Presidential Leadership Lessons for the Business Executive

Who are our greatest Presidents? What lessons can the modern-day business leader learn from our 46 Chiefs of State? Welcome to a new season of this award-winning podcast series with Tom Fox and Richard Lummis to delve into the great and not so great Presidents to mine their successes and failure for today’s business executive. In this episode, Tom Fox and Richard Lummis begin a two-part series on the life and times of Herbert Hoover. In this Part 2, we look the Hoover Presidency and his post-Presidential career. The discussion highlights Hoover's election, marked by passive campaigning and his involvement with the controversial 'lily white strategy.' The episode provides an in-depth analysis of the unprecedented economic challenges Hoover faced, including the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression. Despite his well-intentioned policies, Hoover's leadership style and experience were inadequate for dealing with the magnitude of the crisis. The episode looks at Hoover's later years, including his post-presidency influence and public reception. Key Highlights ·      Hoover's Election and Early Presidency ·      The Onset of the Great Depression ·      Hoover's Response to the Crisis ·      Public Works and the RFC ·      The Bonus Army and Public Backlash ·      Hoover's Post-Presidency ·      Reflections on Hoover's Legacy  Resources-Herbert Hoover UVA Miller Center-overview Life Before Presidency Work in Europe As Secretary of State Presidency First Amendment and Supreme Court Great Depression Top Quotes Brainy Quotes

Who are our greatest Presidents? What lessons can the modern-day business leader learn from our 47 Chiefs of State? Welcome to a new season of this award-winning podcast series with Tom Fox and Richard Lummis to delve into the great and not-so-great Presidents to mine their successes and failures for today’s business executives. In this episode, Tom Fox and Richard Lummis begin a two-part series on the life and times of Herbert Hoover. In Part 1, we look at Hoover’s beginnings and the time up to his presidential election 1928. We begin with Hoover’s humble beginnings, rise as the first president born west of the Mississippi, and extensive international business and humanitarian efforts. Key questions include the significance of a pre-presidential resume and how one determines the qualifications for leadership without prior experience. Highlights include Hoover’s tenure during World War I, his visionary work in the U.S. Food Administration, and significant contributions to infrastructure projects like the Colorado River Compact and the Hoover Dam. This episode also touches on Hoover’s progressive policies despite being overwhelmed by the Great Depression during his presidency. Key highlights: Early Life and Education Hoover’s Business Career Humanitarian Efforts During WWI Political Career and Secretary of Commerce Conclusion and Final Reflections Resources-Herbert Hoover UVA Miller Center-overview Life Before Presidency Work in Europe As Secretary of State Presidency First Amendment and Supreme Court Great Depression Top Quotes Brainy Quotes

Who are our greatest Presidents? What lessons can the modern-day business leader learn from our 46 Chiefs of State? Welcome to a new season of this award-winning podcast series with Tom Fox and Richard Lummis to delve into the great and not-so-great Presidents to mine their successes and failures for today’s business executives. In this episode, Tom Fox and Richard Lummis delve into the life and career of Calvin Coolidge, also known as ‘Silent Cal.’ The discussion explores Coolidge’s early life in rural Vermont, his methodical rise through the political ranks, and his nuanced approach to governance. Highlighting his famous aphorisms about persistence and silence, they also touch on his handling of the 1919 Boston Police Strike, which catapulted him into the national spotlight. The episode further examines his presidency, characterized by a non-interventionalist foreign policy, a pro-business stance, and the continuity he maintained amidst the Harding administration’s scandals. Join us as we uncover this often misunderstood president’s complexities and subtle progressivism. Key highlights: Early Life and Formative Years Political Rise and Governorship National Spotlight and Vice Presidency Presidency and Policies Economic and Foreign Policies Legacy and Historical Interpretation Resources: UVA Miller Center-overview Pre-Presidency Vice Presidency Swearing In Presidency Key Events World Biography of US Presidents Top Quotes Brainy Quotes

Who are our greatest Presidents? What lessons can the modern-day business leader learn from our 46 Chiefs of State? Welcome to a new season of this award-winning podcast series with Tom Fox and Richard Lummis to delve into the great and not-so-great Presidents to mine their successes and failures for today's business executives. In this episode, Tom Fox and Richard Lummis delve into the presidency and life of Warren G. Harding, often labeled as one of the worst U.S. presidents. They investigate his pre-political career as a newspaper editor and discuss his rise in politics and the personal and public crises he faced. Despite his seemingly ineffective presidency, Harding saw the introduction of new technologies, progressive tax policies, and increased tariffs, which helped fuel the Roaring Twenties. However, significant scandals, including Teapot Dome, overshadowed his tenure. The episode closes by questioning whether Harding's administration was a lost opportunity for greater achievements and more substantial reforms. Key highlights: Early Life and Career of Warren G. Harding Political Rise: From Ohio to the Senate The 1920 Presidential Campaign Domestic Policies and Achievements Foreign Affairs and International Relations Scandals and Controversies Legacy and Reassessment of Warren G. Harding Resources: UVA Miller Center 1.     General Overview 2.     Life Before Presidency Politico-Nomination of Harding Presidency of Harding-Warren Harding Presidential Site Scandals-History America Death-American Journal of Medical Science

Presidential Leadership Lessons is a podcast hosted by Tom Fox. This continues a four-part series on leadership lessons not from US Presidents but from Presidents from the Republic of Texas, from 1836 to 1845. In this series, Tom is joined by Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville TX to discuss the four Presidents who led Texas when it was a country. In this fifth and final episode, Tom and Don discuss the short term of Anson Jones. Be transported to the 1840s Texas with Presidential Leadership Lessons podcast hosted by Tom Fox and featuring special guest Don Frazier. Through exploring the fascinating history of the state of Texas during this time, they discuss the successes and challenges of President Anson Jones and his progressive views of Republicanism. They delve into his support of the Sam Houston faction and the implications of the Texas annexation officially becoming official in January 1846. Don Frazier explains the controversies related to the doctor certifications; the differences between the traditional immigrants and the Germans coming into places like New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. They then review the relationship between Mexico and Texas in the larger context of Republicanism. Tune in to discover the illuminating lessons and groundbreaking perspectives provided by Tom Fox and Don Frazier! Key Highlights Hanson Jones and the Annexation of Texas [00:26] The Ethics of Doctor Certification in Texas: Exploring the Controversy [04:20] U.S.-Mexico Relations Under a Small-R Republicanism Perspective [07:46] Notable Quotes "And all he has to do is keep his hand on the tiller and steady the boat, sail the craft that Sam Houston has created. And he does it and he does it very, very well." What can you say about his desire to have secondary education in the state of Texas? Well, the largest ball rolling with all the school kids and then kinda leapfrogs over to disseminating knowledge to the general public." "The other thing I found interesting was he continued his medical practice throughout this time, and he actually set up medical standards throughout the state. He did. So it can't just be quackery. I mean, there's absolutely standards that are gonna come in." "Immigration that comes in right after annexation essentially swaps everybody else and that's immigration from the deep out?" Resources: Don Frazier, Director The Texas Center

Presidential Leadership Lessons is a podcast hosted by Tom Fox. This continues a four-part series on leadership lessons not from US Presidents but from Presidents from the Republic of Texas, from 1836 to 1845. In this series, Tom is joined by Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville TX to discuss the four Presidents who led Texas when it was a country. In this fourth episode, Tom and Don discuss the second term of Sam Houston. In the second term of President Sam Houston, he was leading the Republic of Texas through a critical period of financial challenges. Don references the Texas Rangers, a defensive group established in 1823 which later became a paramilitary force during Houston's tenure, and highlights the major impact the presence of the plantation south had on the US wanting to annex Texas. Ultimately, it was President Houston who was able to put things back on a level ground, allowing Texas to be annexed to the US and fly the U.S. flag. Don shares how he was able to 'pull it off' with the help of President Tyler and finally, President Polk who 'poked the fish' and finalized the annexation. Hear more interesting tidbits about Houston's Presidency and related leadership lessons on the 'Presidential Leadership Lessons' podcast. Key Highlights The Challenges Faced by Sam Houston in His Second Term of Office in the Republic of Texas [00:35] The History of the Texas Rangers [4:22] The Annexation of Texas and the Mexican-American War [8:41] The Benefits of Texas Annexation to the United States [12:45] A Successful Fishing Trip and the Annexation of Texas 16:50] Notable Quotes 1.         "Texas did not retain the right to succeed. They had they retain the right to divide into multiple states at some future date." 2.         “The Republic of Texas is in dire straits.  It is going to go into complete default and economic collapse. You can't get any financial backing to speak of. There's lots of attempts, but there's not a lot of people buying into the Texas dream. Most Texans are still wanting to be Americans and not Texans.” 3.         “What we'll do is we'll have officers that are on the payroll and then what they will do is they will fill out their ranks with volunteers that are providing their own weapons and stuff, and we'll figure out how to settle up with them later. That's where you start seeing people like Samuel Walker. People like Jack Hayes. These guys start showing up and they begin the regularization, the professionalization of the Rangers as a quasi-military force to essentially skirmish with the Comanches.” 4.         “So Indianola is the really, the big port in the Republic of Texas period. Galveston is shallow and they haven't done a whole lot of improvements. He gives you the gateway to Matagorda. Matagorda gives you the gateway to San Antonio, gives you gateway to the San Antonio River Valley, the Guadalupe River Valley.” Resources: Don Frazier, Director The Texas Center The Texas Center at Schreiner University

Presidential Leadership Lessons is a podcast hosted by Tom Fox. This continues a four-part series on leadership lessons not from US Presidents but from Presidents from the Republic of Texas, from 1836 to 1845. In this series, Tom is joined by Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville TX to discuss the four Presidents who ledTexas when it was a country. In this third episode, Tom and Don discuss Mirabeau B. Lamar. They delve into the life of Mirabeau B. Lamar and his political journey. Lamar was the second fully elected president of the Republic of Texas and was known for a battlefield promotion from private to colonel. During his presidency, Lamar carried out policies for the purpose of a stand-alone Texas and moved the capital from Houston to a more remote location, which is now Austin. Don also shares the origin story of the Wichita people, who were immigrants from the Kansas region. Additionally, as President, Lamar faced financial turmoil while in office due to the need to reconstitute an army and navy, as well as leasing boats to the Yucatan. Lastly, Don also speaks of the battle of Salado, where many Texans were killed. Key Highlights The Impact of Lone Star State Policies in Texas [04:39] The Benefits of Moving the Texas Capital and Establishing the Texas State Library [08:59] Origins and Cultural Impact of the Wichita People [13:15] The Impact of Financial Mismanagement on the Lamar Administration in the Republic of Texas [17:49] Trade Mission to Santa Fe [00:22:04] Texas History: The Battle of Salado and the Dawson Massacre [00:25:52] Notable Quotes 1.         He's a pretty reckless dude on that day on the twentieth of April when they're in that cavalry scrap with the Mexican cavalry, which was really the strong arm of the Mexican Army. You have to give him props for being tough but also with a tender heart, an interesting day. 2.         He's an egghead with a keen sword and it makes sense. You know, 1 of the issues too that the Republic has is it's an accidental republic. When they start looking for talent, they pretty much say, well, you'll do because these are all place holders. 3.         All the other tribes in Texas came from someplace else, and people oftentimes don't realize how dynamic and how mobile these different nations actually were, especially after contacting the introduction of things like the horse and the diseases that ravaged their societies. 4.         Lamar's administration puts together a trade mission with military escort, but they don't have a good map.  Resources: Don Frazier, Director The Texas Center The Texas Center at Schreiner University

Presidential Leadership Lessons is a podcast hosted by Tom Fox. This begins a four-part series on leadership lessons not from US Presidents but from Presidents from the Republic of Texas, from 1836 to 1845. In this series, Tom is joined by Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville TX to discuss the four Presidents which Texas was its own country. In this second episode, Tom and Don discuss Sam Houston who was the second President of the Republic of Texas. His first term was October 1836 to December 1838.  Join Tom Fox and Don Frazier and listen to the incredible stories of the first term of Sam Houston as President of the Republic of Texas. Get ready to be amazed as Tom and Don dive into the life of Sam Houston, President of the Republic of Texas. Know how passionately Sam Houston desired the annexation of Texas, and how he strived to create a peace treaty with Mexico, as well as to form an entire state government. Discover how he was friendly with the Comanche and Cherokee, even having a very open attitude towards them. Let Don and Tom guide you through the impressive steps Houston took to make Texas an attractive annex target and how he masterfully put a cap on spending with limited resources. Tune in to this episode and start learning today! Key Highlights ●      The Impact of Sam Houston on the Expansion of the United States [04:15] ●      How the President of the Republic of Texas Impacted History ●      The Relationship of Sam Houston and Native American Tribes. [08:08]  ●      Success of the Republic of Texas Under Sam Houston's Leadership.[12:15] Notable Quotes: 1.      "When he came to Texas, I I'm pretty sure he was in direct conversation with Andrew Jackson and other members of the Jackson Circle. I  see him as almost an agent provocateur. When it came to getting away from Mexico and into the United States." 2.     "He actually sent Anton Jones is the minister to the United States to withdraw any sort of request to stop the importation of slaves to curry favor with the United Kingdom." 3.     "It's the old age great track. You know what? I can't get your attention, then I'll fly with your best friend. Or your worst enemy." 4.     "I think that he did everything humanly possible to set the Republic of Texas up. To be a very attractive annexation target. I think he did it masterfully." Resources: Don Frazier, Director The Texas Center The Texas Center at Schreiner University

Presidential Leadership Lessons is a podcast hosted by Tom Fox. This begins a four-part series on leadership lessons not from US Presidents but from Presidents from the Republic of Texas, from 1836 to 1845. In this series, Tom is joined by Don Frazier, head of the Texas Center at Schreiner University in Kerrville TX to discuss the four Presidents which Texas was its own country. In this first episode, Tom and Don discuss David G. Burnet and the first President of the Republic of Texas. He served from March 1836 to October 1836.  Join Tom Fox and Don Frazier and listen to the incredible stories of President David G. Burnet and the actual events which made him a leader of the Republic of Texas. David G. Burnet arrived in what was then Mexico by way of Cincinnati. He took up the project of Texas independence almost immediately. He was driven with a clear view of what he considered right and wrong and had the courage to stand up to the challenges he faced. He successfully led a series of retreats when Santa Ana and his forces closed in on him and his nascent government. Santa Ana eventually was captured by the Mexican government and Burnet led the negotiations over the Treaty to end the war effectively, navigating the volatile situation. Key Highlights The Power of Standing up for Your Rights: David G. Burnet's Story [00:04:23] The Relationship Between David G. Burnet and Sam Houston [00:08:29] The Capturing of Santa Ana and David G. Burnet's Role. [00:12:27] Comparing the Visions of David G. Burnett and Saint Houston in Texas [00:16:36] The Power of Perseverance [00:20:38] Notable Quotes: 1.      "He was an early adopter of filibustering, etcetera. And during the Latin American wars for independence, he lent his sword to the rebels down in Venezuela, and I think he fought in Chile too." 2.     "He stands up on a table or a bench and says, look. You know, we need to get this going. Well, let's get a government organized, and guess what? I will put my head through that noose." 3.     "David G. Burnet stood up in the rowboat and looked back at the Mexican saying, look, if you're going to shoot somebody, shoot right here, but, you know, my wife's over here so you hit me and not her." 4.     "David G. Burnet protected Santa Ana’s life by keeping him Ana on the boat. And that preserves Santa Ana to fight another day, and he'll have a long and interesting career after this."  Resources: Don Frazier, Director The Texas Center The Texas Center at Schreiner University

In this episode, I consider what lessons might be learned from the presidency of Zachary Taylor the 12thPresident. Taylor only served 18 months, from 1849-1850. He died in office from over eating and drinking on the July 4thcelebration of 1850. Taylor had a long career in the US Army prior to his election, during which time he successfully operated cotton plantations in Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi. He was elected as a Whig, this despite refusing to commit himself to the party platform. He was the first President not to hold elective office. While Taylor is usually ranked in the bottom percentile of presidents, he is most generally described as more a forgettable president than a failed one. However, his biographer, John S. Eisenhower, argued he was the one man who could have hammered out a compromise on slavery that would have averted the civil war contemporaries. Finally, in the political realm, both Democrats and Whigs alike generally viewed his premature death as a national calamity.  What are some of the leadership lessons from the Presidency of Zachary Taylor. 1.Take a stand-One of the leadership lessons came from an inaction by Taylor. It began before he was even elected President, did not embrace the Whig political platform, or even declare himself a Whig until February of 1848 with the election only seven months away. He thought the President should stand above party politics, even to the extent of not taking a public stand and declaring himself as a Whig. Still, for leadership, the clear message is that sometimes you do have to take a stand. 2. You must be engaged-As a business leader, you must be engaged. Taylor’s military training influenced this thinking but that training and those instincts did not serve him as President. A philosophy of trying to be above the fray just does not always work. As a CEO, a senior executive, a Board of Director, you must be engaged in your business. It does not mean you have to get into the weeds of tactical decision making but you must set the proper tone and then oversee it going forward. 3. Succession Planning-in the case of Taylor, we have that failure from a President who died in office, some 18 months into his presidency. Taylor and his Vice President, Millard Fillmore, did not even meet in person until only a week or two before the inauguration, so there was no time to build any sort of personal relationship. This lack of engagement with Fillmore, if not to consult, at least air out his thoughts and let him know which way he was thinking about issues, was a critical failure. 4. Conflicts of Interest-As a leader, you must be attuned to and stop conflicts of interest by your senior management. There was never any allegation that Taylor was personally corrupt. However, during the later days of his administration there was the Galphin affair. Before joining the Taylor cabinet, the Secretary of War, George W. Crawford, had served as a lawyer and had been involved in a 15-year lawsuit. During Taylor's term and to his great embarrassment, he was paid nearly $100,000 to the President’s Secretary of War for his fee as counsel. The terms of the settlement meant that two Cabinet members had effectively offered a huge amount from the US treasury to a third member of the Cabinet. This was a huge scandal at the time.  A word on Taylor’s death. It seems that during the 1850 4th of July celebrations, Taylor consumed a large number of cherries, ice cream and milk. He subsequently came down with a severe stomach ache, which turned into something called cholera morbus. There is still a considerable debate over whether the doctors actually killed him with their treatment or whether he died from the intestinal ailment. Oddly enough, many of his cabinet members came down with very similar symptoms, so it seems most likely it was due to the sanitation in Washington DC at the time.

Richard Lummis and Tom Fox return to their exploration of American Presidents as they conclude a two-part series on Andrew Johnson. In this Part 2, they discuss Johnson’s career as  Military Governor of Tennessee, his Vice Presidency, Presidency and Impeachment.  Highlights include: ·      Civil War ·      Vice President to President  ·      Where did it all go wrong?  ·      Impeachment ·      Leadership Lessons Resources Andrew Johnson-UVA Miller Center Is Andrew Johnson the worst president in American history? Andrew Johnson: The most-criticized president ever?

Richard Lummis and Tom Fox continue their exploration of American Presidents as they begin a two-part series on Andrew Johnson. In this Part 1, they discuss Johnson’s early life up to his nomination as Lincoln’s Vice-Presidential running mate in 1864.  Highlights include: ·      Early Life ·      State Political Career  ·      Federal Political Career ·      Up to the Civil War ·      Leadership Lessons Resources Andrew Johnson-UVA Miller Center Is Andrew Johnson the worst president in American history? Andrew Johnson: The most-criticized president ever?

In this episode, we consider the leadership lessons which can be drawn from our 7th President Andrew Jackson. We focus largely on the crisis surrounding the charter of the Second National Bank of the United States, which played out over 5 years from 1831 to 1836. This conflict pitted Jackson against most the nation’s political and financial elites, most prominently Nicolas Biddle, the President of the Bank. However, the great politicians of the day, including Henry Clay and Daniel Webster were lined up against President Jackson as well. The crisis came to a head in the summer of 1832 when both the House and Senate passed a bill renewing the Charter of the Second Bank of the US early. Not only did Jackson veto the bill and give one of the most memorable veto addresses of any President, he then took on Biddle directly by removing first removing persons in the administration and government who were pro-Bank and pro-Biddle. In the coup de grace for the Bank, Jackson the gold species from the Bank and moving into state banks across the country. Jackson won the battle completely. His actions were not without negative consequence as the distribution of the species across the country led to rampant inflation and the Panic of 1837. However, by that time, Jackson had departed the Presidency and the fallout was left to his successor Martin Van Buren.

Richard Lummis and Tom Fox are back to continue our series of exploring leadership through the study of US Presidents. This episode continues our series on Gilded Age Presidents, now largely forgotten. In this episode we take up James Garfield. Some of the highlights include: Educational and Professional Background. History as Radical Republican. Crédit Mobilier scandal of 1872. Nomination and Election of 1880. Presidency including the Tariff, Purging the Post Office, Supreme Court Nominations, Proposal for universal education and Assassination. Leadership Issues including the importance of strong ethics, a strong believer in education and Goldbug-a man for his times?

Richard Lummis and Tom Fox continue our series of exploring leadership through the study of US Presidents. This episode continues a series on Gilded Age Presidents, now largely forgotten. In this episode, we take up Chester A. Arthur. Some of the highlights include: Educational and Professional Background of Chester A. Arthur. His time as a New York politician, including work in the Conkling Political Machine and as Head of Customs House and conflict with President Hays. His Stalwart Candidacy as Vice President. His election and short tenure as VP. Leadership issues from his Presidency, including the confusion on how to take office, his enactment of Civil Service reform, his work on the surplus budget and the tariff, immigration issues, and Civil Rights in the South.Leadership Issues, including (a) What are your expectations? (b) How much does a leader’s health matter? (c) Arthur adopted a code for his political behavior but was subjected to three restraints: he remained to everyone a man of his word; he kept scrupulously free from corrupt graft; he maintained a personal dignity, affable and genial though he might be.

Richard Lummis and I are back with more business leadership lessons from American Presidents. In this episode, we look at leadership lessons from William Howard Taft, the 27th President, who had the misfortune to follow one of America’s greatest and most popular Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. Taft was a mountain of a man, weighing over 300 lbs. He is also the only President to become Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court after he left the office of the Presidency. Highlights of this podcast include: Background of Taft. Education and early professional life in Ohio. Move to Washington, the role of Nellie and work in the Philippines. Work in the Roosevelt Administration. Presidential Term. 1912 Presidential election. Final thoughts on leadership lessons. Resources  National Park Service article on his home and upbringing. Taft as good-hearted Taft, TR and the Bully Pulpit-Forbes

This episode begins a short series on Gilded Age Presidents, now largely forgotten. In this episode, we take up Rutherford B. Hayes and try to mine the issues he faced for some leadership lessons for the 21st-century business executive. Some of the problems we consider include: 1. Hayes Educational and Professional Background 2. The Disputed Election of 1876 and Compromise-(1)Election Commission; (2) Terms of the Compromise, and (3) Was it necessary? 3. Hayes’ Presidency-(1) Reconstruction ends-was it inevitable? (2) Civil Service Reform; (3) Cabinet Selections; (4) Port of New York; and (5) the Post Office. a. Foreign Policy-(1) Paraguay War settlement; (2) Mexican border crisis; and (3) Immigration issues. b. Great RR Strike of 1877, the Great Western Tour, his Indian Policy and Lemonade Lucy 4. Hayes Leadership Issues- (1)“He serves his party best, who serves his country best.”; (2) Rutherford the Rover; (3) Use of veto and (4) Conflicts with Congress over Congressional v. Executive Power.

The first 100 days. Franklin D Roosevelt’s first term is the standard by which all other Presidents are measured for their first days in office. Why? It is because FDR not only hit the ground going full speed but also passed legislation that changed the shape of America for years to come. While the first thing he did was declare a Bank Holiday to save the nation’s banking system, he also passed significant legislation to stem the effects of the Great Depression. These bills included the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the National Industrial Recovery Act. He also enacted the Truth-in-Lending and Glass-Steagall Acts to help regulate the stock market, whose collapse had heralded the economic downturn. Even if these acts did not turn the tide of the Great Depression, they gave people hope because at least it appeared FDR was doing something to fight the economic calamity. Now imagine that you finally can secure a new position as Chief Compliance Officer in the compliance field. Every company believes that they are ethical and do business ethically, but what are some things you can do in your first 100 days? Hopefully, you will not be dropped into a corporate situation as dire as the one FDR faced for the US in 1933, but the reality is that many new heads are still judged on these mythical first 100 days. One obvious thing to generate success in the corporate world is to have a good relationship with your boss. You should have important conversations around expectations, working style, resources, and personal development. To facilitate these discussions, the following points are posited: There is no value in trashing the existing compliance program. You need to drive the discussions with your boss. Your boss is looking for solutions, not problems. Your boss is not interested in running through your checklist of things to do. Make sure you connect with the people your boss values and admires, such as their mentor. Set expectations. These first 100 days will be a time of very high stress. This may well be compounded by your travel schedule and working very long hours to try and fulfill the concepts. The right advice-and-counsel network is an indispensable resource. Use your outside network of mentors, coaches and friends you have developed over the years to discuss your part at the company and what you have been experiencing. The key is to use whatever resources are available to you during your first 100 days. Just as FDR accelerated his actions during his first 100 days, a large part of his success was that he accelerated those around him. You should take this key component of FDR’s success to heart in your new role. Get your direct reports, bosses, and peers to accelerate their transitions. The fact that you are in transition means they are too. The quicker you can get your new direct reports up to speed, the more you will help your performance. It is difficult to imagine today a harder situation than the country faced when FDR came to power in 1933. The task must have seemed overwhelming. Starting a new compliance leadership position at a new company can seem equally daunting. You need to not only think through your steps going forward but also how to execute them for maximum performance in this early part of your corporate career.

In this episode, Richard Lummis and consider the leadership lessons from the Presidency of US Grant. The lessons include: 1. Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Acts, leading to the passage of the 15th Amendment; 2. Appointment of minorities to his cabinet and other top government positions; 3. His Indian peace policy. At the start of his administration there were 370 separate treaties with Native Americans. Grant streamlined this process and appointed a Seneca Indian as head of the BIA; and 4. Foreign Affairs. We consider Grant's leadership in the dispute with Great Britain over claims against the Confederate raider Alabama.

In this episode we consider the presidency of the 10thPresident, John Tyler. Tyler was the first president to ascend to the position after the death of President in office, William Henry Harrison. This ascendency, as his presidency was fraught with difficulties and conflict. We consider the following: Tyler was not viewed as a legitimate president as he ascended due to the death of a President in office, William Henry Harrison. Tyler was the first President against whom impeachment proceedings were brought. Tyler had no real political base while President as he had been in the Democratic Party up until he became a Whig to run in 1840. Tyler was the first President to veto legislation based upon policy, not constitutional considerations. Tyler was the first President to have a mass Cabinet resignation. Tyler was the first President to have his Cabinet nominees defeated in the Senate. Tyler was the only President to face an open, armed rebellion from a State, the Dorr Rebellion in Rhode Island; up until Lincoln. In addition to the foregoing Richard Lummis and I consider the leadership lessons from Tyler in the following areas: His ascension to the Presidency and establishment of the Tyler Principle for succession. Economic issues including the tariff and veto of the Bank bills. His handling of the Dorr Rebellion Texas Annexation The Princeton Incident