Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership

by Madeleine K. Albright

“A sweeping, straightforward primer on foreign policy that revisits topics including the Middle East, the former Soviet Union, China, Pakistan and beyond.” —  Miami Herald The former Secretary of State and New York Times bestselling author offers America’s next leader blunt advice for repairing and reinvigorating America’s standing in the world The next president will face the daunting task of repairing America's core relationships and tarnished credibility after the damage caused during the past eight years. In Memo to the President , former secretary of state Madeleine Albright offers provocative ideas about how to confront the myriad challenges awaiting our newly elected commander-in-chief. Secretary Albright's advice is candid and seasoned with humor and stories from her years in office, blending lessons from the past with forward-looking suggestions about how to make full use of presidential power without repeating the excesses of the Bush administration and how to revive America's commitment to its founding ideals.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Audiobook, Biography, International Relations, Book Club

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2008

About the author

Czechoslovakian-born American diplomat Madeleine Korbel Albright, the first such woman, appointed secretary of state of United States in 1997, served in that position until 2001.

Bill Clinton, president, nominated her, born Marie Jana Korbelová, on 5 December 1996, the Senate unanimously confirmed her, 99-0. People swore her in office on 23 January 1997.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madelei...

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had read this when it first came out in 2008, it's likely I would have given it four stars. Unfortunately, it has not aged well.

There is no doubt that Albright's knowledge and understanding of history is top notch, and the book is well written and thought out. The first problem came when she describes a confidence in bipartisanship and who the American people are. Given the subsequent obstructions by the Republicans and the hateful racism directed at Obama by the Republican voters, this sounds naïve at best or just out of touch.

In the later part of the book, she asks us to consider that within four years, Iraq is at least partially functioning, Iran is no longer funding terror or subject to sanctions, and allowing inspections, the Palestinians have a national unity government and are on the brink of the establishment of an internationally recognized Palestinian state...I just have to stop there, though she goes on; all of it as ridiculous. I'm embarrassed for her if she really believed that would be possible in four short years. - I'm skeptical it can ever be.

Then she ends with this great flowing rhetoric about how the president can give the American people confidence and inspiration. And all I can think of is the way certain voters never even gave him a chance.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a few years back (met Madeleine and got an autographed copy) and thought of it today. Excellent overview of world politics and economies, from a woman who has many many years of exposure. I like that she included her opinion as well, in each section of the world. It really is like a world "briefing" country by country. Marvelous.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this book in 2024, I found it surprisingly relevant. While it was written for the global situation in 2008, many of the things Albright discusses or advises on ring true today. I'm not sure what to make of that. It seems that so much remains the very same, or has managed to get worse. I do love Albright's writing style. It's funny and insightful. Her perspective on foreign policy is excellent and this book, while on the surface might seem boring, was actually pretty good to read. The fact that it could apply to the upcoming election is just astounding. So much remains the same. The continued relevance and insightfulness is what appealed to me about this book. I'd recommend it as something anyone involved in foreign policy or curious about it should read, because it's somehow not quite outdated, despite a 16 year interval.

[Vladimiro Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeleine Albright is one of those persons that I feel conjugates the theory with the practical realization of the matters. it’s not bs, it is not an abstract perspective of some books read while in holidays or some values that you found through friends you considered intelligent but are not gifted enough to talk with crowds. Her values are real, the way in which her perspective of them was build makes them principles of matter. She would not surrender them. At the same time, she has a realistic perspective of things, of cultures, of the world, of the political involvement necessary to solve affairs of states.

[Ann Busbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written in 2008 prior to the election, this book is even more apropos today. If only our current president would take the time to listen to the wisdom of this brilliant diplomat. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in gaining a better understanding of our near history and some of the decisions by previous administrations that have brought us to our current circumstances on the global stage.

[Nicole]

It's hard to rate this book. Had I read it when it first came out and was relevant, then I would give it a high rating.

It was interesting to think of what happened after this book was published and if I knew my modern history a little better, it would have been nice to know if Obama to her advice. I did, however, enjoy all the mini history lessons peppered throughout the book.

[Katerlio · Rating 5 out of 5]

broad and thorough, excedingly readable. simple style, with just enough wit and background... i don't agree with all her stated views, but admire the approach and the lack of pompousness. fully recommended.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written over 10 years ago, addressed to the incoming President (Barak Obama) this book is chillingly relevant to current issues. Albright gives wise and insightful advise on topics of immigration policy, Russia, North Korea, and the Middle East.

[Ryan Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that shows how little has changed in the 15 years since it was published. If anything things have worsened. Yet there’s still hope for change and a better day in which we listen to our better angels for the betterment of all.

[Nancee Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A voice of reason---a model for leadership. Answers the question, "now what?".

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed like a good book to begin the night before the election.

Kept Attention - 5
Must Read - 3
Accessible - 5
Important - 1
Well-written - 5

[Leah Difolco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s just say our “president” Hasn’t read this.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am enough of an Albright fan that it is actually a part of my personality. Admiring/respecting someone a healthy amount means acknowledging their faults and flaws, though, and this book...is a fault.

I'm not sure what I would have thought of this book in 2008. Much like "The Mighty and the Almighty," a lot of this is now so outdated I could barely cringe through it. That said, Albright also makes some seriously prophetic statements - specifically, her assessment of Putin, and her ruminations on what the IRGC might become.

To get to the real crux of why I didn't enjoy this book at all: well, put simply, it's called "Memo to the President" and it is billed as a "memo" of advice to the incoming president. I'm not sure why Albright felt she was qualified to write this. She is a veteran of government service, yes, in two major diplomatic capacities, but she never served in any elected position, she was never in Congress, and she was certainly never president - so this is the only book in which to me, her usual inspiring self-confidence came off as arrogance.

A very useful, enlightening "memo to the president" could have been written by Albright for something such as "Foreign Policy" or "The Foreign Service Journal," but she chose instead to write a 300+ page book that is a collection of problem-solving essays built on mini history lessons.

She's funny (as usual) and smart (as always) and her personal experience is valuable (inarguable), but in many cases she's also offering experiential advice on foreign leaders that she never worked with, given that this book came out two terms after she left office as Sec State.

This book is also focused entirely, and I do mean entirely, on international relations and foreign policy. Diplomatic skill can be applied to the domestic, of course, and naturally Albright is going to advise based on her subject matter expertise, but where does one get off writing a memo to the president that says nothing about their managing of domestic affairs? Throughout this book, Albright seems to forget that the President has a much, much heavier left than merely being the head diplomat - they are leading the whole at home populace! They are not, and should not, be setting out to be a one world order prophet.

The narrative style of the book was also very grating to me. Lots of "you" - yes, I know; written as a memo. But given how long the book is, it devolves into a weird mantra of second person that begins to feel paternalistic (cringe) and at times drops into "listicle" type nuggets of advice. Its unappealing. I'm glad Albright lived long enough to write works a such as "Fascism," where she does grapple with earlier her projections.

Lastly, at some points a better title for this book should have been "How to Fix the Bush Years" - I am not at all opposed to a how-to read on that. I agree with every single one of Albright's assessments of Bush. But given that this was written originally to the president-elect (the Obama-McCain election had not been decided yet), it was disingenuous to assume the incoming president would be planning to countermand Bush, or even disagreed with him at all.

A better topic for Albright might have been something more like "What I learned As a Diplomat: Ideas for Solving Current Conflicts" - because that is essentially what she wrote. The context in which she situated her aphorisms and advise makes it off-putting.

I'll use this analogy: I work at the State Department. I am a Foreign Service SPECIALIST. There are other people who are Foreign Service GENERALISTS. All of us serve the American people, work overseas, work in difficult conditions, and attempt to further diplomacy. While our jobs are similar, there are significant differences; FS Generalists have expertise I don't have, and vice versa. I appreciate working with them and their perspective. But if one of them told me to do my job, I would lose my mind. And reading this book, imagining myself even in friendly Barack Obama's shoes, I was extremely annoyed that Albright could presume to tell a president she knew what he was about to go through.

With this book, I'm now able to say I've read all of Ms. Albright's books, and here is my personal ranking of them:

Fascism: A Warning (2018)
Hell and Other Destinations (2020)
Madam Secretary (2003)
Prague Winter (2012)
The Might and the Almighty (2006)
Memo to the President (2008)

I'd recommend every single one of these books to laypersons, but I'd only recommend 'The Mighty and the Almighty" and "Prague Winter" to Albright fans. I would not recommend "Memo to the President" at all. If you've read the others, a lot of her commentary here is re-hashed elsewhere anyway.

(I still highlighted and tabbed the whole damn book).

[Kiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book by a woman I respect very much, "Memo to the President" did a good job of giving an overview of every major foreign policy crisis facing America as we venture into the 21st century. This was definitely meant as an introductory book, as no issue was covered in any depth, but it was interesting to see a comprehensive assessment of American international relations done by an expert. Many of the issues that Albright raises are still problems for us today; Iraq, Iran, North Korea. Many of these issues have been made actively worse under the current administration, which was disheartening, to say the least. But Albright's competency and compassion shone through this book, making it a fundamentally hopeful read for those of us frequently disappointed by modern politics.

[Ted · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sick and tired of your personal and political beliefs you are trying to ram down the readers' throats. I really wanted to read the while series, but I'm done.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well isn't this quaint reading in 2020.

[Joann]

My father's review:
03/19/08

This is a most important book! Throughout she maintains the style of a memo to the President Elect, whoever he or she may be. She condemns George W. Bush as incompetent and very wrong headed, but she doesn’t let that spill over to the Republican Party, and she makes no hint that a Democrat, or any identifiable candidate, would necessarily be better, or would be preferable for the next term. The author’s credentials and qualifications are better than that of any candidate. The Wikipedia article, “Madeleine Albright”, is detailed and excellent. Please read that, or better, “Madam Secretary” by Albright herself. So: why don’t we elect her President? She is not native born! Part of the debris from the politics of the Constitutional Convention where jealousy of Alexander Hamilton lead to this requirement to prevent him from becoming President.

The book is in three parts, the first going over the general problems of being The President. This is not only a quick ‘how to do it,’ manual for the incoming President, it is an unique presentation to the people of at least part of the Presidency.

The second part is a very specific and analytical examination of Foreign Policy problems from a lady who has ‘been there, done that’. Albright, a brilliant daughter of the best and of the worst of Eastern Europe, clearly has a profound and understanding love for America. She quotes Paul Tillich, a German philosopher, “The typical American, after he has lost the foundations of his existence, works for new foundations. This is true of the individual and it is true of the nation.” I will recite the chapter titles of the second part:

New Foundations
Hoops of Iron (Relationship between the US and Europe)
America’s Place in the Asian Century
Pride and Prejudice in Russia and South Asia
One Iraq Is Enough
Middle East: The Power to Choose
Isolating Al Qaeda

The third part is one brief chapter of conclusion, “Above the Thundering Abyss”, which might make the new President sorry he /she had decided to run.

I do hope the several candidates will read and ponder on this book, and once in office, keep one copy at hand on the desk in the Oval Office and another in the traveling brief case.
-RTH

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoever is elected president would do well to read this book. Madelein Albright, who has the experience to understand the power and workings of the office of the president, lays out some hints and guidelines for the new president. Her suggestions include identifying a style for this presidency, selecting staff, setting goals, and some tips on how to actually get the goals and programs implemented. The second half of the book deals with foreign policy and she points out just how many serious problems are out there. Not only is this a dangerous world with many, many serious problems, but the US foreign policy over the past eight years has made many situations much more dangerous and weakened many of our strengths. She discusses not only the Middle East, but gives equal time to issues in Asia, Europe, Russia, south Asia, and Latin America.

Unlike many Democrats, she doesn't really rail against the Bush policies, but quietly details what has happened, what the situation is now and what issues the new president will face. Perhaps it is her measured approach that makes this just so darned scary.

In the height of presidential election season, where measured discourse and reason seem to have a very limited role, Albright's outline of what this job really entails is sobering.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madeline Albright has a lot of advice to offer in this book. Advice mostly regarding diplomacy, an area she knows best. However, aside from the personal anecdotes and insights into the intimate lives of politicos, the book is very disappointing, boring even. And this advice? Well, suffice it to say that I could have written this book. Most of what she writes is common sense. In a nutshell: don't pick fights, be politically correct, surround yourself with good, capable people, and don't do anything Bush did (that's Junior). Even though she makes apologies for the Bush slamming to come in her preface, it still detracts from the validity of her opinions. So no one really likes Bush or many of his decisions, but the book is supposed to bring promise to new candidates, not continually reference what not to do, or who not to emulate. For God's sake, hasn't the last eight years taught every American what not to do? All in all, it was stale and dry and contained so much of what I like to call the "Duh Factor" that its 300 or so very long pages left me feeling as though I knew little more than I knew when I opened the book for the first time. Except, of course, in learning how to stay awake while reading a very boring book on a quiet rocking commuter train.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madeleine Albright was U.S. Secretary of State during the Clinton adminstration and during that time she often briefed the President using memos. In the book she covers the area of foreign affairs that she believes will require the attention of the next President; whomever it may be. I found this book a fascinating and easy read. She is an academic and teacher and I felt that I could be a student sitting in on her lectures. Easily understandable and at times quite humourous this book gave me a lot to think about in terms of the history of the States. She includes chapters specific to Europe, Asia, Mexico and Central America and other world hot spots. I felt I was getting a primer in world politics and it wasn't even painful.Although the focus is not necessarily George Bush there are references to that administration and it's record. After all there would have been no reason to write the book were it not for the actions of Bush and co. over the past 8 years!

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Albright, in less than 300 pages, discusses the foreign policy issues confronting the next president. Although she is capable of discussing any of these issues in significant detail she is clear and concise.

In the first part she outlines the tools available to the President, including domestic dissent, development aid, and the military. As she goes through the list of tools, and how she has seen them used or used them herself, I found my self gaining a better understanding of the processes of our government.

After she has described many different tolls she takes us on a tour of the world. In each section she lays out the challenges the president will face and a few options.

Rather than harping on the miss steps of the current leadership she points a way forward through a complex and dangerous world.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! A very detailed and thoughtful analysis of ... well ... how messed up the USA has become in the past few years, and how the next president (now, Obama) should go about getting it back on track.

Albright makes the point quite a few times that our reputation is less than admirable nowadays, and that we have a long way to go before others will see us as a moral high-ground or savior again. As she says, "our right to lead is no longer widely accepted. We have lost moral legitimacy" (22). She also warns the president-elect that, "[g:]iven the events of the past eight years, we can hardly dictate to others what they should think, feel, and fear" (292).

This is a really wonderful book. Very well-written (nod to Albright and Woodward) and fun to read, plus extremely insightful and thought-provoking (quite unlike the American executive branch of 2001-2008).

4.5 stars

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this to read for the last presidential election cycle, but never got around to it. At least I made it for this cycle. I am sure Albright would agree her advice is still good for the upcoming President Elect. I was real excited about the introductory material that Albright came from getting out of meetings between her former foreign minister colleagues: "Madeleine's Exes". I'd like to know more about individually where the different pieces of advice came from. Still, I am sure Albright could provide all the cogent and considered advice on her own, from my recollection of a particularly insightful talk she gave at Oakland Universty.

Basically, her advice and humble and flexible. She's not afraid of military action but sees many options in foreign policy before that - and the spots in the world that need the attention.

[AuthorsOnTourLive! · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next president, whether Democrat or Republican, will face the daunting task of repairing America's core relationships and tarnished credibility after the damage caused during the past seven years. In Memo to the President Elect, Madeleine Albright offers provocative ideas about how to confront the striking array of challenges that the next commander-in-chief will face and how to return America to its rightful role as a source of inspiration across the globe.

We met Madeleine Albright when she visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to her talk about Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation & Leadership here:
http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=125

[Jonathan Beams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful analysis of the specific challenges a president faces running an administration and managing US foreign policy in the current moment.

More importantly, an opportunity to bask, for a few hours, in the sparkling company of a spirit of the highest accomplishment. A pragmatic bureaucrat, a buoyant realist, and an inspiration to shed the temptations of cynicism as a burden and a bore.

I'm reminded of a joke I read about mathematician Paul Erdos which applies equally to Madeline:

Q: Imagine a race of highly evolved and intelligent aliens, with the appearance and behavior of human beings, had landed and mingled among us. How could we recognize them?
A: Easy! They'd be exactly like Checkoslovakians!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this book was pretty awesome. Published before the 2008 presidential election, Madeline Albright (former secretary of state) doles out advice to whoever the next president will be. She touches on the type of people the president should surround him (or her) self with. How to deal with the Middle East. How to make decisions. It's so great to read this AFTER the election because some of things that Albright mentions (the Iran elections) are happening now or have already happened and it's interesting to see how Obama is responding and if it's in a way that Albright would approve of. I especially loved when Albright writes that the next president might be asked to speak at a college graduation ceremony only to have people protest. Uh, Albright, are you psychic?

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get through this book. Although the subject is of great importance, Albright just couldn't compete with my usual reads which are mostly fiction. She does know her subject and she reminded me of all the things I don't know about the US and our relations with other countries.

Albright is brilliant and for that reason I am very glad I read this book. I now feel like I have a small inkling of the work ahead of Obama and his team. I am not sure that any other writer could have been so concise and informative. I am not running out to get Albright's earlier works, but I will be interested to see what she writes about our international relations in the future.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I bought it when Prof. Albright was doing a book signing at Georgetown and it sounded like an interesting concept. Having heard her lecture a few times and gotten several...interesting reviews of her class, I'm not exactly sure how different I expected the book to be. It's a very straightforward presentation of her opinions on what is currently wrong with American foreign policy, with a heavy emphasis on an "I am right about this" tone. I used it more as a way to challenge my own thinking than as an end-all be-all on current issues. She makes good points and it is interesting, but I just couldn't get into it enough to read more than a chapter at a time.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, for the voice of wisdom and experience in international leadership. I wish someone in Washington would listen to the things Madeleine Albright has to say in this book. Maybe a key aide could highlight selections and slip pages to the presidential candidates as they're riding planes across America to primary elections. Albright may not have done everything flawlessly as Secretary of State in the 1990s, but her perspectives on international relations and US strategies to engage with the rest of the world are unique and valuable.

[Sparring · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Remember the theme associated with Peter the Great? 'Fear not change; strive that tomorrow be better than today.' This banal instinct for self-improvement is at the root of all human gains. It is banal because it has been translated into everything from the language of Weight Watchers to the pep talks given to Boy Scouts, but in a world held hostage by the cycles of nature, nothing is more revolutionary than the idea that we have it within our power as humans to lift lives in ways that matter, that our power to choose has meaning." pg 294

this woman rocks my socks