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

“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.

How can the next commander-in-chief navigate these global challenges and restore American leadership?

• A User’s Guide to the Presidency: Albright offers a masterclass on the powers and pitfalls of the office, from managing your cabinet and the NSC to the art of persuasion on the world stage.
• The Tools of National Security: Discover when to use diplomacy, when to apply economic pressure, and the critical lessons for deciding when—and how—to use military force.
• Clear-Eyed Foreign Policy Analysis: Get an insider’s unvarnished assessment of the major challenges awaiting the next president, from a resurgent Russia and a rising China to the complexities of the Middle East.
• A Blueprint for American Leadership: Learn what it will take to repair America’s tarnished credibility, reinvigorate key alliances, and restore our nation's standing as a respected global leader.

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.

“Charming and witty. . . . In this frank, strongly worded open letter to the next president, Madam Secretary summons her considerable experience to voice her dismay at the Bush administration’s misuse of power abroad. . . . Fighting words from a political sage.” - Kirkus Reviews

“An engaging foreign policy primer for the next White House occupant. . . . Savvy and tart, Albright’s is an unusually interesting presentation.” - Publishers Weekly