#5001 Presidential Leadership: The Defining Traits As we approach the inauguration of the 47th American president, it?s an ideal time to reflect on past leaders and consider which of them are remembered as the most successful. What defining character traits and skills made these presidents stand out. Joining host Jim Falk To discuss this and more, are: John Lawrence. For 38 years, Dr. Lawrence was a senior congressional staff member, serving from 2005 to 2013 as chief of staff to Nancy Pelosi. He is a visiting professor at the University of California?s Washington Center where he teaches about Congress and contemporary American politics and he is the author of ?Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi?s Speakership,? now available in paperback. And Jeremi Suri, a frequent guest of the program, is a presidential historian at the University of Texas at Austin where he is the Mack Brown Distinguished Professor for Global Leadership, History and Public Policy. He is the author and editor of several books but one that is of particular interest for this conversation is ?The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America?s Highest Office.? . Here in the studio is Talmage Boston, a lawyer and presidential historian, Mr. Boston is the author of the ?How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from Our Top Presidents.? Every new president steps into the Oval Office with the hope of one day joining the ranks of the nation?s list of the best. However, given the high bar set by those who achieved this distinction, it?s no easy task. Today?s discussion reminds us that there are common threads shared by the best presidents: building a strong team, being open to opposing views and learning from past mistakes