Prescott served in artillery in WWI

Wrote home facetious letter about heroics that was picked up by newspapers: chastened him from prankster to more more serious and sober minded

Will to win tempered by outward humility and self-effacement; legacy from parents, especially Dorothy

Childhood split between Kennebunkport, NYC, and SC plantation

Privileged during Depression, but “for unto him much is given…” principle reigned; privilege entailed service

At Andover during Pearl Harbor; was 17 when he wanted to sign up for Air Force

Met Barbara at a country club Christmas dance in 1941

Aged 19 when became Navy officer in June 1943

Plane went down after bombing mission; his two crewmates died but he rafted and paddled away from Japanese island until sub picked him up

Didn’t want to work for Yalie law firm so used family connection to join oil company in Odessa; joined by Bar and George

Prescott elected to Senate in 1952 as moderate Republican, criticized McCarthy

Ran for Senate as Texan in 1964 but got smashed along with other Goldwater Republicans

Elected to Congress in 1966 and first freshman to win seat on Ways and Means since 1904

Ran for Senate again in 1970 but lost; offered job as Nixon’s aide in 1972 but angled for UN Am which he got

Appointed head of RNC in 1973 until after Nixon resigned, then appointment envoy to China

Considered for Ford’s VP but went with Rockefeller instead

Offered head of CIA in 1975, possibly schemed out of Commerce by Rumsfeld who was looking toward 1976

Out of CIA with Carter, then started campaign for 1980 and won Iowa, but overtaken by Reagan

Was in Fort Worth to dedicate plaque of JFK’s last night when on flight to Austin got word of Reagan being shot

1989: Tiananmen Square, Berlin Wall, Panama/Noriega deposed

Clean Air Act, ADA, raised minimum wage, banned importation of semiautomatic rifles

Believed in “sound governance”; “Have-Half” Poppy

1990: budget deal to raise taxes and decrease deficit, nominated Souter, Kuwait invasion

Willing to risk impeachment to kick Saddam out of Kuwait if didn’t get Congressional resolution; felt had to show power, not appeasement

Hoped Saddam Hussein would be toppled by Iraqis to finish off war but didn’t happen

Grounded in Brookfield, WI, on 9/11

When Jeb and W. elected/reelected in 1998, made clear that they go their own path