Priscilla Watkins

High Ideals: the Life of Michael J Galvin Priscilla Watkins

FROM PIN BOY TO PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR When Mike Galvin was growing up in Boston, America was a turbulence of labor strikes and riots, anarchist terrorism and rigid corporate control. Boston itself was dominated by a select few "Brahmins" who controlled government, finance, business and higher education, and expectations for a poor Irish boy were very limited. Believing that America really was the land of opportunity, Mike simply ignored the obstacles and worked his was up to become an outstanding corporate attorney. "one of Boston's brilliant young lawyers" - Worcester Daily Telegram At the same time he began a spectacular career in the U. S. Army Reserves. Mike proved so valuable in the 1940 War Games that he was mobilized and put in charge of Training and Intelligence in aggressive tank warfare. After 302 days on the front lines in General Patton's Third Army, he wrote the only Division history of WWII combat in the ETO. "the most outstanding Reservist to serve his country in World War II" -General George C. Marshall After the war Mike served as an appointee to two presidents, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower. As a high-ranking Reservist, Mike advised President Kennedy on the Cold War, but his public criticism of Defense Secretary McNamara's bungling of the military nearly cost him his command. "a public servant of heroic stature" - Boston Herald Drawing from military archives, the Truman Presidential Library and family resources, HIGH IDEALS paints the complex history of a poor boy whose impact on voting and labor rights still stands today.