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Around the world with LBJ : my wild ride as Air Force One pilot, White House aide, and personal confidant
Cross, James U. (James Underwood), 1925-
| Publisher: |
University of Texas Press, |
| Pub date: |
2008. |
| Pages: |
208 p. : |
| ISBN: |
9780292717688 |
| Item info: |
4 copies available at Abilene Public Library - Main, Abilene Public Library - South Br., and Abilene Public Library - Mockingbird Br..
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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.
Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.
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Chapter 1 The Longest Day |
p. 1 |
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Chapter 2 The Early Years |
p. 12 |
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Chapter 3 Bringing Home a Hero |
p. 29 |
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Chapter 4 Joining the Inner Circle |
p. 39 |
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Chapter 5 Angel Is Airborne |
p. 52 |
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Chapter 6 The Shadow of Vietnam |
p. 73 |
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Chapter 7 The Enforcer |
p. 89 |
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Chapter 8 Visiting Vietnam and Southeast Asia |
p. 110 |
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Chapter 9 Around the World, Part One |
p. 133 |
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Chapter 10 Around the World, Part Two |
p. 148 |
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Chapter 11 My Turn to Serve in Vietnam |
p. 168 |
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Chapter 12 Farewell to a Friend |
p. 182 |
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Author's Note |
p. 197 |
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Index |
p. 201 |
Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.
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Personal Author:
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Cross, James U. (James Underwood), 1925-
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Title:
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Around the world with LBJ : my wild ride as Air Force One pilot, White House aide, and personal confidant / James U. Cross ; with Denise Gamino and Gary Rice.
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Edition:
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1st ed.
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Publication info:
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Austin : University of Texas Press, 2008.
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Physical descrip:
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208 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
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Personal subject:
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Cross, James U. (James Underwood), 1925-
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Personal subject:
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Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973--Friends and associates.
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Personal subject:
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Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.
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Subject term:
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Presidents--United States--Staff--Biography.
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Subject term:
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Air pilots--United States--Biography.
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Subject term:
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Air Force One (Presidential aircraft)--History--20th century.
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Subject term:
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Air travel--History--20th century.
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Subject term:
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Presidents--United States--Biography.
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Added author:
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Gamino, Denise.
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Added author:
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Rice, Gary.
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Bibliography note:
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-200) and index.
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