On April 21st, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Library, and Museum welcomed General James Mattis to discuss his book, Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead. The Library and Museum’s Deputy Director, Joel Westphal, moderated the conversation which lasted for over an hour. Topics ranged from humility, the most important trait a person can have according to Mattis, leadership, and ended with his personal reading list.
General Mattis spoke about his young adult years, highlighting how those experiences shaped how he dealt with young men and women serving under him. He stressed the importance of continuing education through books or study. The General offered the following advice on how to become a 4-Star General, “Fight enemy Generals who are dumber than a box of rocks.” When talking about mistakes, he offered some down-to-earth advice. “We are not machines, we are humans, and humans make mistakes, own up to the issue, get in front of it, and learn from our mistakes.” If you missed the program and would like to hear more words of wisdom from General Mattis, the program can be accessed through either the Foundation or Library and Museum’s websites.
Watch the Program Here
About the Book
Call Sign Chaos is the account of General Jim Mattis’s storied career, from wide-ranging leadership roles in three wars to ultimately commanding a quarter of a million troops across the Middle East. Along the way, Mattis recounts his foundational experiences as a leader, extracting the lessons he has learned about the nature of war-fighting and peacemaking, the importance of allies, and the strategic dilemmas—and short-sighted thinking—now facing our nation. He makes it clear why America must return to a strategic footing so as not to continue winning battles but fighting inconclusive wars.
Call Sign Chaos is a memoir of a life of war-fighting and lifelong learning, following along as Mattis rises from Marine recruit to four-star general. It is a journey about learning to lead and a story about how he, through constant study and action, developed a unique leadership philosophy, one relevant to us all.
When
April 21, 2021
Program Supporters
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
