"For Dad, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the Antichrist, Harry Truman the vice-Antichrist, and UMWA chief John L. Lewis was Lucifer himself. I'd heard Dad list all their deficiencies as human beings whenever my uncle Ken—Mom's brother—came to visit." p. 17

"I knew to do that I'd have to prepare myself in some way, get some skills of some kind or special knowledge about something. I was kind of vague on what it would be, but I could at least see I would need to be like the heroes in my books—brave and knowing more than the next man. I was starting to see myself past Coalwood." p.30

" 'I believe you can build a rocket. He doesn't. I want you to show him I'm right and he's wrong. Is that to much to ask?' " p.44

"I laid out my plan. I was forming...