Best-selling author Phillips to visit Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Modern-day leaders often look back on the wisdom and extraordinary leadership of Abraham Lincoln; some say much of Barack Obama’s political philosophy is influenced by the wisdom of Lincoln.

Even before Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office in 1861, seven states seceded from the Union. After the inauguration, four additional states seceded, taking all federal agencies, forts, and arsenals within their territory.  To make matters worse, Lincoln, who was elected by a mere plurality of the popular vote, was viewed by his own advisers as nothing more than a gawky, second-rate country lawyer with no leadership experience.

Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas and the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies will host Donald T. Phillips, author of 20 books, including Lincoln On Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times.

The event, Lincoln on Leadership, Contemporary Lessons from a Legendary Leader, will be held Thursday, January 29, at 7 p.m., at the Gerald R. Ford Museum Auditorium, 303 Pearl St. NW, in downtown Grand Rapids. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.

“Lincoln, one of the greatest leaders in American history, has much to teach us in a time of war and economic crisis,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center. “Don Phillips is a perceptive guide to Lincoln’s many gifts as a chief executive.”

Donald T. Phillips is known for his ability to tell stories and bring history alive with crisp compelling prose. His trilogy on American leadership (The Founding Fathers On Leadership, Lincoln On Leadership, Martin  Luther King Jr. On Leadership) has won worldwide acclaim. His first book, Lincoln On Leadership, helped pave the way toward the creation of an entire new genre of books on historical leadership. Currently in its 23rd printing, it has been translated into seven languages. Phillips served three terms as mayor of Fairview, Texas, and continues to take an active role in local community affairs.