H. Paul Jeffers

Praise for H. Paul Jeffers An Honest President: The Life and Presidencies of Grover Cleveland "A well-written and timely book that reminds us of Grover Cleveland’s courage, commitment, and honesty at a time when these qualities seem so lacking in so much of American politics." —James MacGregor Burns, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award Colonel Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt Goes to War, 1879-1898 "A handsome narrative of a crucial period in the career of one of our country’s most colorful politicians." —Publishers Weekly Commissioner Roosevelt: The Story of Theodore Roosevelt and the New York City Police, 1895-1897 "A lively, entertaining, and well-researched portrait of a zealous reformer during the historic crusade that successfully launched his career in government." —Publishers Weekly

No American president has been more enthusiastic in appreciating the wilderness and in conserving our nation’s natural treasures than Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919). And no other president wrote more about nature and his explorations of it than T. R., in scattered books, such as African Wilderness, and in his countless letters, including those collected in The Selected Letters of Theodore Roosevelt). Roosevelt the Explorer, by historian and Roosevelt biographer H. Paul Jeffers, is the only book to offer a comprehensive, lifelong chronicle of the consummate adventurer’s exploits and expeditions, which compelled him to traverse some of our planet’s most difficult terrains. Within these lively pages, Roosevelt collects more than a hundred bird specimens in Egypt at age fourteen; hunts grizzlies and other game in the wilds of the Dakota territory; founds the Boon and Crockett Club, the nation’s first conservation group; and inspires the first Teddy Bear. Jeffers describes T. R.’s efforts as president, against fierce opposition, to establish an unprecedented system of national parks and to ensure the safety of America’s vast federal forests and wetlands from rampant development. In the words of Roosevelt himself, the adventures unfold T. R.’s 1909–1910, eleven-month, Smithsonian-inspired safari across Africa, from Mombasa on the Indian Ocean to Khartoum in Egypt, which followed his two terms as president; and his 1913–1914 danger-drenched expedition to map South America’s 950-mile River of Doubt (a previously unexplored tributary to the Amazon River later renamed Rio Roosevelt in his honor). During the trip, one man drowned, another was murdered, and the culprit went insane, fleeing into the jungle. Roosevelt was lucky to escape alive, nearly drowning and plagued by jungle fever, dysentery, an ulcerated leg, blood poisoning, and malaria. Illustrated with rare cartoons and photos, and filled with hairbreadth escapes, exotic animals and locales, and unparalleled excitement, Roosevelt the Explorer brings to life T. R.’s thrilling and often controversial exploits as no other book has done since the twenty-sixth president took his pen in hand over eighty years ago.

General George C. Marshall was a skillful and compassionate leader with a unique legacy. He never fired a shot during WWII and led no troops into battle - his brilliance was purely strategic and diplomatic, and incredibly effective. He was responsible for the building, supplying, and, in part, the deployment of over eight million soldiers. In 1947, as Secretary of State, he created the Marshall Plan, a sweeping economic recovery effort that pulled the war-shattered European nations out of ruin, and gave impetus to NATO and the European Common Market. It was for the Marshall Plan that he won the Nobel Peace Prize - the only time in history a military commander has ever been awarded this honor. Marshall's skilled combination of military strategy and politics, emphasis on planning as well as execution, and his expertise in nation-building holds lessons for military and civilian leaders today.

Of all the honored military commanders in American history, George C. Marshall is the only one who never led a large force in the field. Yet he came close to receiving the most coveted post of all - Supreme Commander of the Allied force that invaded France on the most famous of all D-Days, June 6, 1944. Marshall, who was then Chief of Staff of the army, clearly wanted the job. But the long-retired Pershing, who still wielded much influence, had other ideas; precisely because of his great admiration for Marshall, he told Roosevelt that it would be a "very grave error" to send the Chief of Staff away from Washington. Roosevelt, after offering the general a pro forma chance to request the appointment, gave the Supreme Command to General Eisenhower. One of the great contributions Marshall brought to the table as Chief of Staff was his study of the possibilities of coalitions and his advocacy of turning alliances into genuine unified partnerships. Marshall, who became Chief of Staff in 1939, felt the burden of turning a tiny army, not much more than a constabulary force, into a mighty machine capable of fighting on battlefields thousands of miles apart. In the realm of strategy, his focus became known as "Germany first": regardless of other considerations, take the fight to the most dangerous enemy, wage war as efficiently as possible, and then turn on other foes. It was only much later, after his brief retirement, that President Truman offered Marshall the position of Secretary of State, which resulted in the Marshall Plan, the achievement for which he is now best known and that holds many lessons for leaders today.

"The crux of the fighting was the place I headed for." -General J. Lawton Collins Known as "the GI's general" and "Lightning Joe," General J. Lawton Collins played no less than a global part in the Allied victory of World War II. Here, for the first time, is the story of an American hero and patriot- a man who earned the admiration of the grunts with whom he shared foxholes and the respect of the highest-ranking generals. Collins was a true leader of men with his iron-clad devotion to duty, his genuine concern for those under his command, and his seemingly unending drive to defend his nation against all enemies-no matter where the fight took him...

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's timeless creation returns in a new series of handsomely designed, long out-of-print detective stories. From the earliest days of Holmes' career to his astonishing encounters with Martian invaders, "The Further Adventures Series" encapsulates the most varied and thrilling cases of the worlds' greatest detective. In this story, written by future President Theodore Roosevelt long before The Great Detective's first encounter with Dr Watson, Holmes visits America to solve a violent and despicable crime. A crime that was to prove the most taxing of his brilliant career...Recently discovered in the basement of the New York Police Department, it is one of Holmes' most exciting and unusual adventures.

The inspiring true story of General Lucian Truscott, one of the greatest combat commanders of World War II. General Lucian K. Truscott was an American military giant: tough, resourceful, and devoted to the men under his command. Unlike the more flamboyant high-ranking European field commanders of the time, he was neither arrogant nor in pursuit of personal glory-but rather a loyal, humble man who led his troops from the front and fought every enemy with a tenacity that made him one of the most respected and revered commanders in the U.S. Army. In Command of Honor, author H. Paul Jeffers chronicles the life of this American hero. For the first time, the life of Truscott is revealed: his ramshackle childhood in Texas and Oklahoma, his extraordinary combat service, and his peacetime duties. But above all, this is a story of leadership and sacrifice by a man who lived for duty, honor, and courage-a man who would become a legend in the annals of U.S. Army history.

The author records the numerous expeditions spearheaded by Roosevelt throughout the Americas and Africa, detailing his exploits and accomplishments as an explorer, naturalist, and conservationist.

President Theodore Roosevelt left his mark on every facet of American life, including, quite colorfully, its language. Here, in a single volume, are not only his best "Teddyisms"—"hyphenated America," "muckraker," "the square deal," "the lunatic fringe," "good to the last drop," and many others—and lost words, but also the best of Roosevelt's most memorable quotations, which serve to illuminate every area of our culture: Americans; boxing; citizenship; conservation; courage; death; democracy; extremists; family values; football; government; heroism; history; hunting; leadership; liberty; patriotism; power; religion; war and peace; winning; women's rights; and much more.

Praise for H. Paul Jeffers Diamond Jim Brady: Prince of the Gilded Age "One of the most entertaining historical business narratives in recent memory. The story of this symbol of America's Gilded Age is filled with such gusto and vigor that even hardcore business readers will be swept away." -Publishers Weekly "Superb historical biography of one of the more colorful characters in American history . . . spirited. . . . Jeffers deftly weaves together intriguing stage-setting explanations of the age of robber barons, the crash of 1893, and that unforgettable era of unbridled wealth for the few in 1890s New York. As this marvelous story reveals, Brady's lavish lifestyle embodies America's Gilded Age. Highly recommended for all libraries." -Library Journal An Honest President: The Life and Presidencies of Grover Cleveland "A well-written and timely book that reminds us of Grover Cleveland's courage, commitment, and honesty at a time when these qualities are so lacking in so much of American politics." -James MacGregor Burns, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Colonel Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt Goes to War, 1897--1898 "A handsome narrative of a crucial period in the career of one of our country's most colorful politicians." -Publishers Weekly