A great leader was born. It was August 3, 1918 in the city of Melrose, Massachusetts when James McGregor Burns was born. The son of a conservative businessman, young James knew he was different at an early age. You see, James was a liberal, and looked at the world with open eyes and an open mind.
He fell in love with history at a young age--partly to do with the fact that he went to high school in Lexington Mass, the sight of the first battle of the Revolutionary War. After high school, he continued his education at Williams College, where he majored in Political Science. From there, he received his PhD in government from Harvard. He shared his passion for history and politics with other generations by returning to Williams to teach. During World War II, he became a Combat Historian; writing about memories of soldiers which earned him four combat medals and a Bronze Star.
But his ambition for greatness did not stop there. When most people are at the prime of their career, Burns was just warming up. After the war, he served on the task force for President Hoover and as a Congressional Aide.
He also wrote many books on leadership including:
- Congress on Trial
- Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox
- Roosevelt: Soldier of Freedom
- The American Experience
- Dead Center
One of his greatest and most studied books, Leadership offered a new vision on the subject--and applied the new thought of transitional leadership.
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| Burnes still continues to influence at the age of 92 |
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