How the Best Did It is an accessible and insightful explanation of how the most important leadership traits from America’s eight greatest presidents can be implemented by today’s leaders.
“A discerning examination of what all of us can learn from some of our most effective leaders who have held—and wielded—ultimate power at the highest level.” —Jon Meacham
A talk by author Talmage Boston from our 2025 Roosevelt Reading Festival.
The Roosevelts played as hard as they worked, entertaining, sailing, picnicking, often with hot dogs, and sometimes even cheating to win. Watch them cut loose, have fun, and even ham it up on these home movies filmed by Franklin Roosevelt’s private secretary of 21 years.
This is a free public event, but registration is required to attend in-person.
It has been four centuries since the first Roosevelt arrived in New Amsterdam as a humble farmer. The Roosevelts went on to become one of America’s most distinguished families—one with ties to many sites in New York City. Historian Bill Bleyer details the unique places in the city where family members lived and worked and unveils the private interactions behind this famous American family.
America250 Film Series
August 13, 2025
Gabriel Over the White House
Time: 2:00pm ET
Location: Henry A. Wallace Center
When Judson Hammond (Walter Huston) is elected President during the Great Depression, he's seen by many as a hands-off, please-everyone type. After an astounding recovery from a car accident, however, Hammond awakens a changed man.
This is a free public event, but registrationis required to attend in-person.
New Special Exhibit
Signature Moments: Letters from the Famous, the Infamous, and Everyday Americans
9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Now-July 7, 2026
Location: FDR Presidential Library
From Einstein to Earhart, Oppenheimer to Shirley Temple — an extraordinary cast of characters wrote to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Signature Moments offers a rare look at these personal exchanges, alongside treasures from FDR’s own archive of historic documents and artifacts. Part of the Library’s America250 celebration. Click hereto learn more.
Regular Library and Museum admission applies to view the exhibit.
39-Star Flag
Sent to FDR by Annie Davis of NYC. This 39-star flag, an unoffical design, was likely created in anticipation of the Dakota territory's statehood. Ultimately, the U.S. flag transitioned from 38 to 40 stars when Dakota became two states.
