Friends of the LBJ Library | Apr, 9 2025 6:30PM - 7:30PM
Join us on Wednesday, April 9th, to hear from LBJ Foundation President and CEO Mark K. Updegrove on his new book, Make Your Mark: Lessons in Character from Seven Presidents (Harper Collins, to be released April 15, 2025). Updegrove will discuss seven presidents he has interviewed and written about – from Gerald Ford through Barack Obama – and the character traits that infuse their legacies.
This program will be held in the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium at the LBJ Presidential Library. Friends of the LBJ Library members at the Individual level and above are invited to attend and must register in advance.
About the Book:
Mark Updegrove draws on interviews and conversations with seven presidents to identify the essence of character, leadership, and legacy that has defined each of them and the modern American presidency.
Throughout his career as an author, journalist, television commentator, and head of a presidential library and foundation, Mark Updegrove has had the privilege of getting to know seven U.S. Presidents, from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama.
In Make Your Mark, he offers incisive, compelling sketches of these modern presidents and the character trait that made each suited to his moment in the Oval Office and underlies his most significant accomplishments.
- Gerald Ford’s instinct to do the right thing in the wake of Watergate;
- Jimmy Carter’s mission to do good in the areas of peace and human rights during his presidency and throughout his post-presidency;
- Ronald Reagan’s optimism, restoring the nation’s confidence and pride after a sustained period of demoralizing national setbacks; George H.W. Bush’s humility, helping to ensure a peaceful end to the Cold War that had seethed between the superpowers for over forty years;
- Bill Clinton’s resilience and determination to keep working for the good of the American people in the face of political and personal obstacles;
- George W. Bush’s charge to give back as the deadly AIDS epidemic spread unchecked throughout much of the developing world;
- and Barack Obama’s grace as the first African American to hold the country’s highest office.
Book sales: The Store at LBJ will be selling copies of Make Your Mark, onsite in the upper lobby of the LBJ Auditorium from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and again immediately following the program. Mark Updegrove will sign copies before the program, from 5:30-6:15 p.m.
Location and Parking: The LBJ Auditorium is located on the lower level of the LBJ complex at 2313 Red River St. Access to the auditorium will be through the lobby of the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
Parking details will be shared with registered attendees.
To RSVP: Please register using the form below. This program is open to current members of the Friends of the LBJ Library at the programming levels and their guests, for a guest fee of $20 per person. As a reminder, Family and Museum members do not receive admission to these events as part of their membership benefits. Please email friends@lbjfoundation.org with any questions or to upgrade your membership.
