Sister Madeline de Paul who taught me to always finish the job.
Sister Mary Borgia who put me in charge.
Sister John Bosco taught me the love of reading to learn and for pleasure.
Rev. Herman J. Lammers who insisted that I was the Captain of his team.
Joseph Mattingly (Tutt) who couldn't spell his name but never forgot a sports statistic and that I was his friend, even if I did try to take his picture of our mutual sports hero, Cliff Hagan. Joe Tutt is the hero in my book, "I'll Love You Tomorrow."
Steve Lanni, fellow inmate at Leavenworth who kept a typewriter, ribbons and erasure, permitting me to type the first draft.
Rick Rosenquist, fellow inmate at Pekin, Illinois for keeping me in ribbons for the second draft.
ELB, always there for me in over forty years and several books, insisting that I take no short-cuts, to be true to my characters, my reader and most important to be honest with myself.
Don DeLillo who wrote the book “Libra” which gave me so much insight.
William Manchester for the book, The Death of a President, even though it was produced with the “wider (sic) Kennedy”holding a knife to his throat.
Peter Evans for his brilliant book, Nemesis

Throughout the history of civilization, there have been billions and billions of words, phrases, paragraphs and even books, like the bible, describing in detail the human condition and the need to record it.

I believe it was Hemingway; or it could have been Shakespeare...maybe Homer, No it was the bible, "There is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9. New International Version (NIV).

Plagiary is described in the dictionary as "the act of passing off another's work as their own." The issue is a fine line, because contrary to our belief that we are the brightest and most unique, there is another soul out there who has also had the thought and may have shared it with you. The current Vice-President, Joseph Biden was a serious candidate for President until he plagiarized a speech by a brilliant Irish politician...and to his lasting credit Mr. Biden had the integrity to admit that he so admired the speech, and took it for his own, while at the same time withdrawing from the race.

It is therefore incumbent upon me to come forth prior to the publication of this "unique" piece of work and admit that I have used the research of other writers in the production of this book.

I do admit that I have taken a short cut, but I respectfully ask those authors whom I have so admired to consider the fact that I have been in prison without the use of the computer, the internet...and even this does not diminish the creative presentation which I share herein and I do believe it to be mine.

However, if there is any writer out there who recognizes his work...let me thank you for your assistance. Please send me a note and share the proceeds (if any) with your favorite charity...and give you the credit. And this is the perfect point at which to share with the public the fact that I have dedicated all the proceeds from this work to spinal cord research in memory of my beloved son and namesake who is a true American hero, who died from traumatic complications after saving the life of a young woman threatening suicide by jumping from a building. As a police officer, my son saved her life but in so doing he fell and was paralyzed on his right side from the neck to his foot. At thirty-six (36) years of age, he chose suicide over a life of confinement to a wheel-chair and all the other dehumanizing conditions which impacted his life.

I would give anything for one last conversation with my son, to beg him not to take his life and take from the family this precious human being which we all loved and admired...but in the final analysis Tom was his own man, choosing to skip college to join the marines in time to be deployed to the Gulf War where he was injured in the line of duty.  John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the hero of PT 109 would have understood and loved this young man as I did.

This book comes to you after many years of waiting and the irony that the author would be imprisoned at the unlikely age of sixty-five (65) after having spent a lifetime raising six (6) beautiful children, and leading a life within the law.

The patriotic feelings for the United States of America, greatly enhanced by the exposure to the spirit of John F. Kennedy have all, but been lost, by the illegal prosecution and confinement for sixty (60) months. For the first time in the history of the United States, one of its law abiding citizens was charged with a crime that declared that the government had the ability to "read" the mind of the defendant, without the constitutional right to face the grand jury and his accusers prior to the bringing of the illegal indictment which has been partially struck down by the Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit with a second appeal of the same issue currently under appeal as this book goes to press.

There are two (2) reasons why I continue to fight the fight to clear my name and to bring the judge and prosecutor to justice for the illegal methods used to falsely accuse and imprison me. The right for my children to inherit a legacy of pride for a parent who loved his country and contributed to the call by President Kennedy to "Ask not what this country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

In 1969 I helped to elect a young man with many of the qualities which I saw,in President Kennedy. We believed that the bussing of small school children for many miles each day in order to achieve integration was illegal and unfair. We believed that the integration of the neighbor­hood provided the most efficient and humane solution to the bitter issue of integration.

The Judgeresponsible for putting me in prison, was a political force appointed by the federal government for life who rules with an imperial impunity. Although this judge and I had a past political connection, he failed to recuse himself and deliberately, with malice and fore-thought, entered into a conspiracy with the prosecution and witnesses posing as victims as well as the defendant’s legal counsel (Butler & Romines) who were obligated to the judge for future legal work.

The first case on record in which the government actually stated that they knew what was on my mind. Another constitutional right removed and down the slippery slope which has produced a country with more of its citizens in prison than any other country in the world, and a country where 50% of its citizens have a criminal record.

Whether you believe it or not, Big Brother is at your door...and you are only a threshold away from going to prison as a part of a conspiracy in which your phone number was called in error by a drug dealer.

The reason why we have come to this state is easily explained...it is all about money and the laziness of the American public to have the interest in the protection of their rights and freedoms. Why do you think this country is at the “fiscal cliff?” Why do you think the American public elects do nothing Incumbents year after year? The answer is quite simple, the vast majority of Americans lead lives as drones, (a pilotless life led blithely down a darkened path into despair.)

Keep the criminals locked away...but don't bother me about it, seems to be the credo of the American public, even at a cost of fifteen million dollars per year.

Do you remember the Archbishop of Canterbury?

His name was Thomas A’ Becket and he was the boyhood friend and political protégé of King Henry who insisted on having his own way. At cross purpose with the church, the King removes the Archbishop, replacing him with his dear friend fully expecting him to do his bidding.

A funny thing happens on the way to the palace, Becket makes his moral stand against the King. The King is alone with his nobles, a nasty bunch, and greedy, violent drunks. The King laments the loss of his boyhood friend, his confessor whom he loves.

The King is alone...truly alone for the first time in his life. And the man he most trust and loves like a brother will not abide him. He has chosen duty over politics...and in that moment, the wounded animal cries out in a jealous rage so that his nobles are certain to hear..."Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

And, of course they do, going to Canterbury; they find Thomas A Becket praying and plunge swords and knives into his waiting heart.

It has been said that Henry remarked, "Sometimes I wish my father had less rigor, less moral standards." Of course the father he referred to was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry knew well what he was saying, as well as the company he was in...And that made him guilty of murder. Hence the reason he so willingly submitted to the lashing by the monks.

“Cum Grana Sails.”

This book is dedicated to my daughter Melanie who has remained steadfast and diligent in her love, support and faithful understanding of my delicate prison term. During this period she pushed me to do the research and write the book that I have wanted to write for over forty years. It took going to prison for something I did not do and have my daughter force me to use the bitterness to write this book.

God bless you Melanie and my other five children who have been supportive and faithful as well as my beloved friend for life, Eileen Devins who has not only stood by me through all of my time in prison, but as my soul-mate, she has been responsible for editing and formatting this book which was a significant amount of work

I love each of you more than I love life itself and count myself blessed for your place in my life.