Synopsis
Although a novel, this is a powerful history for it's an all inclusive look at America emerging victorious from WWII only to leave future generations with the current mess resulting from decisions made and actions taken during the period covered by this book. Buy the Book
This was the period during which Americans killed their President, a Senator, and a Civil Rights Leader, lost China and Cuba to the Communists, narrowly avoided a nuclear war, a time when England and France were shorn of their colonial empires, when street gangs emerged in our deteriorating cities, when unfaithful marriages led to divorce and much, much more.
When hard-of-hearing Rory enters the turbulent post-war era as a newspaper reporter, readers will be engrossed by the behind-the scenes historical content intertwined with the changing lifestyles of America's families.
The story portrays an unprepared America dominating the world stage during the turbulent times beginning with the emergence of an independent Israel, through the Korean War and the initial stages of Vietnam.
A rare assignment sends cub reporter Rory to DC, where he meets and befriends the Kennedys, a friendship that lasts until Bobby's assassination.
Between RFK and Rory's boss Suds Malloy, Rory becomes a top political reporter for the Philadelphia Bulletin and later the Chicago Tribune.
A boyhood friend Aaron Rosenberg volunteers for Israel's Haganah and becomes one of Rory's sources for happenings in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Rory's biracial cousin covers Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights era.
Author 
The
grandson of Big John Meehan from Sligo, Mary Ellen McLaughlin-Keane
from Galway, Bridget Munnelly from Mayo, and Matthew Smith from Cavan
ended up with the least recognized Irish name of them all. I can’t begin
to tell you how many times, I’ve been asked, “Smith, huh! English …
right?” When I meet up with my ancestor Mac an Gabhann—the one who
anglicized our family name to Smith—he and I are going to have words.
Even my wife, Elizabeth McCarthy McGinty Smith, would’ve retained her
maiden name if such a thing were fashionable when we were wed.
Before I continue on to the little I’ve accomplished in life, there are a
few items from my family history that need emphasizing. The Smith
homestead in Beagh Upper, Parish of Upper Killenkere, was “situate”
within 200 yards of where General Phil Sheridan was born. And since, my
uncles have stated that their grandmother was a Sheridan, well … you do
the math. If you have an issue with that, there’s no sense going into
the story Big John Meehan told of my Galway-born grandmother being
related to a member of Columbus’s crew.
When I began writing
narrative-history, I didn’t plan to write the complete Irish-American
Story, it just happened, or it will happen when later this year I add,
The Revolutionary War Irish to the series.
