When Lyndon Baines Johnson wanted to go somewhere; there was no stopping him. This dynamic president called for Air Force One as others summon a taxi—at a moment's notice; whatever the hour or the weather. And the man who made sure that LBJ got his ride was General James U. Cross; the president's hand-picked pilot; top military assistant; and personal confidante. One of the few Air Force One pilots to have a position; simultaneously; in the White House; General Cross is also the only member of LBJ's inner circle who has not publicly offered his recollections of the president. In this book; he goes on the record; creating a fascinating; behind-the-scenes portrait of America's complex; often contradictory; always larger-than-life thirty-sixth president.General Cross tells an engrossing story. In addition to piloting Air Force One around the globe; he served President Johnson in multiple capacities; including directing the Military Office in the White House; managing a secret two-million-dollar presidential emergency fund; supervising the presidential retreat at Camp David; the president's entire transportation fleet; and the presidential bomb shelters; running the White House Mess; hiring White House social aides; including the president's future son-in-law; Charles Robb; and writing condolence letters to the families of soldiers killed in Vietnam. This wide-ranging; around-the-clock access to President Johnson allowed Cross to witness events and share moments that add color and depth to our understanding of America's arguably most demanding and unpredictable president.
#6534211 in Books 2005-02-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.75 x 7.25 x .50l; #File Name: 027598623396 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The French invasion of Portugal- big bustBy Phil HistorianIn 1810 Napoleon sent a French army under some of his marshals into Portugal to fight the British and Portuguese while his troops raised all kinds of hell in Spain. in 1810 the British commander Duke of Wellington defeated two of the Marshals at Bussaco; which Osprey covered in another volume by the same author and illustrator of this volume. In May 1811 French Marshal Andre Massena was defeated by Wellington during a bloody battle in the Spanish town of Fuentes de Onoro. that battle is covered in about 30 pages towards the end of the book; with the rest of it on the French retreat to Fuentes de Onoro. this is a good book on a large battle of the Iberian campaign. if you find yourself buying this one you must also buy BUSSACO 1810: WELLIGNTON DEFEATS NAPOLEON'S MARSHALS also by Rene Chartrand; who wrote this book. I enjoyed it; with no complaints.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Supreme Hour of Danger...By HMS WarspiteThe volumes of the Osprey Campaign Series dependably deliver concise accounts of battles and campaigns; liberally illustrated with maps; graphics; pictures; and charts. They are not the last word in scholarship; but they are typically a great introduction to their subject matter.As "Fuentes de Onoro 1811: Wellington's liberaton of Portugal" begins; the Peninsular War is already in progress. In 1809; the future Duke of Wellington returns to Portugal to take charge of British and Portuguese forces. Facing another French invasion of Portugal from French-occupied Spain; Wellington determined on a defense of Lisbon from the Lines of Torres Vedras.Author Rene Chartrand picks the narrative just after the Battle of Bussaco in 1810; as Wellington's forces occupy the Lines and his French pursuers suffer an ugly surprise. French Marshal Messina and his French Army linger outside the Lines until the spring of 1811; then; cautiously pursued by the Anglo-Portuguese Army; they retreat. As Messina falls back on French supply lines inside Spain; Wellington blockades the border fortress of Almeida. When Messina returns with a reprovisioned and reinforced Army; the two forces will meet for three days of combat in May 1811; at the small village of Fuentes de Onoro.The climactic moment of this book comes in its final pages. The French Army; after two days of probing and close combat; launched a potentially decisive attack on the right flank of the Anglo-Portuguese position. Wellington's Army was acutely in danger of being cut off from its line of retreat or even destroyed. Other authors have termed Messina's attack the supreme hour of danger for British forces in the Peninsular War. Author Chartrand's handling of it is servicable but oddly flat. He rather fails to capture the drama of the moment; and he may be the only author not to highlight the heroic performance of the Light Division in its dramatic withdrawal under pressure; after rescuing the British 7th Division."Fuentes de Onoro 1811" is highly recommended as an introduction to the battle itself and the campaign that preceded it. The biographies; order of battle; maps; and illustrations supplement a solid narrative of a critical battle in the Peninsular War.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well-researched information on the origin of the campaign; opposing forces; commanders; strategy and the decisive battlesBy Stephen P. FordI have been very pleased with and impressed with the quality of Osprey publications. The Campaign series are focused on military campaigns from ancient times through the current era. I have found the books in the Osprey Campaign series to be a great source and frequently the only source for well-researched information on military campaigns especially in the ancient campaigns through early 20th century campaigns.
