of interacting with such a distinguished individual. Goodwin’s detailed description of the setting creates an immediate sense of place and time, establishing the backdrop for their consequential meeting.

“We talked for five hours straight. He had an edgy nonconformist streak, as well as a distinct gravity, a world-weariness, a sharp wit, yet in his eyes and gestures a kindness.”

The juxtaposition of Dick’s nonconformist streak with his kindness portrays him as a complex character. Goodwin’s use of contrasting traits—gravity and wit—emphasizes the multifaceted nature of his personality, making him an intriguing and captivating figure.

“How would I know what I was like as a young man? I was too busy being him.”

This quote occurs when Doris asks Dick about his younger self, highlighting his reluctance to reflect on his past. Dick’s response underscores a motif in the memoir—living fully in the moment without the luxury of retrospective analysis. It also reflects his pragmatic and somewhat dismissive attitude towards introspection, contrasting with Doris’s methodical and reflective approach as a historian.