: Tell Joe that I will
: miss his stuff and that whoever follows him
: will never be able to fill his shoes.

: guess who got stuck
: with the opening speech. Need a new suit and
: a hair cut besides.

I will tell him Ron, but thankfully he says he's not going away completely. Still going to do a column, only independent rather than for K-R. Also, he and the General will go to work right away on the new book, working title: "We Are Soldiers... Still." I understand that James Webb is going to be at the event, also W. E. B. Griffin, the novelist. I would really like to meet Webb; talk about the real deal... he is running for the Senate from Virginia. I'd like to see him take a run at the White House, and I wouldn't care which party puts him up. I'll try to hit them both with a coin.

Wish I could be there for your speech. I hope the folks know how lucky they are that they're getting the real thing. Remember me harping about not being shy about your biography? You know they say, "It ain't bragging if you done it," and you have done it. Also, you establish your credibility with those who don't know you.

"Break a leg," is what they say; "Kick some ass," is what I say.

Bob