Serve to Lead: Recent Episodes
James Strock
The Serve to Lead podcast focuses on today’s extraordinary leadership opportunities in business, government, and politics. In a time of intense polarization, this includes advancing our shared American identity and narrative. James Strock is an independent writer, speaker, entrepreneur, lawyer, and reformer. His most recent book is 'Serve to Lead 2.0: 21st Century Leaders Manual.' Strock writes ‘The Next Nationalism’ at Substack.
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James Tyson Currie combines academic rigor with the savvy garnered from experience in government to illuminate a critical, little-explored turn of American history: Missouri Mule: How Harry Truman’s Stubbornness and Determination Helped Win World War II and Led Him to the Presidency.
In four short years Senator Harry Truman ascended from back-bench obscurity to nomination as Franklin Roosevelt’s third and final vice president. Initially dismissed as the product of a notorious political machine, Truman distinguished himself in overseeing the operations of the unprecedented “arsenal of democracy.” His reputation for personal probity was bolstered by savvy in dealing with other political actors.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Currie discusses Truman’s complicated relationship with FDR, his effectiveness in the Senate, and the enduring role of personal character in our politics. He makes the case for why Harry Truman still matters—eight decades since his consequential presidency played an indispensable role in the creation of the postwar world order.
Publisher’s Summary
On February 3, 1940, Harry S Truman, a freshman Senator from Missouri, held a press conference to announce that he would run for reelection. Truman also said that year that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt should not run for a third term as president because, in Truman’s words, “There is no indispensable man in a democracy.”
Roosevelt ignored Truman’s admonition, secured the Democratic nomination, and ran successfully for a third term. Roosevelt punished Truman by pitting the White House political apparatus against him in the Missouri Democratic Senate primary. His plot to defeat Truman failed, however, and Truman was reelected.
Four years later, Roosevelt chose Truman as his running mate, a decision that led directly to Truman’s becoming president when Roosevelt unexpectedly died only eighty-two days into his fourth term.
Why, then, did FDR choose Truman over all others? The answer to that question is the primary subject of Missouri Mule, prize-winning author James Currie’s new book, which traces Truman’s rise from Senate backbencher in 1940 to Roosevelt’s running mate in 1944.
As secondary—and intriguing—themes, this book draws upon extensive original research in the National Archives to expose massive Army and Navy wartime bungling and wastefulness and reveals how some U.S. corporations were more interested in increasing shareholder dividends and corporate profits than in providing the quality materiel needed to defeat the Nazis and the Japanese. As chair of the primary Senate oversight committee that investigated our country’s World War II defense build-up and expenditures, Harry Truman displayed all the best characteristics of the Missouri mules he had worked with as a young man on his farm: the stubbornness and determination that helped us win the war and made him one of our best presidents.
Critical Acclaim
“An amazing job of research and the writing is clear and precise ... scrupulous in not going beyond the evidence and avoiding idle speculation ... I’m sure the book will get a favorable reception.” —James M. McPherson, George Henry Davis ’86 Professor of American History Emeritus, Princeton University; Pulitzer Prize for History for Battle Cry of Freedom (1989)
“This is an impressive work. James Currie has organized the book around issues where the committee’s investigations led to significant improvements in the American war effort: jolting the Army out of bureaucratic intransigence; compelling the Navy to adopt civilian-designed ships; forcing defense contractors to make improvements to military equipment; and even improving the morale of soldiers in their camps.” —Donald A. Ritchie, Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate
“A masterful account of a key episode in American history—Harry Truman’s leadership of the key Senate committee investigating government expenditures for World War II. This book provides an important and fascinating addition to our understanding of how the federal government operated during this historic conflict and gives valuable insights into the folkways of Congress, the realities of American politics, the functioning of the media, and the rise of Truman to the top of American politics as he became Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vice president and successor. The research is meticulous; the writing is lucid, and the storytelling is vivid and entertaining.” —Kenneth T. Walsh, longtime U.S. News & World Report White House correspondent, past president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, and author of ten books about the presidency
About the Author
James Tyson “Jim” Currie grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi with majors in history and political science. He then attended the University of Virginia, from which he received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history. Dr. Currie is also a graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College and the Defense Department’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces, now the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. He taught history at Mississippi College, Millsaps College, Jackson State University, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at National Defense University.
He was the first Historian of the U.S. Department of Education and Associate Historian of the House of Representatives. He worked for Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. as speechwriter, legislative assistant (defense and foreign policy), and staff member on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. While on the SSCI staff, he also worked for Senators David Boren and John Glenn. Dr. Currie served a total of thirty years, active and reserve, in the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Colonel. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Parachute Badge. His last assignment was with the Army’s Office of Legislative Liaison.
Currie is the author of five books and twenty-five articles, one of which was awarded the Charles Thomson Prize by the National Archives/Southern Historical Association. He is a longtime member of SAG-AFTRA (AFL-CIO) and has appeared as a background performer in the television series House of Cards and Homeland. Currie lives in Fairfax County, Virginia, with his wife Janis. They have one son, Matthew, who practices as a clinical psychologist in Maryland.
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Image Credit | Author photograph, via James Tyson Currie.
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Michael Patrick Cullinane is acclaimed as at the top rung of Theodore Roosevelt scholars of his generation.
His latest book, Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet, has garnered enthusiastic reviews, including in the Wall Street Journal.
Cullinane combines a scholar’s exacting standards with an entertaining, readable prose style. Recognizing the parallels of Roosevelt’s era with our own, he makes history relevant and vivid.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Cullinane pulls the curtain back on the extraordinary group of informal advisers that our twenty-sixth president summoned to service as he pulled the presidency and the nation into a new century. As ever, TR’s life and work yield timeless lessons for rising generations facing new challenges.
Publisher’s Summary
In his final days in office in 1909, Theodore Roosevelt invited dozens of friends to the White House for lunch. They had never met as a group, but they had one thing in common: Each played tennis with the president and advised on policy matters. Roosevelt half-joked that the public would never know how much these tennis partners did to make his administration a success. Journalists dismissively called them the “Tennis Cabinet,” making light of their contribution, but Roosevelt knew otherwise.
This inner circle led the administration’s campaigns against corporate greed, investigated public health violations, and formulated consumer protections. They founded environmental conservation policies, prosecuted civil rights violations, and implemented bureaucratic efficiencies that saved the government billions. Roosevelt’s tennis mates shaped the nation’s diplomacy, ending wars and promoting American interests abroad.
Never had a more eclectic group advised a U.S. president. The Tennis Cabinet included legendary frontier lawman Seth Bullock and the starched-shirt corporate lawyer Henry Stimson, who served in five presidential administrations. Texas wolf wrangler Jack Abernathy played with stuffy bureaucrats like Labor Commissioner Charles Patrick Neill and social activist James Bronson Reynolds. The French ambassador Jean Jules Jusserand spun yarns with football hero George Washington Woodruff and Roosevelt’s college friend and banker Robert Bacon. James Garfield, namesake son of a martyred president, sipped mint juleps with Supreme Court Justice William Henry Moody. And J. P. Morgan’s silver-spooned son-in-law Herbert Satterlee kept company with rugged soldier Luther “Yellowstone” Kelly.
For all their differences, these men shared a desire to help the president transform the nation from a parochial nineteenth-century republic into an imperial and industrial global power. They have escaped the attention of reporters and historians only because of Roosevelt’s towering celebrity. Turning away from Roosevelt as the singular force behind his administration, it is possible to see how the contributions of his Tennis Cabinet quietly sowed the seeds of the American Century.
Critical Acclaim
“The story of the Tennis Cabinet has largely been untold until now—but it clearly had an impact on the development of our Republic.” —Tevi Troy, Wall Street Journal
“What the ‘team of rivals’ was to Abraham Lincoln, the ‘Tennis Cabinet’ was to Theodore Roosevelt. Michael Cullinane brings to vivid life an unusual menagerie of confidants and compatriots who met on the court to reshape a nation. This wonderful book reminds us that while many names are lost to history, no president, perhaps especially the great ones, works alone.” —Edward F. O’Keefe, author of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation
“Michael Cullinane has written a lively and perceptive book that will become essential reading for understanding Theodore Roosevelt’s effectiveness as president. TR stands as a towering presence in presidential history because of his modernizing energy and his eagerness to address real-life problems of the American people, but until this book we have not really understood how his many accomplishments came about. Read this book to understand how TR listened to forward-looking experts in his Tennis Cabinet and then debated with them how to get great things done.” —Kathleen Dalton, author of Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life
“Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet is a prescient book that brings the contributions of certain men surrounding the president into sharp focus. While Roosevelt is often portrayed as the lone ‘man in the arena,’ Michael Cullinane reveals him as someone who regularly sought counsel from dozens of close advisers. . . . Cullinane’s book reveals a president who was far more aware of his limitations than many biographers would have us believe, and although still a strong man, Roosevelt emerges from the pages as a wise man too. This is an important, and eye-opening, book that is both timely and enjoyable to read.” —Darrin Lunde, author of The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt, a Lifetime of Exploration, and the Triumph of American Natural History
“The twenty-sixth president was so larger-than-life that Michael Cullinane’s Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet comes as quite a surprise. This delightful study reveals the diverse and complex cast of characters that profoundly but quietly (for the most part) contributed to the long list of activities and accomplishments routinely attributed to Roosevelt alone. Cullinane sheds new and important light on Roosevelt and his administration. In doing so, he also provides a timely reminder of the power and significance of the advisers, official and unofficial, who allow even those presidents who appear to go it alone to, for better or for worse, expand their reach and exercise more control.” —Nancy C. Unger, author of Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer
“Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet is an important examination of Roosevelt’s inner circle, those who helped him implement and carry out his policies. Michael Cullinane writes with flair and clarity, showing that Roosevelt could never have become a legend without his Tennis Cabinet. Highly recommended.” —Benjamin J. Wetzel, author of Theodore Roosevelt: Preaching from the Bully Pulpit
“To say that TR was a ‘people person’ is an understatement. But in particular, Roosevelt loved interesting people. He treasured folks from whom he could learn something new or, even better, who might accompany him on an adventure. That verve for connection is what makes Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet such a treasure. In flowing prose and with deft attention to the ties that bound, Michael Cullinane tells the stories of the men who made up TR’s most important advisory group. What a fascinating bunch! It’s a rare book that can both tell buddy stories and offer exacting political analysis, but Michael Cullinane does it here. Dig in, you’ll be glad you did!” —Ryan Swanson, author of The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete
“Theodore Roosevelt was such a force of energy that he eclipsed others in his orbit. Michael Cullinane’s book brings these individuals to the stage. In compelling portraits, he illuminates the bureaucrats, diplomats, lawyers, and others who stewarded Roosevelt’s vision, fostered alliances, and preserved our nation’s natural heritage. Cullinane has made yet another important contribution to Theodore Roosevelt studies, giving us a necessary and wonderfully written lesson on governance.” —Gregory A. Wynn, chairman of the Theodore Roosevelt Association
About the Author
Michael Patrick Cullinane is a historian, an award-winning author, and the Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University. He also serves as a Public Historian for the Theodore Roosevelt Association and contributes to the design and curation of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
In addition to Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet, he’s the author of Remembering Theodore Roosevelt (2021), Theodore Roosevelt’s Ghost (2017), The Open Door Era: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Twentieth Century (2017), and Liberty and American Anti-Imperialism. He has published several scholarly articles and editorials in The Hill, the Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, the Conversation, History News Network, BBC History Magazine, and have given commentary on C-SPAN, BBC, History Channel, Sky News, NPR, and CNN.
A sought-after speaker, Cullinane regularly talks at universities, corporate events, libraries, professional associations, and other public venues.
michaelpatrickcullinane.com
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Image Credit | Author photograph, Theodore Roosevelt Center.
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A key element of President Trump’s election victory in 2016 was his robust rejection of the “forever wars” that the United States has elected to wage in in the postwar era.
In his second term, the president has overseen a hyperkinetic foreign policy. From calling for the annexation of Canada and Greenland, to the extraction of the dictator of Venezuela, Trump has threatened or applied the military might of the United States.
Without congressional authorization and arguably in contravention of international law, the president authorized Operation Epic Fury against Iran. On February 28, 2026, “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commenced Operation Epic Fury at the direction of the President of the United States. CENTCOM forces are striking targets to dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus, prioritizing locations that pose an imminent threat.”
There’s no question about the wickedness of the Iranian government. Over the course of nearly half a century, Iran has not only oppressed its own people but has sponsored terror worldwide. What is unclear are our war aims? The has offered a range of post-hoc explanations. Most recently, President Trump has called for “unconditional surrender” of Iran.
It’s an honor to have historian and national security expert Derek Leebaert to help us sort out this unsettled moment. He has studied the repeated disappointments of US interventions in recent decades.
This episode was recorded on March 4, 2026.
About Derek Leebaert
Derek Leebaert is an award-winning author, historian, academic, and technology executive. He’s a partner at effectiveRAI.
In 2020 Leebaert won the Truman Book Award for Grand Improvisation: America Confronts the British Superpower, 1945-57. A New York Times “Best Book,” it was reviewed in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Review of Books, and the Times (London).
His Unlikely Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made was a Wall Street Journal “Best Book of 2023” and “recommended reading” from McKinsey. Presidential historian Richard Norton Smith praises it as “having done the near impossible--craft[ing] a fresh and challenging portrait of the man and his inner circle. . . .A book to regard in the same breath as the classics of Sherwood, Schlesinger, and Burns.” The Guardian reviewed it as “masterful.”
In Magic and Mayhem: The Delusions of American Foreign Policy from Korea to Afghanistan, Leebaert warns that many of the mistakes of US foreign policy in the postwar era result from ignorance of the history and culture of other nations.
Derek Leebaert was a research fellow at Harvard University and managing editor of International Security. He taught in the government and business school departments at Georgetown University.
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The United States and Iran are at war. Coordinated US-Israel attacks on February 28, 2026, have unleashed a conflict of unclear objectives and uncertain duration.
President Trump unilaterally ordered commencement of offensive operations. There has been no express congressional authorization, much less a constitutionally mandated declaration of war. The administration has not made the case for exigent circumstances, such as defense from imminent attack.
The Islamic regime has been a leading sponsor of global terror for decades. It has an appalling human rights record at home, with tens of thousands of its own citizens reported dead, wounded or tortured in recent months.
President Trump has proclaimed a goal of empowering the people of Iran to achieve a democratic transition. The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is confirmed dead from initial air attacks. A succession process is underway.
What is the strategic significance of renewed hostilities? Will the initial use of force by the US and Israel bring about a successful people’s revolution? Will it risk spurring Iranian nationalism? Will the Islamic regime that has held power since 1979 cease its brutal repression of its own people—or will it double down?
What are the stakes for the American people? What do we need to understand about Iran? Amid the fog of war, how can we receive accurate information and actionable commentary?
Kourosh Ziabari is an award-winning Iranian journalist and commentator, based in New York. In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, he shares his views of the bigger picture. At once skeptical of the efficacy of outside force and critical of the current regime, Ziabari is well placed to provide a significant perspective at this hinge moment.
This interview was recorded on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
About Kourosh Ziabari
Kourosh Ziabari is an award-winning journalist, writer, and scholar of media studies. He has earned a master of arts (MA) in political journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. A member of PEN America and the Authors Guild, he is also a non-resident journalist at the National Press Club. He writes for New Lines Magazine, Foreign Policy, and many other publications.
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Image Credits | Israeli attack on Tehran, Friday, June 13, 2025, Mehr News Agency, CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Body bags, Mamlekate, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons; Kourosh Ziabari, via kouroshziabari.com.
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From Israel and Palestine to Ukraine and Russia, from China to the various European Union member states, nationalism is surging.
The UK Brexit referendum of 2016, followed by Donald Trump’s shock victory in the US presidential election, were milestones in a new populist moment. Nationalism is a defining aspect of the ongoing disruption of transnational elites and centrist consensus.
R.R. Reno is highly respected, widely recognized commentator in these historic developments. His important book, Return of the Strong Gods: Nationalism, Populism, and the Future of the West, places these phenomena in a historical and philosophical context. Reno is a graceful writer, rendering complex issues accessible and compellingly readable.
Reno has an unusual talent: he can provoke as he persuades. He makes you think. Recently he wrote approvingly of “The Lessons of Woodrow Wilson.” Wilson has become a political orphan, disregarded by the contemporary left and right. Reno reminds us that Wilson’s thought on American national solidarity holds lessons for our time.
A recent opinion piece by Ross Douthat, “Trump’s Second Term Has Ended the Conservative Era,” posits the possibility that nationalism will endure after the tumult of our moment subsides. Reno scouted this path long before.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Rusty Reno discusses his book, and shares his highly informed take on the new nationalism in our midst.
Publisher’s Summary
"Return of the Strong Gods...is a thoughtful contribution to American political debate. It is incisively written and full of modern observations. Mr. Reno explains, better than any book I can remember, the present-day progressive's paranoid fear of fascism and neurotic determination to ferret out racism where none exists." —The Wall Street Journal”This is among the most arresting books I’ve read in the past decade: eloquent and powerful in its genealogy of our culture’s problems, but also a hymn, in the author’s words, to ‘a shared love of self-government and civic honor,’ sustained by political honesty and ennobled by religious faith; in other words, a compelling call to public sanity.” —Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., former Archbishop of Philadelphia
After the staggering slaughter of back-to-back world wars, the West embraced the ideal of the “open society.” The promise: By liberating ourselves from the old attachments to nation, clan, and religion that had fueled centuries of violence, we could build a prosperous world without borders, freed from dogmas and managed by experts.But the populism and nationalism that are upending politics in America and Europe are a sign that after three generations, the postwar consensus is breaking down. With compelling insight, R. R. Reno argues that we are witnessing the return of the “strong gods”—the powerful loyalties that bind men to their homeland and to one another.Reacting to the calamitous first half of the twentieth century, our political, cultural, and financial elites promoted open borders, open markets, and open minds. But this never-ending project of openness has hardened into a set of anti-dogmatic dogmas which destroy the social solidarity rooted in family, faith, and nation. While they worry about the return of fascism, our societies are dissolving.But man will not tolerate social dissolution indefinitely. He longs to be part of a “we”—the fruit of shared loves—which gives his life meaning. The strong gods will return, Reno warns, in one form or another. Our task is to attend to those that, appealing to our reason as well as our hearts, inspire the best of our traditions. Otherwise, we shall invite the darker gods whose return our open society was intended to forestall.
About the Author
R. R. Reno, the editor of First Things, a journal of religion and public life, serves on the board of advisers of the Edmund Burke Foundation, the sponsor of the National Conservatism Conference. After earning his doctorate in religious studies from Yale, he taught theology at Creighton University for twenty years. His books include Genesis: A Theological Commentary, Fighting the Noonday Devil, and Resurrecting the Idea of a Christian Society. He lives with his wife in New York City.
The New Nationalist™ is an independent, non-partisan publication advocating political reform. Your support makes this project possible and is greatly appreciated.
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David S. Brown is a prolific author who applies academic rigor and a literary sensibility to illuminate key moments and personalities through American history.
His highly praised new book, In the Arena: Theodore Roosevelt in War, Peace, and Revolution, analyzes a leader like no other in a time very much like our own.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Brown analyzes Roosevelt’s “complex” mix of conservative and radical views, his protean personality, and how we can apply history to the challenges of our time.
Publisher’s Summary
From acclaimed historian and author of the “marvelous” (The New York Times Book Review) The Last American Aristocrat comes a captivating new biography of Teddy Roosevelt, exploring the life of America’s 26th president and his pivotal role in shaping the dawn of the American Century.Theodore Roosevelt was one of America’s most fascinating presidents—a complex man both publicly and privately. In this sweeping biography, historian David S. Brown takes us on an electrifying journey through Theodore Roosevelt’s life—from his privileged New York upbringing to his transformative presidency that reshaped America’s role on the global stage.In the Arena vividly brings Roosevelt to life as a man of striking contradictions: a rugged outdoorsman with a love for books, a war hero who earned a Nobel Peace Prize, and a larger-than-life figure whose energy seemed boundless. Through compelling storytelling and meticulous research, Brown explores the pivotal moments that forged Roosevelt’s indomitable spirit, from battling childhood asthma to witnessing the deaths of both his mother and his wife on the same day, to wrangling cattle in the West and preserving 150 million acres of national land.Challenging traditional views, In the Arena offers a fresh perspective on Roosevelt’s groundbreaking political legacy, including his Square Deal policies that laid the groundwork for modern social welfare programs. It also unpacks his bold foreign policy, which expanded America’s global influence and set the stage for its rise as a world power. Brown argues that Roosevelt’s charisma and performative presidency helped bridge the old Victorian values with the new industrial age, capturing the attention of the middle-class and making him a leader that the people loved.Drawing comparisons to works like David McCullough’s Mornings on Horseback, Brown’s narrative stands out for its rich detail and sharp insights. More than just an account of a presidency—it’s an exploration of a life lived on the edge of greatness and is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand this critical period of American history.
Critical Acclaim
“[Brown] portrays our 26th president fully, covering his maverick spirit as a soldier and statesman, but also the lifelong racism that influenced some of his policies.” —Bethanne Patrick, The Los Angeles Times
“In the Arena gives us what no other book on Theodore Roosevelt has accomplished: critical perspective relevant for today. Written with heart and superlative skill, David S. Brown details the personal experiences that molded Roosevelt, and in turn shaped the future of domestic and global politics. Brown is a fearless biographer, unafraid to dive into the contradictions and dark moments that make up the complexity of Roosevelt’s life and legacy. Brimming with insight, In the Arena brilliantly weaves together an intimate portrait of Roosevelt with the fate of the United States.” —Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls and The Beast in the Clouds
“Following his splendid biography of Andrew Jackson, David S. Brown turns to that other great Disruptor-in-Chief, Theodore Roosevelt, and the result is a masterful new life of the 26th president. Elegantly written and smartly paced, In the Arena unpacks the brilliance and bluster—and compassion and cruelty—that made TR the dizzying force he was. Brown is a cool customer of a biographer; he doesn’t get seduced by TR’s many charms, but he doesn’t succumb to easy censure, either. What he does, instead, is very deftly place TR among the events that shaped the man and his nation as they charged headlong into the 20th century. This book is as illuminating as it is entertaining, and as timely—given current American disruptions—as it is both of those.” —Jim Rasenberger, author of Revolver: Sam Colt and the Six-Shooter That Changed America
“A study of Theodore Roosevelt that doesn’t shy from the less palatable sides of his views and character.” —Kirkus Reviews
“A magnificent book that puts Theodore Roosevelt back into the context of his times while revealing his relevance to our own. With the energy that brought the Rough Rider to the heights of both San Juan and American politics, David S. Brown packs this great American story into a one-volume biography for the ages.” —Jonathan Horn, author of The Fate of the Generals: MacArthur, Wainwright, and the Epic Battle for the Philippines
About the Author
David S. Brown teaches history at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. He is the author of eight books, including In the Arena: Theodore Roosevelt in War, Peace, and Revolution; A Hell of a Storm: The Battle for Kansas, the End of Compromise, and the Coming of the Civil War; The First Populist: The Defiant Life of Andrew Jackson; The Last American Aristocrat: The Brilliant Life and Improbable Education of Henry Adams; and biographies ofF. Scott Fitzgerald and Richard Hofstadter.
The New Nationalist™ is an independent, non-partisan publication advocating political reform. Your support makes this project possible and is greatly appreciated.
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PHILIP K. HOWARD is a distinguished lawyer, best-selling author, and proven civic leader. He is chair of Common Good, a nonpartisan organization aimed at simplifying government.
In his new book, Saving Can-Do: How to Revive the Spirit of America, Howard untangles the gordian knot of populism and broken governance seizing up the American experiment as we approach our 250th anniversary.
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Critical minerals are the new oil—and the global competition for the clean energy future is on.
As nations around the world transition toward a cleaner, more diversified portfolio of energy sources, the spotlight is turning to critical minerals.
Lithium and other minerals have uses from electric vehicles and e-bikes to smartphones, computers, medical devices, and drones.
The implications are far-reaching:
—how should environmental costs and benefits be calculated?
—how should we evaluate environmental safeguards in the US and other developed nations that restrict mining and refining of critical minerals?
—how should the economic, cultural, and human rights of people in the vicinity of critical mineral exploration and development be protected, including in the Global South?
—what are the implications for an intensifying, multifaceted competition with China?
Filmmaker Samuel George examines these and other issues in his soon-to-be released documentary, “Lithium Rising: The Race for Critical Minerals.”
The accompanying book is out now, available as a free pdf from the Bertelsmann Foundation.
About Samuel George
Dr. Samuel George is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and analyst for the Bertelsmann Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC.
Samuel’s documentaries bring viewers up close and personal to people and communities facing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, offering candid perspectives that allow viewers to draw their own conclusions. His films focus on the intersection of politics, economics, social issues, and daily life. Three of his films have in syndication on PBS, and a number of others are available on streaming services. All films are freely available online from the Bertelsmann Foundation.
George graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Oberlin College in 2007, and a Master’s Degree in International Economics and Latin American Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in 2012. He completed a PhD at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in 2024.
Image Credits | Samuel George Films.
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We are in the midst of a series of transformations—political, financial, economic, international, and cultural. At the center of our public affairs for the past decade—for better or worse or a bit of both depending on your point of view—is President Donald Trump.
New York Times reporter Peter Baker said in 2025, “Trump is the most powerful president of our lifetime.”
At the six-month point of Trump’s second term—like Grover Cleveland’s, discontinuous from his first—how do we evaluate Trump and his administration?
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, presidential historian Luke Nichter offers his highly informed, judicious perspective.
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University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer argues that “Nationalism is the most powerful political ideology on the planet.”
Nationalism is flaring across the world in the 2020s. The Russia-Ukraine War can be comprehended as a contest of competing nationalist visions. Nationalist themes are rising in the politics of the United States and United Kingdom, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Turkey, Israel, India, and China.
Nationalist sentiment is surging even in Canada, in response to President Trump’s rhetorical and trade war.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, historian Eric Storm discusses his important, timely, and readable new book, Nationalism: A World History.
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, historian, educator, author, and activist Elisabeth Griffith discusses American Women Making History: Past, Present & Future.
Dr. Griffith considers a range of issues, including: her wide-angle view of the state of women in the US today; the significance of “gender equity” in politics; the relative contributions of politics, culture, technology, science, education, and finance in evolving understandings of gender roles in the Collective West; how history can inform our navigation of the future; how AI may supercharge the teaching and learning of history; and much more.
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Anthropology is the study of what makes us human.
With memorable elan, Wade Davis applies anthropology as a platform for exploring and illuminating a range of phenomena. A polymath possessing a restless intellect and unflagging energy, Davis explores the further reaches of the planet as well as familiar, often underexamined matters closer to home.
As he gets beneath the surface of things, he reveals interconnections and conjures unexpected associations.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Wade Davis discusses his celebrated new book, Beneath the Surface of Things: New and Selected Essays.
In conversation as in writing, he’s eloquent and insightful on topics ranging from the knock-on effects of the global pandemic to the potential for an actionable political project to address global climate disruption.
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, author Ken Khachigian discusses his important, highly readable, and critically acclaimed new book, Behind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan and Nixon.
Khachigian has achieved a storied career in American politics. He has been a participant in some of the great events of the second half of the tumultuous twentieth century, including:
—the improbable comeback of Richard Nixon, reaching the White House in the world historic year, 1968;
—the high and low points of the extraordinary Nixon presidency, including the Watergate events and aftermath;
—the Reagan administration and the Gipper’s historic campaigns;
—the linkage of these California leaders and the Golden State to the wider arc of American history.
Publisher’s Summary
InBehind Closed Doors: In the Room with Reagan & Nixon, White House history is revealed like never before by Ken Khachigian as an eyewitness with two unprecedented perspectives: a unique, contemporary hands-on account of Ronald Reagan’s presidency and an exclusive chronicle of Richard Nixon’s emergence and political footprint in the first months and years after his resignation. Behind Closed Doors flows with insights, anecdotes and disclosures that reveal these men and their presidencies as never before.
Ken Khachigian – trusted adviser, counselor and speechwriter to the Cold War’s presidential lions – brings readers behind the scenes as his bosses navigated crises, confronted opponents and staked their legacies. This intimate, riveting book takes you inside the Oval Office, Air Force One, Camp David and the Western White House as Khachigian opens his diaries, secret memos, and contemporaneous notes to share untold history.
Get the insider’s view of the West Wing every moment of the week leading up to the day Richard Nixon resigned, then go to Nixon’s San Clemente home as the former president worked to rebuild his shattered reputation. Witness as Nancy Reagan emerges as critical partner, and even fierce challenger, to her husband. And learn of Nixon’s secret advice to Reagan, of Reagan’s preparation to meet with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and the first-ever account of the exchange at Reagan and Nixon’s private meeting when both were former presidents. Eavesdrop on the dramatic decisions of the 1980 and ’84 presidential campaigns and be the first to know precisely how Reagan viewed his Revolution’s crusade.
Khachigian provides a fascinating glimpse behind Pennsylvania Avenue’s iron gates and secretive oaken doors as he also exposes self-serving power-grabs, betrayals and intrigues that shrouded the capital’s halls.
Critical Acclaim
Ken Khachigian has written the most lucid, most important work about the postwar period. For an inside look at how ugly politics can be—and how noble—you cannot miss this book. I still love Ken after fifty years and you will, too, when you read this jewel of a memoir. —Ben Stein, Economist, law professor, multi Emmy awarded actor, speechwriter for Presidents Nixon and Ford, novelist, and screenwriterThis is essential reading for anyone wanting to know how Ronald Reagan shaped his crusading message of economic growth through tax cuts and limited government. Khachigian’s is a fascinating account by one who takes you into the rooms where the decisions were made. —Larry Kudlow, Host of Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow” and Former Director, National Economic CouncilTo understand Nixon and Reagan, the two crucial Presidents and coalition builders of the last third of the 20th century, the insights of Ken Khachigian, the confidant who advised them both, seem indispensable. —Pat Buchanan, White House Aide to Presidents Nixon and ReaganKen Khachigian is a great conservative and patriot, and his book will give you the inside view of a presidency that will go down in history as one of greatness and strength. —Ed Rollins, Ronald Reagan’s White House Political DirectorKen Khachigian offers a riveting account of his thrilling journey through American history at the sides of two monumental Presidents. If you care about where America has been, and where it’s going, this is a must-read! —Monica Crowley, Ph.D., Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, News Analyst and Bestselling AuthorKen Khachigian will draw you inside a generation of White House leadership and details how Reagan revived the American economy and lit a prairie fire of patriotism across America. —K.T. McFarland, American political candidate, former government official, and political commentatorMr. Khachigian, now 79 and retired (and an occasional contributor to this newspaper’s opinion pages), concludes his anecdote-rich book with an expression of gratitude to both Nixon and Reagan, saying that it was “wonderful good fortune for me to have been at their service, and, for the country, for each of them to have served.” —Wall Street JournalBehind Closed Doors is a rich repository of hitherto unknown but highly significant stories about two leaders who many of us thought we knew everything about but obviously didn't.—NewsMax
About Ken Khachigian
Ken Khachigian served as trusted speechwriter, confidant and strategist to political legends and presidential giants Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Whether in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, at Camp David or the Western White House, Khachigian was an eyewitness and insider to the 20th century’s greatest historical moments.
Widely regarded as the President’s favorite speechwriter, the remarks Khachigian crafted for Reagan’s delivery in 1985 at Bergen Belsen’s former concentration camp was described as the “best speech of his career.” Khachigian quickly mastered Reagan’s speaking style and gained his confidence after joining the candidate’s struggling 1980 presidential campaign – earning the distinction from political writer Anthony York as “an architect of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 White House victory.”
Appointed Special Consultant to the President and senior White House staff member, they formed a unique personal relationship, beginning with Reagan’s acclaimed First Inaugural Address. Khachigian collaborated to craft language shaping the historic economic recovery plan that marked the fiscal revolution for America’s turnaround and renewed the national spirit. Khachigian teamed up with Reagan to prepare dozens of other prominent public addresses. Among them were Reagan’s re-election announcement and convention acceptance speeches in 1984, critical foreign policy remarks at the UN General Assembly, State of the Union remarks and speeches before Joint Sessions of Congress. Preparing to leave office, the President asked Ken to draft his dramatic 1988 Farewell Address to the Republican National Convention.
Ken Khachigian is a sought-after speaker and commentator on public affairs based in Orange County, California.
Image Credits | An employee of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, taken or made as part of that person's official duties., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Megan Gorman
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, author Megan Gorman illuminates a little explored aspect of our best-known political figures: their personal finances.
We all know George Washington was our first president, our first of all firsts—First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.
Was Washington also first in his financial and business acumen?
Abraham Lincoln is shrouded in myth. Megan Gorman demonstrates how "The Railsplitter" may be an apt exemplar for young people today, overcoming hardscrabble beginnings, poor business decisions, crippling debt, and marital tensions to achieve financial independence.
Gerald Ford is recalled as an accidental president, a footnote in history. Yet he emerges in Gorman’s reporting as the pioneer of the lucrative post-presidential career path that is now the norm.
In this compelling book, Megan Gorman uncovers and distills the surprising and useful business and financial lessons of our commanders in chief.
Publisher’s Summary
A journey through the personal money stories of the US presidents and how they built wealth—or didn’t.Was Harry Truman really our poorest president or simply a man up at 2 a.m. struggling with financial anxiety? Did Calvin Coolidge get bad advice from his stockbroker to buy stocks in 1930 as the market continued to crash? Is it true George Washington enhanced his net worth by marrying up?We often think of the US presidents as being above the fray. But the truth is, the presidents are just like us—worried about money, trying to keep a budget, and chasing the American financial dream. While some presidents like Herbert Hoover and Gerald Ford became wildly successful with money, others like Thomas Jefferson and Joe Biden struggled to sustain their lifestyle. The ability to win the presidency is no guarantee of financial security, although today it’s a much easier path to monetize.In All the Presidents’ Money, tax attorney and wealth manager Megan Gorman takes us on a journey to understand the different personal money stories of the presidents. Grit, education, and risk are just some of the different ways that the presidents over the last 250 years have made (or lost) money.With lively storytelling and rigorous research, All the Presidents’ Money reveals how some of the greatest leaders are the worst money managers and our least favorite presidents are good at making money.
Critical Acclaim
“Presidents’ personal finances open a window to their souls. In Gorman’s perceptive telling, presidents pair up in unexpected ways: Truman and Coolidge were both worrywarts. Eisenhower and Truman both wanted to reduce taxes on their book profits. FDR lost $24,000 in the lobster business. This book is the right gift for anyone in finance or accounting.” —Amity Shlaes, New York Times bestselling author of Coolidge
“In this powerful book, Gorman examines the financial lives of American presidents and uses that as a platform to lay out clearly something that we all need to understand: the opportunity set for most Americans was greater in the past. But the insights she provides do not simply serve as a warning, they give us the understanding needed for a better future.” —Richard Vague, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Paradox of Debt: A New Path to Prosperity Without Crisis
“Few topics are more humanizing and relatable than an honest review of our relationships with money. In a fresh take on presidential history, Gorman lucidly examines the personal finances of those who have sat at the apex of national power and influence, resulting in stories of humility, grief, prudence, splendor, and extravagance. The power of ATPM is that within a few pages it becomes clear that every president demonstrates a thoroughly modern and relatable range of experiences with money and money management despite being the most powerful people of their respective times. The takeaways become more poignant when considering their mindsets toward debt, future discounting, and entrepreneurship, and how those are balanced on a wide-ranging continuum of financial fragility, outlook, and opportunity. This hard-to-put-down account should be required reading for anyone taking a personal finance or US history course.” —Dr. Billy Hensley, CEO, National Endowment for Financial Education
“All the Presidents’ Money delves into the financial lives of America’s presidents, revealing the behaviors and decisions that shaped their fortunes. As someone who studies behavioral finance, I found her insights both fascinating and instructive. This book is a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersection of history, psychology, and finance.” —Dr. Daniel Crosby, author of The Soul of Wealth and The Behavioral Investor
“Wow! Presidents are just like us. They worry about money, too! Or they don’t worry...and go broke on bad gambles and good wine, as the case may be. This is a fascinating book, a fun read, a financial history lesson, and I’m sure one that will have tongues wagging in Washington.” —Bruce Littlefield, New York Times bestselling author
About Megan Gorman
Megan Gorman is the founder and managing partner of Chequers Financial Management, a female-owned high-net-worth tax and financial planning firm in San Francisco, California. Megan’s clientele ranges from entrepreneurs to corporate executives to inheritors of family wealth. An attorney by training, she is passionate about the problem-solving required to work in the world of complex financial planning. Megan has been named to the Forbes 2022 and 2023 lists of America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors—Best in State.Megan spent the first twelve years of her career as a Vice President at Ayco, A Goldman Sachs Company. She was also a Vice President at BNY Mellon Wealth Management prior to launching her own firm. She has a BA in History from Bryn Mawr College and a JD from Rutgers School of Law.She is a senior contributor at Forbes and writes on personal finance and income tax. She is frequently quoted across prominent financial media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, CNBC, and US News.
Megan is currently serving on the Board of Trustees for the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE). She is chairwoman of the Investment Committee for the $200 million endowment.
Image Credits | Megan Gorman
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Germany sustained a political earthquake in recent elections in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony. The parties of the national governing coalition sustained grievous losses—and a populist surge propelled the right-wing Alliance for Germany to record votes. Some sense ominous echoes of the rise to prominence of the Nazi Party in 1924.
Jürgen Resch is well suited to evaluate the historic changes underway. He leads the respected NGO, Deutsche-Umwelthilfe. He is a co-founder of the Euronatur Foundation, the Global Nature Fund, and the Lake Constance Foundation. Active worldwide, including throughout the European Union and the United States, he is a recipient of many recognitions, including the Haagen-Smit Award from the California Air Resources Board.
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In discussion with James Strock, Resch illuminates the recent shock election results, including their implications for Germany and the broader European political landscape. He surveys the challenges faced by Germany's current federal government coalition, the rise of populism, and the decline of traditional political parties. Resch considers the consequences for environmental and energy policies in Germany, the impact of electric vehicles on the auto industry, and the future of renewable energy.
Jurgen Resch is the author of a well-received book detailing his effective activist approach to environmental and energy politics: Druck machen!: Wie Politik und Wirtschaft wissentlich Umwelt und Klima schädigen–-und was wir wirksam dagegen tun können.
Image Credit | Deutsche-Umwelthilfe.
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Elliot Ackerman is a widely respected writer. His reach extends across fiction and non-fiction, from novels to essays to memoir and commentary. He is an exemplar of Theodore Roosevelt’s ideal of service combining thought and action.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Ackerman discusses his bestselling new book, 2054: A Novel. This is a successor to 2034: A Novel of the Next World War. Each is coauthored with Admiral James Stavridis. A third volume, 2084, is also planned.
Ackerman shares his views of the value of history and literature in comprehending the unprecedented challenges of our moment of global change and unrest—ranging from great power competition to climate disruption to the rise of new technologies, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology. He also reflects on how longstanding notions of spheres of influence may be transformed in our interconnected world.
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, noted journalist Kourosh Ziabari shares his perspective on the intertwined destinies of Iran and America. Ziabari represents a rising generation in Iran and the US. Currently enrolled in the master’s program of the Columbia Journalism School, he has accrued experiences worthy of an extended career. Ziabari urges Americans to distinguish between our reactions to the authoritarian regime in Teheran and our affinities with the Iranian people.
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Benn Steil is an award-winning writer in the fields of finance, history, and biography. He is a senior fellow and director of international economics at the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Steil discusses his important new book, “The World That Wasn’t: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century.' He explains the ongoing significance of Henry Wallace to our understanding of a hinge point of history, with parallels to our current moment.
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Philip K Howard is a leading reformer of American law and government. He combines thought and action: A prolific, best-selling writer and frequent commentator who founded the non-partisan group, Common Good.
He is the author of an eagerly awaited new book, Everyday Freedom: Designing the Framework for a Flourishing Society.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Howard discusses the urgent need and prospects for change, in time for vigorous and informed citizen engagement in the pivotal 2024 national elections. In additional to national issues, he offers informed perspectives on state and local developments, including the vast reach of the California state budget.
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Richard Norton Smith is at the top tier of American presidential historians. He is the author of the highly acclaimed new biography: An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford.
Smith is widely recognized for his regular appearances on the PBS News Hour, as well as a historical commentator on CBS and other networks. He’s a familiar and beloved guide to history on CSPAN.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Smith discusses his new book, including its genesis and the many parallels and connections between President Ford’s era and our own.
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Sasha Stone is a pioneering blogger and founder of Awards Daily, as well as a widely-read, provocative Substack, “Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning.”
She is on the vanguard of the realignment and re-sorting underway in our politics and culture.
Sasha Stone’s lived experience is representative of those Bridget Phetasy calls “the politically homeless.” This refers to the rising plurality of Americans—nearing a majority of voters—who reject the enforced duopoly of the Democrats and Republicans. It’s as if the legacy parties are in a war of attrition, prompting a flood of refugees who have no place to call their own.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Sasha Stone discusses her journey from Hillary Clinton activist to politically independent. She concludes that some of the core values that inspired her earlier affiliations have prompted her to find unanticipated empathy with many Americans who are routinely marginalized and disrespected by the dominant political and cultural narrative of our polarized moment.
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Derek Leebaert—historian, strategist, organizational leadership and management consultant, and bestselling author of a series of critically acclaimed books—has written an outstanding and timely new work: Unlikely Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Leebaert discusses the book, its genesis and its uncanny relevance in our historic moment.
Publisher’s Summary
Only four people served at the top echelon of President Franklin Roosevelt's Administration from the frightening early months of spring 1933 until he died in April 1945, on the cusp of wartime victory. These lieutenants composed the tough, constrictive, long-term core of government. They built the great institutions being raised against the Depression, implemented the New Deal, and they were pivotal to winning World War II.Yet, in their different ways, each was as wounded as the polio-stricken titan. Harry Hopkins, Harold Ickes, Frances Perkins, and Henry Wallace were also strange outsiders. Up to 1933, none would ever have been considered for high office. Still, each became a world figure, and it would have been exceedingly difficult for Roosevelt to transform the nation without them. By examining the lives of these four, a very different picture emerges of how Americans saved their democracy and rescued civilization overseas. Many of the dangers that they all overcame are troublingly like those America faces today.
About Derek Leebaert
Derek Leebaert won the biennial 2020 Truman Book Award for Grand Improvisation. His previous books include Magic and Mayhem: The Delusions of American Foreign Policy from Korea to Afghanistan and To Dare and to Conquer: Special Operations and the Destiny of Nations, both Washington Post Best Books of the Year. He was a founding editor of the Harvard/MIT journal International Security and is a cofounder of the National Museum of the U.S. Army. He holds a D.Phil from Oxford and lives in Washington, D.C.
Otherwise he has long been a management consultant, advising enterprises in the IT, defense, and healthcare sectors. He coauthored the MIT Press trilogy on the rise of the information technology revolution, including MIT's The Future of the Electronic Marketplace.
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Amid the kaleidoscopic changes testing and recasting the post-1945 liberal world order, none is more significant—and consequential—than the ascent of India.
India and the United States have long maintained a unique relationship. Each nation is a post-colonial power. Each achieved independence from Great Britain after protracted struggle. Each is a demographically diverse nation governed by a representative democracy.
The Council on Foreign Relations has created a useful timeline for US-India Relations from 1947-2020.
Today, India is confronting a series of challenges:
—rising nationalist populism;
—financial and economic stresses amid ongoing growth;
—new international alignments, including with China, Russia, and other G-20 nations;
—rising nuclear competition with China and its impact on the global non-proliferation regime.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, renowned strategist Ashley Tellis discusses these and other major issues at this hinge moment in history.
Tellis’ new book, Grasping Greatness: Making India a Leading Power, is published by India Viking. The introduction—a brilliant, comprehensive synthesis—is available now, free-of-charge—in pdf.
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About Ashley Tellis
Ashley J. Tellis is the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, specializing in international security and U.S. foreign and defense policy with a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
While on assignment to the U.S. Department of State as senior adviser to the undersecretary of state for political affairs, he was intimately involved in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India.
Previously he was commissioned into the U.S. Foreign Service and served as senior adviser to the ambassador at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. He also served on the National Security Council staff as special assistant to President George W. Bush and senior director for strategic planning and Southwest Asia. Prior to his government service, Tellis was senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and professor of policy analysis at the RAND Graduate School.
He is a counselor at the National Bureau of Asian Research, the research director of its Strategic Asia program, and co-editor of the program’s seventeen most recent annual volumes, including the latest Strategic Asia 2021–22: Navigating Tumultuous Times in the Indo-Pacific.
He is the author of Striking Asymmetries: Nuclear Transitions in Southern Asia (2022) and India’s Emerging Nuclear Posture (2001), the co-author of Interpreting China’s Grand Strategy: Past, Present, and Future (2000), and the co-editor of Getting India Back on Track (2014). Other significant publications include Revising U.S. Grand Strategy Toward China (2015, co-author), Balancing Without Containment: An American Strategy for Managing China (2014), Atoms for War? U.S.-Indian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation and India's Nuclear Arsenal (2006), India as a New Global Power: An Action Agenda for the United States (2005), Measuring National Power in the Post-Industrial Age (2000, co-author), and Stability in South Asia (1997). In addition to many more Carnegie and RAND reports, his academic publications have appeared in several edited volumes and peer-reviewed journals.
Tellis serves as an adviser to the Chief of Naval Operations. He is a member of several professional organizations related to defense and international studies including the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Institute of Strategic Studies, the United States Naval Institute, and the Navy League of the United States.
He earned his PhD in political science from the University of Chicago. He also holds an MA in political science from the University of Chicago and both BA and MA degrees in economics from the University of Bombay.
Image Credit | Author photo, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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Brooks Newmark is co-founder of Angels for Ukraine. He is serving on the scene, organizing the safekeeping and relocation of thousands of women and children amid the devastation unleashed by the Russian invasion that began on February 24, 2022.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Newmark discusses his experiences on the scene in Ukraine. He also shares the process by which he became determined to put himself in harm’s way for others in dire circumstances.
One can recognize Newmark as a spiritual descendant of Oskar Schindler, Raoul Wallenberg and others who have given their all to save those who face war and genocide.
Brooks Newmark is well-known and respected as a businessman, philanthropist, politician, and social reform campaigner. He was the Member of Parliament for Braintree (2005-15). He served in the Coalition Government as Minister for Civil Society, with responsibility for charities, the voluntary sector and youth (2014) having previously served on the Treasury Select Committee (2012-14 and 2006-7) and as a Government Whip and Lord Commissioner HM Treasury (2010-12). In Opposition he also served as a Whip (2007-10).
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Angels for Ukraine in the News
—”How ex-Tory MP inspired by Schindler saved 15,000 Ukrainians from the Russians, Christopher Hope and Louisa Wells, The Telegraph, January 5, 2023.
—”Saving Lives in Ukraine,” Gordon F. Sander, Harvard Magazine, September 13 , 2022.
—”How my family’s Holocaust history led me to rescue thousands of Ukrainians,” Brooks Newmark, The Jewish Chronicle, May 12, 2022.
—BBC Essex: “Former MP helps 21,000 Ukrainian refugees,” Brooks Newmark Interview with Ben Fryer.
—”Brooks Newmark: Our Man in Ukraine,” Olenka Hamilton, Catholic Herald, May 18, 2022.
—”Angels for Ukraine will support the country for as long as it takes,” Brooks Newmark, The House, October 22, 2022.
Resources
—Learn and Donate: Angels for Ukraine
—BrooksNewmark.com
—Twitter: @brooksnewmark
—Twitter: @ukrainesangels
—Facebook: Brooks Newmark
—LinkedIn: Brooks Newmark
Image Credits | Brooks Newmark, Facebook, Twitter.
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Amid the uncertainty and sense of lack of leadership in American politics and government, and other sectors, there’s a burst of interest in one of our most consequential presidents: Franklin Roosevelt.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, award-winning presidential historian and journalist Jonathan Darman discusses his highly readable and extensively researched new book, Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President.
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Critical Acclaim
“With superb insight into human nature, Jonathan Darman has written a compelling and illuminating account of how a battle with a virus shaped the life of the man to whom the fate of everything would fall. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s struggles with polio steeled him for the great struggles of the Depression and of World War II, and Darman tells that story in vivid and convincing detail.”
—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship “A brilliant, fresh, and vivid book that shows us how a well-meaning and ambitious gentleman turned into the world figure who led Americans to conquer the Great Depression and fight to victory in global war . . . Jonathan Darman brings us new insights into FDR (a difficult job at this late date) at the same time as he shows us how a leader is made.”
—Michael Beschloss, presidential historian“This fascinating story of how Franklin D. Roosevelt was forged by polio is a moving personal drama. More than that, it’s a valuable book for anyone who wants to know how adversity shapes character. By understanding how FDR became a deeper and more empathetic person, we can nurture those traits in ourselves and learn from the challenges we all face.”
—Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci“Franklin D. Roosevelt has been a strangely elusive figure to biographers, but he comes vividly to life in Jonathan Darman’s moving and insightful portrait. A gifted historian and writer, Darman has given us a parable of redemption through suffering, a sensitive portrait of a marriage, and a fascinating study of the acquisition of power. This is the gripping story of how a lightweight playboy became a great world leader.”
—Evan Thomas, author of First: Sandra Day O’Connor“This moving portrait of Franklin Roosevelt’s rise to power gives us new insights on his inner life. Jonathan Darman writes with grace, ease, and a keen eye for human detail as he tells the story of FDR in his crucible years. It’s about the making of the man before the presidency, before his greatness, and what he had to do and face before he could become who he really was.”
—Peggy Noonan, columnist for The Wall Street Journal“At a time when suffering and resilience have taken on new meaning for us all, Jonathan Darman offers us a compelling and compassionate portrait of a man who did extraordinary things because he came to understand both.”
—Drew Gilpin Faust, bestselling author of This Republic of Suffering
About the Author
Jonathan Darman is a journalist and historian who writes about American politics and the presidency. He is the author of Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis that Made a President. His book Landslide: Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan at the Dawn of a New America told the story of a thousand transformative days in the 1960s through the eyes of two iconic American presidents.
As a former national political correspondent for Newsweek, Jonathan covered the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Mitt Romney and wrote extensively about other major figures in national politics and media. He covered the 2004 presidential campaign for the magazine’s special election project, which garnered the National Magazine Award for Single Topic Issue. Jonathan has also appeared frequently as a commentator on politics and presidential history on broadcast television, cable news and public radio.
Jonathan is a graduate of Harvard College where he studied American history and literature. He lives in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley.
Image Credit | Author photo by Nina Subin, from jonathandarman.com.
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, renowned theoretical physicist Steven Koonin discusses his views on the state of the climate and alternative policy responses. He also shares thoughts about his ideals as an educator; his admiration for Richard Feynman; and examples of where he’s changed his mind on significant matters in recent years.
Koonin brings a unique set of relevant, hands-on experiences to the complex and contentious public discusssion relating to climate disruption. He is a professor in the Department of Civil and Urban Engineering at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering. He previously was provost of the California Institute of Technology. From 2004 to 2009, Koonin served as Chief Scientist at BP, the energy giant transitioning from its roots as British Petroleum to “Beyond Petroleum.” He was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to the post of Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy, holding office from 2009-11.
Steven Koonin is the author of the best-selling book, Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells Us, What It Doesn’t, and Why It Matters.
Among the many plaudits for the book,Vaclav Smil, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Manitoba, declared:
We have too many global warming books—but this one is needed. Steven Koonin has the credentials, expertise, and experience to ask the right questions and to give realistic answers.
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Additional Resources
—Steven Koonin Medium Page, including presentations, interviews, and responses to critics.
—Recent Debate [90 minutes; final 5 minutes recommended as concise summary of key matters in contention]:
—American Enterprise Institute podcast interview of Koonin on Climate Science and Extreme Weather.
The Serve to Lead podcast is now on Substack. It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
Apple Podcasts | Amazon Audible | Amazon Music | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Spotify | Stitcher | Podchaser | TuneIn
Image credit | US Dept of Energy, Public Domain via Wikipedia.
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In our unsettled moment, there’s a burst of interest in one of the United States’ most consequential presidents: Franklin Roosevelt.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, acclaimed presidential historian David Pietrusza discusses his highly readable and extensively researched new book, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation: FDR’s 1936 Landslide and the Triumph of the Liberal Ideal.
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Critical Acclaim
“A robust chronicle of Franklin Roosevelt’s quest to stay in the White House. . . a brisk, spirited narrative, abundantly populated and bursting with anecdotes . . . A prodigiously researched and exuberantly told political biography/history.”
—Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review )
“Pietrusza . . . makes the most of his engrossing tale. . . . a lively story that is rife with strong personalities and blood stirring incidents. . . . appealing.”
– Library Journal
“a sweeping yet minutely detailed chronicle of FDR’s 1936 reelection campaign . . .an exhaustive and expert chronicle of a critical American election.”
—Publishers Weekly
“David Pietrusza’s Roosevelt Sweeps Nation combines penetrating research with good illustrative anecdotes to bring the 1936 presidential election between FDR and Alf Landon into sharp focus. A marvelous and important history. Highly recommended!”
—Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University, author of Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America.
“David Pietrusza has done it again—another fascinating, easy-to-read book on a key moment in history. Franklin Roosevelt won a massive victory in 1936, cementing his New Deal permanently. Pietrusza brings FDR’s era to life and shows us how it happened.”
—Larry J. Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics
“The 1936 election was not just another FDR victory, but an important turning point in the nation’s history. The story David Pietrusza tells is riveting and the cast of characters is fascinating. Franklin Roosevelt was the most skillful American politician of the 20th century and this election was a decisive affirmation of his power and appeal.”
—Ron Faucheux, political analyst
“In the style and with the depth of research of David McCullough, David Pietrusza makes history come alive in his latest book ‘Roosevelt Sweeps Nation.’ From religious characters like Father Divine and radio preacher Charles Coughlin, to political ones like Huey Long and Roosevelt himself, the book is a delightful and compelling read.”
—Cal Thomas, Syndicated Columnist
“Another great election year chronicle from [David Pietrusza] — such a colorful story & writing. Couldn’t be juicier.”
—Whit Stillman, Director and Academy Award Nominated Screenwriter
“David Pietrusza is my favorite historian, and Roosevelt Sweeps Nation is Pietrusza at his best. Nobody can tell a better story than Pietrusza, who always shows you there’s more to the story than you thought—that there is juicy stuff hidden in our history that nobody has bothered to suss out or that has long been forgotten. This is another page-turner you won’t want to put down. At a time when Americans can use a reprieve from today’s news, Roosevelt Sweeps Nation is just what the doctor ordered. And David Pietrusza is a national treasure.”
—Matt Lewis, Senior Columnist, The Daily Beast
“Roosevelt crafted an election strategy so strong that it has defined national campaigns of both parties ever since. Now historian David Pietrusza brings the stunning 1936 Roosevelt Sweep to life, with timely lessons for our current challenges.”—Amity Shlaes, Author, Great Society.
“all of [Pietrusza’s] books are brilliant, but this is just phenomenal.”
—John Rothmann, KGO Radio (San Francisco)
About the Author
Award-winning historian David Pietrusza has been called “a national treasure” and “the undisputed champion of chronicling American Presidential campaigns.” His books include studies of the 1920, 1932, 1936, 1948, and 1960 presidential elections and biographies of Theodore Roosevelt (Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medal, US History), gambler Arnold Rothstein (Edgar Award finalist) and Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis (Casey Award winner).
Pietrusza has appeared on NPR, C-SPAN, MSNBC, The Voice of America, The History Channel, AMC, and ESPN. He has spoken at the JFK, FDR, Truman, and Coolidge presidential libraries, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and various universities, museums, libraries, and festivals.
A noted expert on baseball history, Pietrusza has served as editor-in-chief of Total Sports Publishing, co-editor of Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball, national president of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), and co-author with Ted Williams of Williams’ pictorial autobiography.
A former member of the Amsterdam (NY) City Council, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University at Albany, is a Recipient of UAlbany’s Alumni Association’s Excellence in Arts & Letters Award, and a charter member of the Greater Amsterdam School District Hall of Fame.He served as a member of the New York State Commission for the Restoration of the Capitol.
The Serve to Lead podcast is now on Substack. It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Image credits | Diversion Books; davidpietrusza.com.
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The India-US relationship is one of the most significant and fascinating among great nations. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, historian and journalist Meenakshi Ahamed discusses her new book, A Matter of Trust: India-US Relations From Truman to Trump.
Ahamed combines analytical rigor with a storyteller’s gift for narrative. The book has garnered critical acclaim, and is a finalist for the prestigious Arthur Ross Award of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Seventy years of India-US relations has shown that despite the two countries being democracies, not only are they far apart culturally but the intersection of their critical interests is relatively modest. Therefore, the only time when the relationship has developed any real momentum is when one of the leaders has been willing to make a leap of faith.
—Meenakshi Ahamed
India’s world role continues to evolve amid the kaleidoscopic changes underway with the rise of China and other challenges to the so-called liberal international order that has prevailed since the end of the Second World War. Ahamed illuminates current issues—such as India’s decision not to join the United States in support Ukraine’s struggle against Russian aggression in 2022—through her understanding of India’s history of non-alignment during the twentieth-century Cold War. She also has a keen understanding of the unique contributions of Indian-Americans in US business, which may continue to pull our nations ever closer in the decades ahead.
Critical Acclaim
'Meenakshi Ahamed has brought us a brilliant, important, sparkling and definitive study of a part of American history that is growing more crucial by the day. A Matter of Trust is essential reading at a moment when the United States and India are all the more central to each other, and when valiant democracies around the world are in danger.'
—Michael Beschloss, New York Times bestselling author and NBC News Presidential Historian
'Meenakshi Ahamed has given us an authentic, thoughtful and accessible account of a relationship characterized by paradox and progress. She tells the tale of the highs and lows of that relationship in all its drama, with strong and idiosyncratic personalities on both sides. Today's transformed India-US relations could determine the future not only of one-fifth of humanity but of the Asian Century. This is a book with a serious message—one to read and savor.'
—Shivshankar Menon, Former National Security Advisor, Ambassador to China and Foreign Secretary
'In this world of growing great power competition, the Indian-American relationship has become one of central, strategic importance to the two nations. In her history of the relationship, Meena Ahamed has given us a timely, lively and captivating account of the road India and the United States have travelled and a compelling insight into what lies ahead.'
—Frank G. Wisner, Former United States Ambassador to India
'Meenakshi Ahamed's labor of love is a real tour de force covering the long tortuous history of the often-troubled relationship of the world's two largest democracies since India's independence. The book is at once scholarly, deeply researched and yet down to earth. It brings to life the prickly personalities on both sides, and their sensitivities, that often bedeviled the evolving bilateral relationship. As a new era of competitive geopolitics pits West versus East, what lies ahead for this unusual relationship? To prepare ourselves this book is a must-read.'
—Dr Rakesh Mohan, Former Deputy Governor Reserve Bank of India
About the Author
Meenakshi Narula Ahamed was born in 1954 in Calcutta, India. After finishing school in India, she obtained an MA from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies in 1978. She has had a varied career as a journalist and prior to that as a development consultant. She has worked at the World Bank in Washington D.C. as well as for the Ashoka Society. In 1989, she moved to London and became the foreign correspondent for NDTV. Among the leaders she interviewed were Nelson Mandela, John Major and Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign. She covered the race riots in London and reported on the rise of Indian entrepreneurs in the US in the mid nineties. After returning to the US in 1996, she worked as a freelance journalist. Her op-eds and articles have been published in Asian Age, Seminar, Foreign Policy, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. She has served on the board of Doctors Without Borders, The Turquoise Mountain Foundation and Drugs for Neglected Diseases. She divides her time between the US and India.
The Serve to Lead podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Image credit: HarperCollins Publishers.
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Nationalism has become a word of opprobrium among many in polite society. It’s often associated with right-wing populists or authoritarians—with a provenance stirring unsettling memories of Hitler, Mussolini and other fascist dictators of the twenty-century, interwar period.
Even the more anodyne formulation, patriot has become fraught in today’s hyper-partisan moment.
John Halpin, co-editor of The Liberal Patriot,is working to expand our visions of these notions. He argues for the possibility of a center-left, liberal-leaning national identity. He offers the model of Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Halpin discusses his thinking and writing on patriotism, nationalism—and how Americans can overcome our polarized politics.
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About John Halpin
John Halpin is a renowned expert on campaigns and elections, political ideology, and public opinion analysis.
His popular Substack newsletter, The Liberal Patriot, declares its mission:
a new site, newsletter, and community for political analysis and debate on elections, public opinion, policy, and ideology by co-editors John Halpin, Ruy Teixeira, Peter Juul, and Brian Katulis.
Over a 20-year career in the fields of public opinion and election analysis, Halpin has written extensively on voter attitudes about domestic and foreign policy with research featured in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Financial Times, The Boston Globe, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The American Prospect, and The Atlantic. He is the co-author with John Podesta of The Power of Progress: How America’s Progressives Can (Once Again) Save Our Economy, Our Climate, and Our Country, a 2008 book about the history and future of the progressive movement.
Halpin received his undergraduate degree in government from Georgetown University and his M.A. in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and two children.
The Serve to Lead podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Image Credit: John Halpin
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Johnson posits that a blueprint for national solidarity can be found in the exceptional citizenship long practiced in Black America.
“Racism is an existential threat to America,” Theodore R. Johnson declares at the start of his profound and exhilarating book, When the Stars Begin to Fall. It is a refutation of the American Promise enshrined in our Constitution that that all men and women are inherently equal. And yet racism continues to corrode our society. If we cannot overcome it, Johnson argues, while the United States will remain a geopolitical entity, the promise that made America unique on Earth will have died.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Johnson discusses his timely, readable, and provocative book, which will be released in paperback in June 2022.
When the Stars Begin to Fall makes a compelling, ambitious case for a pathway to the national solidarity necessary to mitigate racism. Weaving memories of his own and his family's multi-generational experiences with racism, alongside strands of history, into his elegant narrative, Johnson posits that a blueprint for national solidarity can be found in the exceptional citizenship long practiced in Black America. Understanding that racism is a structural crime of the state, he argues that overcoming it requires us to recognize that a color-conscious society--not a color-blind one--is the true fulfillment of the American Promise.
Fueled by Johnson's ultimate faith in the American project, grounded in his family's longstanding optimism and his own military service, When the Stars Begin to Fall is an urgent call to undertake the process of overcoming what has long seemed intractable.
Representative Reviews
The Washington Post:
An earnestly conceived road map for how America can achieve racial justice following centuries of white supremacy . . . A virtue of the book is his use of personal narrative to illustrate analytical points . . . Johnson writes with lyrical clarity, delivering tales that are by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Publishers Weekly:
A passionate and persuasive exhortation to build a ‘multiracial national solidarity to confront the race problem [in America] head-on’ . . . Heartfelt and vividly written, this is a salient call for America to finally live up to its promise.
Raleigh News & Observer:
You can also be a patriot and still embrace the fullness of American history. Johnson believes one of the keys to realizing our country’s founding vision—the radical idea that all men are created equal, and endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights—is understanding how our governing institutions have been warped by a long history of racial division. His new book, When the Stars Begin to Fall, is a call for reforming those institutions, for tackling systemic racism as an urgent threat to the core promise of our country.
About the Author
Dr. Theodore R Johnson is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Fellows Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law, where he undertakes research on race, politics, and American identity.
Prior to joining the Brennan Center, he was a National Fellow at New America, and a Commander in the United States Navy, serving for twenty years in a variety of positions, including as a White House Fellow in the first Obama administration and as speechwriter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
His work on race relations has appeared in prominent national publications across the political spectrum, including the New York Times Magazine, the Atlantic, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and National Review, among others.
Please note that the Serve to Lead Podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Image Credits: theodorerjohnson.com
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A riveting narrative of Wall Street buccaneering, political intrigue, and two of American history’s most colossal characters, struggling for mastery in an era of social upheaval and rampant inequality.
At the turn of a new century, the United States is in transition. Its financial and economic systems are being disrupted, amid cultural turmoil and political division. The periodic emergence of oligarchic power in the American political economy is occurring yet again.
Such sentiments were front-and-center at the turn of the twentieth century, as they are today.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, journalist and author Susan Berfield shares the history and outlines the lessons from her highly readable, well-received book, The Hour of Fate: Theodore Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, and the Battle to Transform American Capitalism. It will be released in paperback in May 2022.
Berfield brings history to life through her focus on two titanic personalities: President Theodore Roosevelt and financier J.P. Morgan. The interaction of their lives and work illuminates significant trends and challenges that remain familiar and have acquired renewed urgency.
Representative Reviews
The Washington Post:
Wonderfully detailed . . . [Berfield’s] story is about the past but also very much about the present, as our own Gilded Age raises old questions about inequality, plutocracy and what Roosevelt once called ‘that most dangerous of all classes, the wealthy criminal class’ . . . The book may make you both sad and mad, because it serves as a poignant, painful reminder of what a real leader does.
The New York Journal of Books:
A tale of greed, power, and accountability, an epic story of a clash of titans, one a political dynamo, the other unparalleled in business savvy. Out of their struggle, a new nation emerged, one that could flex its muscles and cause private enterprise to shudder, instead of the other way around as it had been before. . . Today, as the United States barrels its way into the 21st century, with business behemoths like Amazon and Apple treading in the footsteps of Morgan's Northern Securities, one can only wonder when and where the next trust buster will arise.
About the Author
Susan Berfield writes investigative and feature stories for Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg News. Most recently, she's examined the dangers of generic drugs and the flaws in our recall system. She's revealed a company's years-long effort to misinform residents and discredit activists seeking to remove nuclear waste from a Superfund site outside St. Louis. Several months later, the Environmental Protection Agency reversed an earlier decision and demanded the company do so. Using confidential documents, she exposed how Walmart spies on its workers to prevent them from organizing. And she helped uncover a con man who talked a small Missouri town out of millions and was later convicted of fraud.
She's won awards from the Newswomen's Club of New York, the New York Press Club, the American Society of Business Publication Editors, and the Education Writers' Association. She contributes to the Pay Check, named the diversity and inclusion podcast of 2019 by Adweek. A collaboration with WNYC about the secretive family behind the largest mall in the country was a Loeb finalist in 2017. Her story about honey smugglers was the basis for an episode of the documentary series Rotten, which premiered on Netflix in 2018. She’s appeared on National Public Radio and PBS NewsHour.
Before joining Businessweek, she was a senior writer at Asiaweek in Hong Kong, where her story, "Ten Days that Shook Indonesia," won the Society of Asian Publishers’ Reporting Award and the Hong Kong Human Rights Press Award.
She earned a master’s degree at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, where she was a Zuckerman Fellow. Her undergraduate degree is from Brown University; after graduating, she co-directed a documentary in India funded by Brown's Arnold Fellowship.
Please note that the Serve to Lead Podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Image Credits: susanberfield.com
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Philip K. Howard is a longtime leader of government and legal reform in the United States. Amid the current political turmoil, Howard has set his sights on the remorseless increase in the power of public employee unions. This is a thread linking public sector pension shortfalls; local, state, and federal government bureaucratic dysfunction; outdated public infrastructure that costs far more to improve than in comparable nations; and the struggles between parents and teachers’ unions on issues from student masking to curriculum development.
Howard’s guiding star is to hold government accountable to the citizens it is intended to serve.
In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Howard discusses his efforts to reform public sector collective bargaining—including an innovative project to challenge its constitutionality. He also explores the evolution of the legal profession, including the decline of the lawyer-statesman ideal.
Philip K. Howard’s latest book is Try Common Sense: Replacing the Failed Ideologies of Right and Left (W.W. Norton & Company, January 2019). His 2010 Ted Talk has been viewed over 650,000 times.
Howard is also the author of the best-seller The Death of Common Sense (Random House, 1995), The Collapse of the Common Good(Ballantine Books, 2002), Life Without Lawyers(W.W. Norton & Company, 2009), and The Rule of Nobody (W.W. Norton & Company, 2014). He writes periodically for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and other publications.
In 2002, Howard founded Common Good, a nonpartisan national coalition dedicated to restoring common sense to America. His 2015 report “Two Years, Not Ten Years” delineated the economic and environmental costs of delayed infrastructure approvals, and has been endorsed by leaders of both major political parties.
The son of a minister, Philip K. Howard got his start working summers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner and has been active in public affairs his entire adult life. He is a prominent civic leader in New York City and has advised national political leaders on legal and regulatory reform for three decades, including Vice President Al Gore and numerous governors. He is Senior Counsel at the law firm Covington & Burling, LLP. Howard is a graduate of Yale College and the University of Virginia Law School, and lives in Manhattan with his wife Alexandra. They have four children.
The Serve to Lead podcast has recently moved to Substack (and continues to repopulate in updated settings). It can be accessed in the usual formats, including:
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Reference to Patrick J. Shiltz, “On Being a Healthy, Happy, and Ethical Member of an Unhealthy, Unhappy, and Unethical Profession,” Vanderbilt Law Review, Volume 52, Issue 4, 1999.
Image: Covington & Burling LLP
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William K. Reilly has achieved a consequential career in environmental leadership. He has served four presidents in high positions and sensitive assignments requiring notable judgment and disciplined discretion. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Reilly discusses the past, present and promise of environmental leadership in the United States and globally. He […]
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Frank DiStefano is a Washington, D.C.-based writer who focuses on the history and future of United States politics. He is the author of The Next Realignment: Why America’s Parties Are Crumbling and What Happens Next. The book has received praise from leaders and experts across the political spectrum. On this episode of the Serve […]
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Jennifer Hernandez is a widely respected practitioner and thought-leader in environmental and land-use law. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, she discusses her provocative, influential new article, published by the Breakthrough Institute: “Green Jim Crow: How California’s Climate Policies Undermine Civil Rights and Racial Equity.” She explains how environmental regulation is […]
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Nationalism is back in the news. 2016 was a hinge moment. Brexit in the United Kingdom, combined with the Trump and Sanders insurgencies in the United States, focused attention on populism and evolving notions of national identity. What does nationalism mean in our time? Is American nationalism a distinct variant? Is there a meaningful […]
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Richard Nixon is often recalled as a historic foreign policy president, but his consequential domestic policy initiatives have been obscured amid the wreckage of the Watergate scandals. In fact, Nixon’s policies—from health care to welfare to the environment—reverberate through subsequent administrations, into the present day. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, […]
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In a turbulent, populist moment across the world, the costs and benefits of elites and meritocracy are very much contested. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Aaron Renn discusses the American meritocracy and its discontents. Renn recently penned a provocative article relating to the customs and decline of the twentieth-century WASP (White […]
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Stephen Wertheim is a historian of the United States in the world. He is the director of the Quincy Institute’s Grand Strategy program, and a Research Scholar at the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University. He is the author of an influential new book, Tomorrow the World: The Birth of U.S. […]
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Steven B. Smith, the Alfred Cowles Professor of Political Science at Yale University, has written an important new book: Reclaiming Patriotism in an Age of Extremes. In this episode of the Serve to Lead Podcast, Smith discusses why patriotism matters and why it must be reclaimed from the political left and right who have politicized it. […]
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Richard Norton Smith is a presidential historian, biographer, essayist, and former leader of presidential libraries. He is a frequent commentator on C-SPAN and for many years appeared on the Lehrer Report on PBS. In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Smith discusses the art and craft of history, and explores the changes of […]
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Woodrow Wilson is recalled as one of America’s most consequential presidents. His two-term administration constitutes a keystone of the modern era of American government. John M. Cooper, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has dedicated his career to illuminating Wilson and his era. Cooper is perhaps best known to the public as the author […]
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Winston Churchill was undeniably one of the great leaders of history—was he a servant leader? In a new episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Howard Behar, former president of Starbucks Coffee Company International, explores the Churchill conundrum and other aspects of servant leadership. Behar speaks with unique authority, pioneering the practice of servant leadership […]
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In a new episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, General HR McMaster discusses geopolitics and his important new book, Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend Freedom. HR McMaster is perhaps best known for his service as the 26th National Security Adviser to the president, in 2017-18. This was a capstone to a storied military career. […]
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In a new episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Katherine Gehl shares insights and observations from her important new book, The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy, co-authored with Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter. Katherine Gehl, is a business leader, writer, speaker, and political innovation […]
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In a new episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, author Theresa Lina shares actionable insights on strategy and execution for enterprises aiming for dominant market positions in competitive and emerging markets. She has written a well-received new book, Be the Go-To: How to Own Your Competitive Market, Charge More, and Have Customers Love You […]
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In a new episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, noted communications expert Larry Kamer shares his unique, actionable insights on crisis leadership. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing financial turbulence, no individual or institution—corporate, governmental, not-for-profit, military or religious—is immune to existential threats. Mr. Kamer’s extensive experience has never been more timely or […]
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, acclaimed historian Andrew Roberts discusses his new book, Leadership in War: Essential Lessons from Those Who Made History, as well as his recent book Churchill: Walking with Destiny. Churchill was published by Penguin in October 2018, became a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, was […]
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In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Dr. Mark J. Plotkin discusses his important new book: The Amazon: What Everyone Needs to Know, from Oxford University Press. He explains why the Amazon matters, what the coronavirus portends in human interaction with nature, and why the leadership legacies of Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill […]
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Michael Lind is a professor of practice at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. His latest book is The New Class War: SavingDemocracy From the Managerial Elite. In this wide-ranging conversation with James Strock, Lind declares that the political disruption signalled by the election of President […]
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Daniel Esty is the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University. He directs the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and serves on the advisory board of the Center for Business & Environment at Yale. Esty also served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection from 2011-14. […]
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Tom Peters is acclaimed as a founder of the profession of management consulting. Dubbed “the Red Bull of management thinking,” Peters is a prolific author, inspiring speaker, and social media maven who gives President Trump a run for his money as an effective user of Twitter. In this wide-ranging discussion with host James Strock, Tom […]
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Host James Strock interviews preeminent American lawyer Michael Traynor on the state of the lawyer-statesman ideal. Michael Traynor is senior counsel at Cobalt LLP in Berkeley California. He served as American Law Institute President from 2000 to 2008, and as Chair of the Council from 2008 to 2011. He is also a recipient of ALI’s […]
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Host James Strock interviews American public intellectual Naomi Wolf about her new book, Outrages: Sex, Censorship, and the Criminalization of Love. They also discuss Wolf’s earlier work, The Tree House: Eccentric Wisdom from My Father on How to Live, Love, and See. Wolf also shares her views of leadership, intergenerational relations and other topics. Naomi […]
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Host James Strock discusses the use of history to comprehend the breakneck pace of international change with historian and national security expert Derek Leebaert. Leebart is the author of an important, well-recieved new book, Grand Improvisation: American Confronts the British Superpower, 1945-57. The podcast explores historical parallels that can illuminate our current circumstances, and the […]
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Host James Strock discusses the role of character in American life with Anne Snyder, author of the captivating new book, The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Supporting Social and Moral Renewal. Snyder links the dramatic increase in “bottom-up” efforts to instil and exhibit character with the hunger for a new national narrative amid […]
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Host James Strock discusses the current moment and historical context of conservative political and cultural trends and perspectives with commentator Matt Lewis. Called a “first-rate talent” in The Washington Post and “super-smart” by John Heilemann, Matt Lewis is a center-right critic of American politics and pop culture. As a journalist, Lewis has earned a reputation as an […]
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Host James Strock discusses the emergence of “identity politics” with noted political scientist and educator Francis Fukuyama. Dr. Fukuyama is the author of the new book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment. Francis Fukuyama is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), and the Mosbacher […]
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Host James Strock discusses black holes and the future of space exploration with noted astronomer and educator Alex Filippenko. Dr. Filippenko is the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor in the Physical Sciences, and a Miller Senior Fellow in the Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science (UC Berkeley). His accomplishments, documented in about 930 […]
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