About the Book
The histories presented here are of a select group of US presidents, their inspired leadership characteristics, and how they may inspire us today. The traits these presidents possessed were cultivated over a lifetime of lived experience and immortalized through the power of the presidential word—speeches, letters, and addresses—which collectively represent the most transcendent documents in American history.
Viewed through the lens of nuance, complication, human emotion, pathos, and drama, William Haldeman sets forth the lives of these presidents in ways to help inform our own lives, from leveraging our experience and instincts to making the right calls when they matter the most.
Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, Haldeman appeals to both scholars and general audience readers alike, offering a refreshing view of presidential leadership that not only elevates leadership as a central part of the scholarly field, but also broadly engages American presidency enthusiasts and readers of history, biography, politics, and leadership development.
About the Author
William Haldeman is Vice Chancellor and Chief Strategy Officer at the University of Pittsburgh. He partners with University of Pittsburgh leadership and stakeholders to develop and propel strategies that elevate growth and impact, including through the Plan for Pitt 2028, the University’s strategic plan.
Prior to his time at Pitt, he served as a strategic adviser to the president at the University of South Carolina, a visiting fellow for international policy and innovation at Carnegie Mellon University and chief strategy officer at the University of Minnesota (U of M), where he led the development and record-breaking implementation of the U of M's first comprehensive systemwide strategic plan.
Haldeman has extensive high-level government experience, serving the White House Domestic Policy Council, the seventh floor of the U.S. Department of State, and as a member of a governor’s senior staff. He earned a Ph.D. in history from American University and term membership on the Council on Foreign Relations.
Among his extensive board experience, Haldeman is a board member of the Heinz History Center and United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and was a member of the executive board for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, helping to bring the games to the Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota.
Sponsored By Ford Philanthropy
Mount Vernon has enjoyed a very special relationship with the Ford Motor Company dating back more than 90 years. We are grateful for their generous support and we applaud their abiding respect for American heritage.