Protocol Prose Book Club returns on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 12 noon ET for a very special conversation. We’ll be discussing Leslie Lautenslager’s long-awaited book My Time with General Colin Powell: Stories of Kindness, Diplomacy, and Protocol. Leslie is an active member of PDI-POA and served for many years on the board including several years as president.

About the Book 

General Powell was well respected and loved by people on both sides of the political divide.
Do you enjoy peeking “behind the curtain” when the great and powerful reveal their true human nature? In My Time with General Colin Powell, you will learn about his tenure as Secretary of State, his professional speaking career, see his humorous side, and what a beloved humanitarian he was.
 
General Powell was the youngest and the nation’s first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in the US Military. He was also the first African American appointed Secretary of State, the world’s leading diplomat. The world saw him as a military leader, a diplomat, a senior statesman, and an advocate for young people. To friends and family, he was so much more —funny, charming, self-deprecating, practical, generous, gracious and kind. He was also a song and dance man, a car aficionado, a handyman, a lover of comfort food, a standup comedian, and a storyteller.
 
Leslie Lautenslager shares a small portion of her time of over 25 years of working with General Powell. She reveals how close they became with a shorthand of knowing side glances and raised eyebrows in her enlightening memoir.

About the Author

Leslie Lautenslager’s career in protocol began in 1986 when she was hired by U.S. Chief of Protocol Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt as assistant to the manager of Blair House, the President’s Guest House. Ambassador Roosevelt later promoted her to a protocol officer in the Ceremonials and then Visits division at the U.S. State Department.  In addition to working on state and official visits of chiefs of state and heads of government, she organized and lead delegations representing President Reagan at various events around the world.  After her administration appointment ended, Leslie joined the Battle of Normandy Foundation where she oversaw special events and protocol for over five years leading up to the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

Her life changed in April 1996 when she was hired by the co-founders of the Washington Speakers Bureau to assist one of the most popular speakers on the international stage:  General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.).  Despite their different backgrounds, they quickly developed a unique rapport and language that lasted until his death over 25 years later. 

When General Powell was confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of State, she served as the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Ceremonials and Special Assistant to the Secretary of State, responsible for a staff tasked with planning and organizing all functions hosted by the Secretary to honor foreign dignitaries.  Additionally, she supported ceremonies on behalf of the President and Vice President for national commemorations, the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly, and state funerals, among many others.  In 2005 after the General’s four-year tenure as the world’s top diplomat, she returned with him to the speaking circuit.  On the professional speaking circuit, she was his liaison to clients, responsible for the logistical details of travel and preparations to make him “smart” about each event.

A graduate of the College of William & Mary, she has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Psychology and in Fine Arts.  

Registration is open now to members. Please plan to join us for this memorable conversation.

Visit Leslie's website here: https://www.leslielautenslager.com 

Purchase your copy of the book through this link on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9IvvQAN 

Register to attend the December Protocol Prose Book Club meeting