Richard Neustadt
1919–2003 (age 84)
Political scientist
Biography
Richard Neustadt, born in 1919, reshaped the study of presidential authority through clear thinking and careful prose; his seminal work on leadership and decision making in government became essential reading for scholars and public servants alike. He valued evidence, encouraged debate, and served as a calm advisor when nations faced change.
He cared deeply about mentoring students, speaking in classrooms and public forums with generosity and wit, and he believed that civic engagement begins with listening—principles that rest gently beside him at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.