Month: June 2018

Session 5 Recap: Persuasion and influence in the Johnson administration

Posted on by Andrew Kaufmann

Last week, the 2018 Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars met for the fifth time at the LBJ Presidential Library on the campus of the University of Texas.

Here, Scholars heard from Lynda Johnson Robb, former administration officials, and President Johnson himself on tape, to gain unique insight into President Johnson’s leadership style — specifically his approach to persuasion and influence while working with civil rights leaders, government officials, the media, and beyond. Scholars then worked with Dr Mike Hemphill and Professor Michael O’Leary to explore persuasive styles and tactics, and began applying lessons learned to their own projects to improve their community, country, and our world.

Scholars were joined by former members of the Johnson administration including:

  • Tom Johnson, chairman emeritus, Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation Board, former CEO of the Los Angeles Times and CNN, and special assistant to President Johnson;
  • Lynda Johnson Robb, president of the National Home Library Foundation and a member of the advisory board of the Library of Congress Literacy Awards, and founding member of Reading is Fundamental;
  • Bill Moyers, broadcast journalist, founding organizer of the Peace Corps, and former Press Secretary to President Johnson;
  • Larry Temple, chairman, Lyndon B. Johnson Board of Trustees and former special counsel to President Johnson;
  • Mark Updegrove, president and CEO of the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation; and more.
Mark K. Updegrove moderates panel with Bill Moyers, Tom Johnson, and Larry Temple; Lynda Johnson Robb speaks with Presidential Leadership Scholars at the LBJ Library and Museum
in Austin, Texas. Photos by Jay Godwin for the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.
Mark K. Updegrove shared with the Scholars various phone conversations between President Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King, key legislators and other activists who were instrumental int the successful passage of civil rights legislation; Standing ovation from Presidential Leadership Scholars following a session hearing from President Johnson on tape. Photos by Jay Godwin for the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.
Scholars are welcomed by Lynda Johnson Robb during a visit to the “Texas White House” at the LBJ Ranch: “I hope you will see this as a place our whole family loved.” Photo by Jay Godwin for the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.
Scholars tour the “Texas White House” at the LBJ Ranch. Photo by Jay Godwin for the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.

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This session concluded our visits to the four participating presidential centers — the George Bush Library in College Station, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, and the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. Throughout the program, the Scholars apply the lessons learned from these four presidents to enhance their own strategic partnerships, vision and communication, decision-making, and persuasion and influence. Look out for our next update in July from graduation at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas!

Applications are now open for the 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholars program. To learn more, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org. For updates about the Presidential Leadership Scholars, use #PLScholars or follow @PLSprogram on Twitter.

Applications Open for Fifth Class of Presidential Leadership Scholars

Posted on by Andrew Kaufmann

A one-of-a-kind opportunity to join a network of leaders making a difference in the world, and learn from the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson

Applications are now open to join the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program — a one-of-a-kind partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

PLS serves as a catalyst for an active network of leaders brought together to collaborate and make a difference in the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Each year, a diverse group of mid-career professionals begin a journey to hone their leadership abilities through interactions with former presidents, key administration officials, leading academics, and business leaders.

Scholars put their learning into action through a personal leadership project, intended to solve a problem or pressing issue in their community, country, or the world. They gain the skills necessary to work across divides and develop a network that spans traditional geographic, professional, political, and economic boundaries.

Here’s what people are saying:

 

The program seeks participants who have a diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences and who will most benefit from a dynamic learning experience that stresses the importance of cooperation and collaboration. The average Scholar enters the program with more than 10 years of professional experience and is generally at a point in his or her career where their participation in PLS will be felt for many years to come. Applicants should have the desire and capacity to take their leadership strengths to a higher level in order to help their communities, professions, organizations, and, thus the country.

The fifth PLS class will begin in February 2019. Online applications will be accepted through August 31, 2018. To apply or to learn more about the program, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org.

For updates about the Presidential Leadership Scholars, use #PLScholars or follow @PLSprogram on Twitter and Flickr.