Member Presale Coming Soon
Bush Center members receive early access to tickets, member event pricing, free museum admission, and more.
Presented by
On October 19, 2026, New York Times bestselling author Allen Levi will share his journey from boyhood in Columbus, Georgia, to a career as an attorney, to life as a traveling musician, and ultimately to becoming a bestselling author of Theo of Golden at age 69. Levi’s path has taken many turns, but determination is the thread that binds his story together.
Pre-signed books are available to purchase with your ticket.
Schedule of Events
| 5:30 p.m. | Check-in opens |
| 5:30 – 6:15 p.m. | Pre-signed book pick-up |
| 6:30 p.m. | Program promptly begins* |
| 7:30 p.m. | Program concludes |
| 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Pre-signed book pick-up |
* Note: In consideration of our speakers and guests in attendance, the program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly to avoid any delays for your arrival.
About Americans: Against All Odds
There are few things more American than defying the odds. Stories of grit, overcoming, and perseverance have been woven into the fabric of our nation since our earliest days. In America, success is never out of reach. Whether in our personal lives, in business, on the playing field, or in public life, we believe setbacks are not the end of the story – but the beginning of a new chapter. Confronting adversity strengthens us, and America is always getting stronger.
George Washington lost more battles than he won during the Revolutionary War, but led the patriot army to victory against all odds. Abraham Lincoln emerged unknown from the Illinois prairie, and rebounded from losing an election for Senate by becoming President and saving our Union from destruction. Orville and Wilbur Wright channeled curiosity and ingenuity to achieve human flight when many thought flying was impossible, building a working airplane in their bicycle shop for less than a thousand dollars. Althea Jackson broke an imposing color barrier, becoming a tennis champion despite being barred from most tennis clubs because of the color of her skin. Sandra Day O’Connor ignored the law firms who offered her secretarial jobs, rising to become the first female majority leader of the Arizona state senate, and then the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. George W. Bush lost his first campaign for political office in 1978, but defeated Governor Ann Richards in 1996 in a race his own mother thought he would lose, rising to the White House to lead America through the dark hours of 9/11.
Through a new limited series, Americans: Against All Odds, presented by The Haidar Family, the George W. Bush Presidential Center will spotlight individuals who embody the American spirit of resilience and grit. Anything is possible in America because our story has always been a story of perseverance.
