Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
  • In Person

The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History

Note: This is a past event, additional resources may be available below.

Wed Jul 22, 2026

Date

Wed Jul 22, 2026
5:30pm – 6:30pm MDT

Location

Paepcke Auditorium
1000 N. Third Street
Aspen, CO

Contact

    [email protected]
    970.544.7970

Hosts

  1. Aspen Community Programs

Presented as part of the McCloskey Speaker Series.

Journalist Susan Page, Washington Bureau chief of USA Today, who has covered eight White House administrations and twelve presidential elections, joins the Aspen Institute for a keynote lecture on the topic of her acclaimed book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History.  Sharing the colorful stories that shaped the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and thirteen U.S. presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Donald J. Trump, Page reveals how the Queen used diplomacy, influence, and personal relationships to help shape one of the world’s most important alliances, offering a fresh look at leadership, power, and the enduring ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Paepcke Auditorium, doors open at 5:00 pm

Registration
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required, and capacity is established on a first-come, first-served basis. Once an event is at capacity, we will have an in-person waitlist at the door.

Public registration is now open for summer 2026. Please click here to register.

Parking
Parking is very limited. Please carpool, walk, bike, or ride RFTA.

Book signing will immediately follow the event. To learn more about her book or to order a copy, please click here.

Susan Page is the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY, where she writes about the White House and national politics. She is best-selling author of several books, including “Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power;” “The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters,” and “The Matriarch: Barbara Bush and the Making of an American Dynasty.” Her latest book is “The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand that Shaped History.”

In 2024, Susan covered her twelfth presidential election. She has reported from six continents and interviewed the past ten presidents (three after they left office). Her assignments have ranged from the Three Mile Island nuclear accident to the exodus of boat people from Vietnam, not to mention a tied election and three presidential impeachments. She has served as president of the White House Correspondents Association and of the Gridiron Club. She has received multiple national awards for her coverage of the White House, and the Washington Press Club Foundation in 2026 presented her with its lifetime achievement award. In 2020, she moderated the vice-presidential debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris. (Yes, that was the one with the fly.)

She and her husband, Carl Leubsdorf, have two sons, Ben and Will.

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