Expected Orioles owner David Rubenstein, a history buff, to release new book on U.S. presidency

David Rubenstein, who heads the group that agreed to buy the Baltimore Orioles last month, has penned a book on the American presidency, the billionaire private equity investor and noted history enthusiast said Monday on social media.

The book is based on the Baltimore native’s interviews with historians and living U.S. presidents, including Joe Biden and Barack Obama, according to a description from Simon & Schuster, which plans to publish “The Highest Calling: Conversations on the American Presidency” in September.

Rubenstein, the Carlyle Group co-founder and philanthropist who signed an agreement in late January to purchase the Orioles from the Angelos family, is known to be fascinated by history. He owns the only privately owned copy of the Magna Carta, two copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the first map printed in North America. The 74-year-old also hosts PBS’ “History with David Rubenstein” and has authored several nonfiction books about U.S. history, as well as investing and leadership.

The former attorney is no stranger to the White House’s inner workings — Rubenstein served as a deputy domestic policy advisor to President Jimmy Carter during the Democrat’s single term. He was later appointed by President George W. Bush — and reappointed by Obama and Biden — to the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees, from which he resigned immediately before his foray into baseball ownership became public, though his retirement won’t take effect until 2025. He also established the White House Historical Association’s research and educational wing, which bears his namesake, with a $10 million donation in 2010.

The upcoming, 400-page book “chronicles the journeys of the presidents who have defined America as it exists now, what they envision for its future, and their legacy on the world stage,” according to the publisher’s description. The new book by Rubenstein, whose Forbes-estimated net worth was $3.9 billion as of Monday, will be available Sept. 17 at a cost of $30.

In his Presidents Day announcement on X, formerly Twitter, Rubenstein said he would share more about the book “in the coming months.”

Happy President's Day! I'm excited to share that my new book on the American presidency will come out in September. I'll share more in the coming months. In the meantime…learn more about U.S. presidents here:https://t.co/adZeHUQPme

— David M. Rubenstein (@DM_Rubenstein) February 19, 2024

The MLB’s owners still needs to formally approve the Orioles sale before Rubenstein takes control of the team, which the deal valued at $1.725 billion. The Baltimore City College alumni purchased the team as part of a new ownership group that includes legendary shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. and former Baltimore mayor Kurt Schmoke. The ballclub, whose players said they were just as surprised as fans when the deal came to light, held its first spring training workouts last week.