The Truman Library Institute proudly announces that the 2026 Harry S. Truman Legacy of Leadership Award will be presented to David M. Rubenstein at the 27^th Annual Wild About Harry celebration on April 23, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. The award was created by the Truman Library Institute in 2010 to honor the decisive leadership of America’s 33rd president and to recognize individuals with a sustained and distinguished record of serving our nation and its democratic principles.

David Rubenstein is an investor, philanthropist, interviewer, author, and historian. He is co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. Established in 1987, Carlyle now manages $474 billion from 27 offices around the world.

Mr. Rubenstein is a Baltimore native and is the chairman, CEO, and principal owner of Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles.

A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Mr. Rubenstein is chairman of the Boards of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Gallery of Art, the Economic Club of Washington, and the University of Chicago; a rrustee of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Brookings Institution, and the World Economic Forum; an emeritus trustee of Johns Hopkins Medicine; and a director of Moderna, Inc. and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, among other board seats.

David Rubenstein is a leader in the area of Patriotic Philanthropy, having made transformative gifts for the restoration or repair of the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Monticello, Montpelier, Mount Vernon, Arlington House, Iwo Jima Memorial, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, the National Archives, the National Zoo, the Library of Congress, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

In addition, he is an original signer of The Giving Pledge; the host of The David Rubenstein Show, Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein, Longevity with David Rubenstein, and Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein; and the author of The American Story, How to Lead, The American Experiment, How to Invest, and The Highest Calling.

Mr. Rubenstein will be in conversation with Douglas Brinkley. Brinkley is the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University and is on the board of the National Archives Foundation, The Library of Congress (James Madison Council), and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Additionally, he is a CNN Presidential Historian and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. He works in many capacities in public history, including museums, colleges, and historical societies. The Chicago Tribune dubbed him “America’s New Past Master.” The New-York Historical Society has chosen Brinkley as their official U.S. Presidential Historian.

REGISTER FOR WILD ABOUT HARRY

Past Award Recipients

2010—James A. Baker, III
2011—Christopher “Kit” Bond
2012—Dr. Robert M. Gates
2013—General Richard B. Myers
2014—Dr. Donna E. Shalala
2015—The Hon. Robert J. Dole
2016—Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
2017—Rep. James Clyburn & Rep. John Lewis
2018—David McCullough
2019—Dr. Madeleine K. Albright
2020—Gen. James. N. Mattis
2021—Samantha J. Power
2022—Ambassador William J. Burns
2023—Adm. Michelle Howard
2024—The Hon. Roy Blunt
2025—The Hon. Kathleen Sebelius

The Harry S. Truman Legacy of Leadership award was established in 2010 by the Harry S. Truman Library Institute—the private, nonprofit partner of the Truman Presidential Library and Museum—to honor America’s 33^rd president and to recognize individuals who have a sustained and distinguished record of serving our nation and its democratic ideals.

The recipient will have shown qualities exemplified by Harry Truman, who served his county, his state, our nation, and the world without regard for personal reward. Like President Truman, award recipients demonstrate courage, wisdom, foresight, humility, and a willingness to be accountable for the difficult actions and decisions required of a true leader.

Truman said, “Do your duty and history will do you justice.” Through the Harry S. Truman Legacy of Leadership Award, the Truman Library Institute seeks to remind our nation’s citizens of the universal wisdom of this message, and to inspire all to seek paths of purpose and service.

PRESENTED ANNUALLY AT WILD ABOUT HARRY.