The Duke, The Longhorns, and Chairman Mao : John Wayne's Political Odyssey

Don't pick up this book expecting to soon put it down. A veritable parade of characters populates its pages: Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev; Ted Williams and Ronald Reagan; Ward Bond and Maureen O'Hara. In The Duke, the Longhorns, and Chairman Mao, towering always is John Wayne. As author Steven Travers says, Wayne became `an utter myth, a legend of the very highest order.' This book deftly explores Wayne's appeal and his exquisite grasp of Middle America's joys, worries, and confessions of the heart. A terrific read. -- Curt Smith, former speechwriter to President George H. W. Bush; author of Voices of the Game; regular columnist for GateHouse Media Inc. newspapers Steven Travers has been one of the nation's top authors for nearly two decades. This book showcases what Travers does best-combining sports with the political and sociological landscape-and nobody does it better. The Duke, the Longhorns, and Chairman Mao is a must-read. -- Fred Wallin, Sports Byline Broadcast Network