Blog Post: Takeaways from 'The Presidents Club' Discussion with Michael Duffy

Selected video segments

• Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover (6:19-10:20)
• Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon (10:20-13:56)
• Why presidents of opposite parties get along better than presidents of the same party (16:50-18:53)
• The post-presidency of Jimmy Carter (18:54-22:33)
• The club's room of redemption (22:36-25:00)
• The Bush connection (27:56-30:08)
• Obama and the Reagan model (37:00-39:48)
• Audience question and answer (42:20-1:01:30)

Continuing its 2012 "On Leadership" series, the Bipartisan Policy Center welcomed Michael Duffy, co-author of The New York Times best-seller, The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity. He explored what defines presidential leadership and how the partnership between various sitting and former Presidents has shaped the trajectory of the United States. In a time of increasing polarization, Duffy discussed the unique bond Presidents share and how the willingness to seek advice from predecessors has allowed Presidents to learn from past mistakes and cross party lines to work towards common goals.

Read the press release here.

Discussion moderated by

John Fortier
Director of the Democracy Project, Bipartisan Policy Center

Featuring

Michael Duffy
Washington Bureau Chief, TIME Magazine

Coverage

The Washington Examiner: Clinton, W taking over ex-President's Club

Video preview

View TIME's special section on the history of the presidents club here.

Democracy Project