Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

Legendary auto executive Lee Iacocca has a question for every American: Where have all the leaders gone?

The most widely recognized business executive of all time asks the "tough" questions that America's leaders "must" address:

- What is each of us giving back to our country?

- Do we truly love democracy?

- Are we too fat and satisfied for our own good?

- Why is America addicted to oil?

- Do we "really" care about our children's futures?

- Who will save the middle class?

A self-made man who many Americans once wished would run for president, Iacocca saved the Chrysler Corporation from financial ruin, masterminded the creation of the minivan, and oversaw the renovation of Ellis Island. Since then he has created the Iacocca Institute for leadership at Lehigh University and the Iacocca Foundation, which funds research for a cure for diabetes. Lee Iacocca believes that leaders are made in times of crisis — such as today. He has known more leaders than almost anyone else — among them nine U.S. presidents, many heads of state, and the CEOs of the nation's top corporations — and is uniquely suited to share his wisdom, knowledge, and wit about the leadership of America.

Author of the gigantic number one bestsellers "Iacocca: An Autobiography" and "Talking Straight," Lee Iacocca famously doesn't mince words and offers his no-nonsense, straight-up assessments of the American politicians most likely to run for president in 2008, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson, Mitt Romney, and John Edwards.

Confessing that he has "flunked retirement," Iacocca calls on citizens of all ages to vote, get involved, and choose our leaders carefully. Along the way, he shares stories about the prominent people he's met and known, including the time he smoked cigars with Fidel Castro, what Bob Hope told him about how to live a long life, what Lady Sarah Ferguson said to him as they danced, why Bill Clinton woke him up in Italy, what Robert McNamara taught him about success, how Frank Sinatra sang for him personally, and whom Pope John Paul II asked him to pray for. We learn what he discussed with Warren Buffett, DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche, Ronald Reagan, Senator John Kerry, Congressman John Murtha, Prince Charles and Camilla, former Saudi ambassador Prince Bandar, rapper Snoop Dogg, financier Kirk Kerkorian, Ted Turner, Bob Dole, and many more.

Knowing that the times are urgent, the iconic leader shares his lessons learned and issues a call to action to summon Americans back to their roots of hard work, common sense, integrity, generosity, and optimism. Where have all the leaders gone? Lee Iacocca has the answer.

"Iacocca, the bestselling author and former president of Ford and Chrysler, is back to sound a howl of anger against the sad state of leadership in the U.S. today. Iacocca starts with a rundown of sins committed by George W. Bush and his administration, and then moves on to criticize the American auto industry-naturally, he's furious over over the sale of Chrysler to Daimler-Benz. Along the way, Iacocca rails against the lack of leadership in vital national concerns such as health care, open markets and energy policy. Iacocca may not have a whole lot new to say, but he is always engaging, even when spinning his wheels over the current crop of presidential hopefuls or recommending that Congress take a year off from enacting laws or spending money. The book's strength lies in Iacocca's emotional honesty, which shines when he details the reasons he passed on a Presidential run, how he felt when his wife died and his frustration at the poor decisions he's made during his retirement (fessing up to voting for Bush in 2000 and handpicking the executive who sold Chrysler to the Germans). Iacocca is a genial person to spend time with, but his insights no longer carry the weight that made his autobiography, Iacocca, a runaway bestseller." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Legendary auto executive and bestselling author Lee Iacocca offers an Our Endangered Values for the business community in this upbeat, no-nonsense book on what's wrong with America and how it can be fixed.

Lee Iacocca is the former president of Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation and a bestselling author. He spends his time traveling, giving speeches, and supporting the Iacocca Foundation, which funds research for a cure for diabetes.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments ix

PART 1: WHERE HAVE ALL THE LEADERS GONE? 1

I Had enough? 3

II People and priorities: It's that simple 15

III Can you show me where it's working? 25

IV Aren't we supposed to be the good guys? 33

V How much do we love democracy? 39

PART 2: WHERE HAVE ALL OUR FRIENDS GONE? 57

VI Will the real leader of the free world please stand up? 59

VII Meet the coalition of the UNwilling 75

VIII What will we do for oil? 89

IX Free trade must be fair trade 101

X Don't fence me in...or out 111

PART 3: IS CAPITALISM LETTING US DOWN? 125

XI Where does all the money go? 127

XII Will we ever trust corporate America again? 137

XIII Chrysler's lesson: Resist the urge to merge 151

XIV Can anyone around here run a car company? 165

XV Who will save the middle class? 185

XVI The blame game is killing us 195

PART 4: CAN AMERICA BE GREAT AGAIN? 203

XVII Are we too fat and satisfied for our own good? 205

XVIII Bring back brain power 215

XIX Three men who taught me to lead 223

XX Get off the golf course and DO something 237

XXI 2008: A call to action 257

Index 265