As the editor of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s papers—all 21 volumes—Louis Galambos might know more about the American military hero turned commander in chief than anyone alive.

In a discussion of his new book Eisenhower: Becoming the Leader of the Free World, Galambos explores the shifts in Ike’s identity and reputation over his lifetime and how he developed his distinctive leadership skills. From his military career, he learned to profit from mistakes and pivot quickly. In the White House, he embraced compromise and coalition building.

Galambos is a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University. His presentation, in partnership with the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Foundation, continues a series of events coinciding with the exhibit Eisenhower’s Middle Road at the Central Library.