Michael Richard Beschloss[1] (born November 30, 1955)[2] is an American historian specializing in the United States presidency.

[6] He majored in political science, studying under James MacGregor Burns at Williams College[7] from which he graduated with Highest Honors, and earned an MBA at Harvard Business School, originally intending to write about history while he held a position as an executive at a foundation.

Beschloss received a 2005 News and Documentary Emmy Award for being the host of Discovery Channel's Decisions That Shook the World, the category was "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research".

President Bill Clinton told People in December 1997 that the first audiobook he ever listened to was Taking Charge by Michael Beschloss.

[20] In Bob Woodward's Plan of Attack, President George W. Bush is quoted as telling the author Elie Wiesel in February 2003, "I read your views on Auschwitz in Michael Beschloss' book", referring to The Conquerors.

[22] John Frankenheimer's last film, Path to War (HBO, 2002), starring Donald Sutherland and Michael Gambon, was based in part on Beschloss' two books about Lyndon B. Johnson.