Chapter 1: Charleston

A light rain patters against the hotel room window, muffling a smattering of fireworks and occasional dull thunder rumbling in the distance. The weather front moving through Charleston, South Carolina, is dampening the local holiday celebrations. I’m staring at my...

LBJ’s Money

On page 456 in Chapter 34, I share a great anecdote about a stack of currency enclosed in a glass case behind LBJ’s office desk at the Texas White House. I had heard different variations of the story and erred in the book, incorrectly attributing the gift to...

Paul Laurence Dunbar

On page 64 in chapter 7, the poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar’s middle name is misspelled in the traditional spelling of “Lawrence.” Thanks to Ranger Edward Roach, historian at Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP for pointing this out.

Our 30 National Trails

In the last bullet of Appendix I on page 557, I state we have 31 national trails, and 30 established under the National Trails Act of 1968. I counted Ice Age Floods National Geological Trail among our national trails as the 31st, but this trail is not affiliated with...