Michael Beschloss was interviewed about his book Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989, published by Simon and Schuster. He examined the tough decisions that defined nine of the men who have held the presidency. Topics included George Washington’s decision to make peace with England, Franklin Roosevelt’s defiance of isolationists in confronting Hitler’s army, and Ronald Reagan’s meetings to end the Cold War. The guest interviewer was Alexis Simendinger.

Michael Beschloss is the author of eight books on American presidents. He is NBC News presidential Historian and a contributor to PBS' “The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.” Alexis Simendinger has covered the White House for fifteen years.