Michael Beschloss

Award-winning Presidential Historian and Scholar of Leadership Michael Beschloss is the bestselling author of ten books, including his most recent bestseller, "Presidents of War." Described by Newsweek as “the nation’s leading Presidential historian,” he possesses an unparalleled understanding of American presidents, which he brings to his speaking engagements.

Beschloss delivers engaging and insightful presentations that offer a behind-the-scenes look at American presidents and other significant historical figures. His analysis explores the leadership traits of those who have occupied the Oval Office, particularly during challenging times. With lectures focusing on leadership, America’s divisions, and the history of war, he contextualizes the pivotal events shaping our era.

"Presidents of War" has been praised as a “superb and important book, superbly rendered” by the New York Times Book Review and described as “epic” and “magisterial” by the Financial Times. Notable figures, including historian Ron Chernow and actor Tom Hanks, have lauded the book for its monumental impact and humanizing portrayal of the presidents.

Among his other acclaimed works are two volumes on Lyndon Johnson’s secret tapes, "The Conquerors," which explores Franklin Roosevelt, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust, and "Presidential Courage." He also co-authored "Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy" with Caroline Kennedy, which became a number-one global bestseller.

Regularly appearing on NBC Nightly News, Meet the Press, The Today Show, and other network programs as the NBC News Presidential Historian, and as a contributor to the PBS NewsHour, Beschloss has earned an Emmy for his television work and received six honorary degrees along with numerous other accolades. He has contributed columns on business and sports history to the New York Times.

With the largest Twitter following of any American historian, totaling about 400,000, Beschloss’s account is featured on Time Magazine’s list of the world’s top Twitter feeds. His past roles include historian at the Smithsonian, scholar at the University of Oxford, and senior fellow of the Annenberg Foundation.

Born in Chicago, Beschloss is an alumnus of Phillips Academy (Andover) and Williams College, and studied leadership in the private and public sectors at the Harvard Business School. Initially planning a career in business while writing history as a sideline, the success of his early work enabled him to dedicate himself to being a full-time historian.