Serve to Lead® | James Strock

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.

Woodrow Wilson was widely admired throughout the twentieth century. Surveys of scholars often included him among the higher ranks of presidents. Many of his critics acknowledged his administration as among the most consequential in our history.

In the early twenty-first century Wilson’s star has been in eclipse. His positions on race and gender issues have been highlighted for their jarring discordance from those of our time. Some conservatives see him as uniquely culpable for the subsequent development and overreach of the administrative apparatus and war powers of our national government.

His name has been removed from the public affairs school at Princeton University, an institution that he led into its modern form.

Has the dismissal of Woodrow Wilson gone too far? As with Thomas Jefferson, can we acknowledge his faults and limitations while learning from his visionary insights and seeking to achieve his ideals?

No one is better placed to explore these issues than John M. Cooper, professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has dedicated his illustrious career to illuminating Wilson and his era. While Cooper is an admirer of our twenty-eighth president, he’s clear-eyed about his flaws and missteps.

Cooper is perhaps best known to the public as the author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Woodrow Wilson: A Biography, acclaimed as the definitive one-volume account of Wilson's wide-ranging life and work. 

In this episode of the Serve to Lead podcast, Cooper discusses Wilson's historical legacy and reputation—and makes the case for its actionable relevance in our time of accelerating change. 

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.

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.

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

In Behind 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.