Author, Presidential Adviser. A member of both the John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Administrations' inner-circles, he composed several historic political speeches and is credited with coining the team "The Great Society," which was a defining program of the Lyndon Johnson Presidency. Additionally, his book "Remembering America: A Voice From the Sixties" (1988), served as the basis for the 1994 motion picture "Quiz Game." Born into a Jewish family, his father was an engineer, Richard studied at Tufts University, prior to serving with the United States Army. After his discharge, he attained his Law degree from Harvard Law School and went on to serve as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter. Goodwin began his association with John F. Kennedy in 1960, when he joined the speechwriting team which included Ted Sorensen and following Kennedy's election as President, Goodwin became a White House authority on such matters as Latin America and Central and South America, in addition to helping establish the Alliance for Progress. He later served as a top adviser in the Peace Corps. Following Kennedy's assassination in 1963, he remained with the Johnson Administration as a speechwriter and assistant. Goodwin wrote the historic 'We Shall Overcome" speech which President Johnson delivered to Congress about the need for Civil Rights on March 15, 1965. Goodwin's association with President Johnson ended later that year following his disagreement with the administration on the direction of the Vietnam War. One year later (1966), he wrote the book "Triumph and Tragedy," which criticized America's involvement in Vietnam. Goodwin later was a speechwriter for Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene J. McCarthy. Among his other books include "The American Condition" (1974) and "Promises to Keep: A Call for a New American Revolution" (1992). He was married to Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin. He died from cancer.