NEW Episode: The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “Conversations on the American Presidency”

Sep 25, 2024 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast today featuring a conversation with David Rubenstein, renowned financier, philanthropist, and host of PBS’s History with David Rubenstein about his newly released book, “The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency.” Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, and Rubenstein delved into the book and their mutual admiration for presidential leadership throughout pivotal moments in history. The episode was filmed with an audience from the Association’s Next-Gen Leaders initiative at the Association’s brand-new educational experience, “The People’s House: A White House Experience,” which opened at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue on September 23.

“If you read this book and you study our presidents in American history, you realize that these are 45 very different men,” said McLaurin. “In fact, one of the few things they have in common, maybe the only thing, is they lived and worked in this building called the White House – except for George Washington, who selected the land and identified the young Irish immigrant architect to build it."

Rubenstein’s book weaves stories, reflections and inspiration together to reveal the trials and resilience of America’s most influential presidents and first family figures. Rubenstein's book features 21 exceptional presidential leaders. He reflected, “To me, the White House really represents the country. Therefore, I think it's an important thing for people to know: if you don't know the history of the past, you're likely to make the same mistakes that were made in the past. The theory of studying history is you've learned from the past, correct the mistakes and do better in the future.”

In addition to President Jimmy Carter, with whom Rubenstein worked as a White House aide and whose presidency is honored in this year’s Official White House Christmas Ornament from the Association, the book includes interviews and anecdotes about Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Barack Obama, and more.

Rubenstein believes the White House serves as a symbol and role model of hope and service, which inspired his book and his support of the construction of the White House Portico model at the entrance of the Association’s new exhibit. The People’s House and Rubenstein’s book bring history to life in personal ways, both demonstrating a shared passion to give back to the community.

Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chair of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm, as well as a patriotic philanthropist who has helped restore and preserve American treasures like the Washington Monument and the Emancipation Proclamation. He is also a generous supporter of the Association’s mission of research and education, including the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History.

The full video of this podcast episode is also available on the White House Historical Association’s YouTube channel here.

The White House 1600 Sessions podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

For more information, please contact press@whha.org.

The White House 1600 Sessions

The White House Historical Association’s President Stewart McLaurin is the host of The White House 1600 Sessions, the Association’s official audio and video podcast devoted to exploring the history, cultural impact, untold stories, and personal accounts of America’s most iconic residence and highest office.