World-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author's epic tome Team of Rivals was the winner of the Lincoln Prize and the inaugural Book Prize for American History.
CHICAGO, Feb. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) will award its prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize to Doris Kearns Goodwin, a world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Goodwin is the first historian to receive the coveted Prize and receives it in the ALPLF's 16th Jubilee – 2016 in which it commemorates 16 years of protecting, preserving and advancing the legacy of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln Leadership Prize is an annual award that recognizes outstanding individuals for a lifetime of service in the spirit of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The award honors individuals who manifest great strength of character, individual conscience and unwavering commitment to the defining principles of democracy.
Goodwin authored "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," which served in-part as the basis of 2015 Lincoln Leadership Prize recipient Steven Spielberg's major motion picture "Lincoln." She has been an advocate for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum from its inception more than 10 years ago and serves as a founding Life Member of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation Board. Among her many honors and awards, Goodwin is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Lincoln Prize and the inaugural Book Prize for American History, as well as the Charles Frankel Prize, given by the National Endowment for the Humanities, Sarah Josepha Hale Medal, New England Book Award, Carl Sandburg Literary Award and Ohioana Book Award.
"I am honored to accept this award celebrating the leadership legacy of President Abraham Lincoln," said Goodwin. "For me, no privilege has been greater than the opportunity to spend 10 years of my life living with Abraham Lincoln as I researched and wrote 'Team of Rivals.' I came to know, understand and admire Lincoln for his political genius and leadership along with his humanity, generosity of spirit, social conscience and sense of humor. Now, more than two centuries after his birth, we can say with absolute certainty that the ambition that powered Lincoln from his earliest days – the desire to establish an admirable reputation on earth so that his story could be told after he died – has been realized far beyond his fondest wishes."
Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner will present the Lincoln Leadership Prize to Goodwin the evening of Friday, May 13, during a gala event at the Hilton Chicago. Kushner wrote the screenplay for Spielberg's "Lincoln," which was based in-part on Goodwin's book, "Team of Rivals." Kushner also wrote screenplays for Mike Nichols' film of "Angels in America" and Spielberg's "Munich." Additionally, Kushner is known for his plays, "A Bright Room Called Day;" and "Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, Parts One and Two," and his musical, "Caroline, or Change."
The annual event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation for the benefit of the Museum and Library, which is not a part of the National Archives Records Administration's federal system of presidential libraries.
"It has been my pleasure to learn from Doris Kearns Goodwin as we strive to preserve Lincoln's legacy here in the Land of Lincoln," said Dr. Carla Knorowski, Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. "Presidential libraries are repositories of historic information, artifacts and documents for our nation's posterity. It is important that we all take on this mantle to study, celebrate and bring history to life so people understand and learn from it. We are grateful for Goodwin's commitment and passion to telling Abraham Lincoln's story, the story of the American presidency and stories about other leaders in our treasured history. We are so pleased to honor her. She is most deserving of the Prize. And, we are looking forward to seeing Kushner and Goodwin together, since they were instrumental in bringing Spielberg's 'Lincoln' to life on the big screen."
Since 2006, the ALPLF has awarded the Prize to nine prestigious individuals who work tirelessly in the Lincoln tradition. Previous honorees include Civil Rights Activists The Little Rock Nine, Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, former Polish President Lech Walesa, Journalist Tim Russert, Astronaut James Lovell, Jr., Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
For more information about the Lincoln Leadership Prize please visit www.alplm.org. For tickets and/or table sponsorship information please call 312/553-2000.
About the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation supports the collections and the educational and cultural programming of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; fosters Lincoln scholarship through the acquisition and publication of documentary materials relating to Lincoln and his era; and promotes a greater appreciation of history through exhibits, conferences, publications, online services, and other activities designed to promote historical literacy.
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Lisa Soard
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SOURCE Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF)
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