One Wonderful Job

Zenith

Before I assumed my new duties at Voice of America in August 1991, Diana and I took a brief vacation in her Wyoming homeland.  While we were there, reactionary elements in Moscow tried to oust Mikhail Gorbachev, who was on … Continued

Going Back

Beholding the West Wing from Pennsylvania Avenue, I thought, for the first time since 1983, not that “I used to work there” but that “I’m going back.” Ross Starek joined me in the West Lobby, after which we were escorted … Continued

Cadwallader Cuticle

Inside Reagan's Navy

My car took me to the officers club at Bethesda for a dinner for the department heads of all naval hospitals. In my remarks, I spoke of Cadwallader Cuticle, the sawbones surgeon aboard USS Neversink in Melville’s White Jacket: Surrounded by moans … Continued

Aboard the USS Constitution

Inside Reagan's Navy

On this day, the restored Statue of Liberty was rededicated by President Reagan in a gala event that featured an in-gathering of naval vessels from around the world, many of them full-rigged “tall ships.” I could have gone but jumped … Continued