Michael Beschloss
Encyclopedia
Michael Richard Beschloss (born November 30, 1955) is an American historian. A specialist in the United States presidency
, he is the author of nine books.
, grew up in Flossmoor, Illinois
, and was educated at Eaglebrook School
, Andover
, Williams College
and Harvard University
. He majored in political science
, working under James MacGregor Burns
at Williams, from which he graduated with Highest Honors, and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School
, with the original intention of writing history while serving as a foundation executive.
Presidential Historian. He is a trustee of the White House Historical Association
and the National Archives Foundation and he also sits on the boards of the University of Virginia
's Miller Center of Public Affairs
and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
. He was formerly a trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello
), the Urban Institute
and the PEN/Faulkner Foundation
. He also sits on the advisory board to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
and is a former member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. He has served as a historian at the Smithsonian Institution
, a Senior Associate Member at St. Antony's College (University of Oxford
), a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard University Russian Research Center, a Senior Fellow of the Annenberg Foundation
and a Montgomery Fellow and Dorsett Fellow at Dartmouth College
.
Beschloss has appeared on The Daily Show
in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. He was portrayed by Chris Kattan on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on February 14, 1998.
's Decisions That Shook the World, of which he was the host; the category was "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research." He has also received the Williams College Bicentennial Medal, the State of Illinois's Order of Lincoln, the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award, the Ambassador Book Prize and the New York State Archives History Award. He has received honorary doctorates from Lafayette College
, Williams College
, St. Mary's College of Maryland
, Saint Peter's College and Governors State University
.
, who is President and CEO of The Rock Creek Group, a Washington, DC, hedge fund
, former treasurer and chief investment officer of the World Bank
, and a current trustee of the Ford Foundation
and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The couple are advisory board members of Resources for Inner City Children. Beschloss and his wife were guests of President and Mrs. Clinton at the White House dinner for British Prime Minister Tony Blair on February 5, 1998. They also attended the Clintons' White House dinner celebrating the 200th anniversary of the White House on November 9, 2000. They were guests of President and Mrs. Bush at the White House dinner for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on November 2, 2005.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, he is the author of nine books.
Early life
Beschloss was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, grew up in Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor, Illinois
Flossmoor is a village in south suburban Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 9,464 at the 2010 census.The village is renowned for the quality and architectural variety of its housing stock, as well as its proximity to numerous country clubs. It prides itself on being a...
, and was educated at Eaglebrook School
Eaglebrook School
Eaglebrook School is an independent junior boarding school for boys in Deerfield, Massachusetts. It is located on the Pocumtuck Range near Deerfield Academy and sited on a campus which is also preserved by the Deerfield Wildlife Trust....
, Andover
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
, Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He majored in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, working under James MacGregor Burns
James MacGregor Burns
James MacGregor Burns is an historian and political scientist, presidential biographer, and authority on leadership studies. He is the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Government Emeritus at Williams College and Distinguished Leadership Scholar at the of the School of Public Policy at the University...
at Williams, from which he graduated with Highest Honors, and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, with the original intention of writing history while serving as a foundation executive.
Career
Beschloss is a regular commentator on the PBS NewsHour and is the NBC NewsNBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
Presidential Historian. He is a trustee of the White House Historical Association
White House Historical Association
The White House Historical Association, founded in 1961 through efforts of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is a private, non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the public's understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the White House, the official home and principal workplace of the...
and the National Archives Foundation and he also sits on the boards of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
's Miller Center of Public Affairs
Miller Center of Public Affairs
The Miller Center of Public Affairs is a non-partisan research institute that is part of the University of Virginia.Founded in 1975, the Miller Center is a leading public policy institution that serves as a national meeting place where engaged citizens, scholars, students, media representatives and...
and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Archie Bunker's...
. He was formerly a trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
), the Urban Institute
Urban Institute
The Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that carries out nonpartisan economic and social policy research, collects data, evaluates social programs, educates the public on key domestic issues, and provides advice and technical assistance to developing governments abroad...
and the PEN/Faulkner Foundation
PEN/Faulkner Foundation
PEN/Faulkner Foundation is an independent charitable arts foundation which supports the art of writing and encourages readers of all ages...
. He also sits on the advisory board to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was the Congressionally created 14-member federal commission focused on planning and commemorating the 200th birthday of the United States' 16th president on February 12, 2009. The commission served for ten years, from 2000 to 2010...
and is a former member of the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. He has served as a historian at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, a Senior Associate Member at St. Antony's College (University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
), a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard University Russian Research Center, a Senior Fellow of the Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a private foundation that provides funding and support to non-profit organizations in the United States and around the world...
and a Montgomery Fellow and Dorsett Fellow at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
.
Beschloss has appeared on The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. He was portrayed by Chris Kattan on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" on February 14, 1998.
Awards
Beschloss received a 2005 News & Documentary Emmy Award for the Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
's Decisions That Shook the World, of which he was the host; the category was "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research." He has also received the Williams College Bicentennial Medal, the State of Illinois's Order of Lincoln, the Harry S. Truman Public Service Award, the Ambassador Book Prize and the New York State Archives History Award. He has received honorary doctorates from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's College of Maryland, established in 1840, is a public, secular liberal arts college located in St. Mary's City, Maryland. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges and designated as a Public Honors College . St. Mary's College is a small college, with about 2,000...
, Saint Peter's College and Governors State University
Governors State University
Governors State University is a public university located in University Park, Illinois. The campus is located south of Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1969, GSU is an upper-division university, offering undergraduate courses at the junior and senior levels as well as graduate level coursework at...
.
Lectures
In recent years, he has lectured at numerous colleges, universities, and presidential libraries.Personal life
Beschloss is married to Afsaneh Mashayekhi BeschlossAfsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss
Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss is a United States national who is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Rock Creek Group. Prior to this, Beschloss was the treasurer and chief investment officer of the World Bank...
, who is President and CEO of The Rock Creek Group, a Washington, DC, hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
, former treasurer and chief investment officer of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, and a current trustee of the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The couple are advisory board members of Resources for Inner City Children. Beschloss and his wife were guests of President and Mrs. Clinton at the White House dinner for British Prime Minister Tony Blair on February 5, 1998. They also attended the Clintons' White House dinner celebrating the 200th anniversary of the White House on November 9, 2000. They were guests of President and Mrs. Bush at the White House dinner for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on November 2, 2005.
External links
- Michael Beschloss on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, May 9, 2007