Show j j 1 1 j jj j j It Seems fl T To Me MeBy e efly By Oy Joseph li n. Roberts 11 1 1111 11 Wallace autobiography reading for Cor a summer afternoon is Stand Up For America Doubleday the surprisingly good phy of Alabama Gov George C. C Wallace It is easy to read in Wallace terms it puts the hay down where the goats can get it it is full of drama and pathos and it tells a fascinating story In spite of its title the work is not a political It is full of Wallaces Wallace's ideas on the issues he has d dealt alt with in past campaigns and he seems at times to be still campaigning for them but the story of Wallace the man transcends politics It is a very personal intimate honest account of the life liCe of an extraordinary human being bein a Barbour County farm who to greatness greatness- boy rose largely through his own courage and perseverance perseverance- while overcoming difficulties and suffering setbacks that would have defeated the average person Moreover it reveals Wallace to be a very sensitive narrator one who can candeal candeal candeal deal tenderly but deftly with profound emotional experience in his life The most moving episode Inthe in inthe inthe the book is the love story of George and Lurleen She was a year old clerk in a dime store He was a year old law school graduate waiting to be called to active duty by the Air Force They like many young people in war time fell in love quickly They had no no money They had no future All they had was each until other the inevitable but long-delayed long call from the Air Force separated them THEIR MARRIAGE l while George was on leave recuperating from spinal meningitis the birth of their first child Lurleen's following George from one base to another until he is sent to the Pacific theater as flight engineer on a B 29 their living in the most primitive conditions once they lived in a converted chicken house-all house are chaotic I events sometimes amusing but f always s sad d. d desperate and te as as were the times in which they lived The story of George and Lurleen from its hectic beginning to its tragic end when she dies from cancer is isan isan isan an amazing story of courage and love In itself alone are the makings for a fine movie even evena a great one Many readers however will be more interested interested interested in- in in Wallaces Wallace's account of Bremers Bremer's attempted assassination Here again Wallace demonstrated his ability to tell tella a good story factual straightforward restrained but packed with drama To get the full Impact of oC the terrible event and its aftermath however one ones s should read the opening chapter again before reading the chapter entitled The Lord IsMy is isMy isMy My Shepherd After pages of Intervening material the force of the opening pening scene has been lost for most mosi readers Bremers Bremer's senseless act ended Wallaces Wallace's campaign for President in 1972 and it almost ended his life as well The story of Wallaces Wallace's long hard struggle back hack to health and an active political politic l life Is a profile in courage equal to any John F. F Kennedy included in his book As Shakespeare observed in Julius Ceasar There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune Wallace was at the flood of his political affairs when he was gunned down in that parking let lot He was running running running run run- ning strong in the primaries had picked up delegates and won more popular votes than any other candidate One can only wonder what would have been the outcome of the elections elections elections elec elec- in 1972 and 1976 if Wallace had remained healthy and mobile But the story isn't over yet If there is one thing his autobiography makes crystal clear is that Wallace is a fighter who doesn't know when to quit He will be back on the campaign campaign campaign cam cam- trail in 1978 This time for forthe forthe forthe the US U.S. Senate seat held by the venerable John Sparkman He Heis Heis Heis is of course an on odd-on favorite to win it Read his book and you'll understand why |