EP345: Grant and Twain Christopher Klein, The 46 Year-Long Journey to Finding My Sisters and Buck O'Neil's Lesson on Dealing With Defeat Like a Man

Dramatic pause, a dramatic pause sees something without seeing anything at all dramatic pause is a go to for broadcasters, presidents and radial voiceovers. It makes you look really smart.

Even if you're not feet deserve a go to like that like hey do choose life. Comfy good to go to that for some business in Surrey and Farmington South. They know how to make a good neighbor, confirming their call your local State Farm agent for quote today. There's a recipe for getting your car running just right and whatever you're cooking up in the garage. You'll find what you needed eBay motors.com. They have over 122 million car parts and accessories in stock all at the right prices and I can help you turn your ride into something really tasty. The part you need, or just a click away eBay motors.com.

Let's ride this is Lee Habib and this is our American stories we tell stories about everything here in the show your story.

Seven. Our American stories.com next Christopher Klein is the author of four books is a frequent contributor to the history Channel, National Geographic and American Heritage. You've heard Chris tell the story of how Johnny Carson saved twister back with another aided by Mark Twain, Ulysses S Grant former Pres. and Civil War race to complete a literary masterpiece saved his wife destitution years Christopher Klein with the store before noon on May 6, 1884, Ulysses S. Grant entered the office of his Wall Street rubric from a wealthy man hours later he exited a pop thanks to a pyramid scheme operated by his unscrupulous partner Fernand Ward grants investment firm had instantly collapsed, wiping out his life savings. Grant had all of $80 left to his wife Julia.

She had another $130 kindhearted strangers responded by mailing grant checks, pay bills, the former president Still smarting from bankruptcies better staying grant that summer suffered from excruciating staying in his throat as well.

When he finally visited Dr. October Grant learned he had incurable throat and tongue cancer.

Likely a product of his longtime cigars have been no stranger to financial misfortune, feeling as a farmer in a rent collector prior to the Civil War.

He lived in a log cabin hardscrabble firewood on the streets of St. Louis to make.

However, now that he was confronting the terrifying prospect of leaving Julia was widow. The grizzled general thoughts save the union undertook one final mission to save his family from impoverishment divested this property and possessions grant still retain something of great value his recollections of past glory. Taciturn and reserved.

Grant was a convivial storyteller entertain friends such as Mark Twain with yarns of war and politics for years. Twain has suggested a grant in his memoirs, now destitute, the former president finally agreed to cash in on the celebrity in need of financial rescue himself after a series of failed investments. The debt ridden twain grant to a contract with newly launched publishing house gave him a $1000 check to cover living expenses engaged in a furious race against time is a cancer tactic body. Grant dug into his writing with military efficiency turning out as many as 10,000 words in a single day. He poured through tall stacks of orders and maps that help to re-create his most famous battles with minute fidelity grant to stand between not just the quantity but the quality of this process, Grant penned his manuscript until his hand grew too feeble in the spring of 1885, forcing him to employ a stenographer even speak, however, became laborious, as is condition deteriorated following the advice of doctors is out for the salubrious power pure mountain air grant the camp at the onset of summer from his Manhattan brownstone to an Adirondack resort in a cottage on the slopes of Mount McGregor Grant lost his final campaign to completist home with excruciating pain accompanying every swallow. Grant was unable to eat solid food.

His body withered by the day. The voice that once commanded armies could barely muster, whisper, while grants doctors gave him morphine only sparingly in order to keep his mind clear for writing. They swap his throat with cocaine to provide topical pain relief and used hypodermic needles to inject him with Randy during the worst of his coughing fits. Through it all. Grant persisted in honing his manuscript editing, adding new pages pouring over proofs in his first volume as he sat on the cottage reports on even the steamy as the days swallowed and blankets will have a scar covering his neck tumor which was now according to the New York Sun as big as a man's too fast.

Put together when his voice finally abandoned him. Grant scribbled his thoughts in pencil on small slips of paper when twain visited Grant at the cottage. He brought the good news that he had already presold 100,000 copies of the autobiography relief grant he has succeeded in giving Julia and his children. Financial security with his mission accomplished. Grant finally laid down his pen on July 16 after crafting a Herculean 366,000 words in less than a year, seven days later. Grant pulse flicker and ultimately gave out employing an army of door-to-door salesman twain sold more than 300,000 copies of the personal memoirs of Ulysses S Grant two-volume box set even outsold tween's latest work adventures of Huckleberry Finn and resulted in Julia Grant receiving $450,000 in royalties equivalent to $12 million today grants memoir proved not just a commercial success but a literary one as well, although he admitted discussion of his presidency, or sensitive personal matter such as this.

Drinking, many scholars consider grants autobiography the finest memoir ever penned by an American president and perhaps the foremost military memoir in English language and a great job by Greg Hendler and a special thanks to Christopher Klein and is the author of four books and a frequent contributor. The history Channel, National Geographic and American Heritage, and what a story. Indeed, grants last battle was against the clock and it was for his family and he held out and is always the warrior fought to the end. My goodness.

Anyone who knows anything about Grant as a warrior knows that all now they know another side of his was warrior spirit 300,000+ words in less than a year and all the save his family and he doesn't just pin any memoir, read the book, pick it up on Amazon and order it and you start reading it aloud. Family. It is indeed classic American literature and it of course took a voice like Mark Twain's discovered both men by the way, routinely in financial ruin throughout their lives.

The story of Mark Twain and Ulysses S Grant's race against the clock.

Save great civil war heroes family destitution. You, on our American store books if you love the stories we tell about this great country and especially the stories of America's rich past.

Know that all of our stories about American history from word innovation culture and faith are brought to us by the great folks at Hillsdale College placement. Students study all the things that are beautiful in life and all the things that are good in life.

If you can get the Hillsdale bills that will come to you with their free and terrific online courses go to Hillsdale.edu to learn more millions will make Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7.

If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment.

Depending on your employer coverage. It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be this@uhcmedicarehealthplans.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance. I need my State Farm agent make sure my business days: incompetent business owners to help you past State Farm is in your corner and on neighbor call your local State Farm agent for quote today Tori and Johnny went to 1 GB class. We have such a special episode brought to you by near attack ODT we recorded at radiused windows came down near attack ODT were not to plant 75 mg can help migraine sufferers still such an exciting event like window tango. I had when I took minor tech PT. I was present amazing time of our conversation with some of our closest friends & was brought to you by near attack ODT were meant to plant 75 mg life with migraine attacks can mean missing out on big moments with friends and family, but thankfully near attack ODT were meant to plant 75 mg is the only medication that is proven to treat a migraine attack and prevent episodic migraines else sound lively events like window tango town have to be next and were back with our American stories next year from Tracy is telling the story of her adoption in the 46 year long journey searching for her sister were adopted by different Tracy with her story. Mom and dad and had a son or daughter and my brother's almost 20 years elder than me. Then I had a sister named Mary and she was 15 years older than me, so I was kind of the only one in the house. Mom that and a lot of people think my last sounds like something you would have on Oprah or have on talks have honestly my life was very very low key until every day my dad came in from work and my mom had her on the table and she wash the dishes in our drawdown and we watched TV at night and got up in the mornings and my mom made breakfast and you know it was just very normal course. I never knew I was adopted I was adopted sometime before I was a year old and my parents traded the word adoption lack a bad word says, we never said a word in our house and so therefore I didn't even know neighbor's child told me I was adopted and I was like in the fourth grade. I didn't even know it. She sat me down. She cannot walk back and forth in front of me. She was like okay so you know your parents.

Well, they're not your real parents. They adopted and was a little scary and it was, she said, have you ever noticed how much older they are than everybody else's pain and I said no and I noticed from that point on.

So when I went home that night.

Of course I asked my mom if I was adopted and you can just say the blend trying out her face.

I guess it was kind of her worst fear happening because she didn't ever talk to me about being adopted and so I had no concept of what that even wise and of course I didn't get to play with that little girl for a year that her mother just really put it to bed for me.

She said we tell Eugene we wanted you. We picked team here special and I felt like a prize possession.

It was very very comforting what my mother said to me the only drawback was that fear that I can't had every night and I was sad because I was afraid something was going to happen to my parents because now I was super aware that they were older than everybody else's parents say fast-forward and now I know and I'm aware and so I had a cousin that I was really close tape is like year and 1/2 older than me and she told me one day we were playing spine about the six grade. She said no were really sisters and I said no. I had no idea because when I found out in my mom and we talked about it. She didn't say any details so now all of a sudden I found out I have a sister. I loved finding that out.

It was kind of our little secret. We didn't talk about it.

It was just something we need and we have always had really close behind and so it's always been wonderful to have her name and she had another sister and a brother, so we all had the same biological mother. So now I know that I have a sister and her younger sister, and then we have an older brother. Now I realize there's three girls and a boy while also not my sister, that was my friend cousin Renée. She knew that there was to either siblings that were adopted out at birth. So she began to tell me the stories over the years.

I guess that she found out more information. Growing up, she would share with me, so there was to adopted out at birth. Born in 73 and 75. We did not know they were adopted out.

DHS and the system in Alabama so as me and Renée began to get older and have families.

The curiosity was a lot. It was very very private adoptions.

It was through the state of Alabama. I grew up and became a not so I went and looked at my file and the health department and ask questions to friends and people that were there. Course I couldn't tell me anything by the trait wise their files were sealed said it you couldn't find out anything because it was I private adoption through the state of Alabama.

Nobody even from our town near where they wire because we were friends with the attorney that handled it. We were friends with judges and they couldn't even help us because it was private adoptions that estate and everything was done in Montgomery and I just need you there biological names and I need that date that they were born, so I would always kind of attic curiosity say they any time anybody would say hey lack female, or have you met they really look like he always wondered, is this somebody that's in my school when we went to Disney World, I wondered how could they be here if we were shopping out of town. I would wonder when I pass people.

It was not a little thing was kind of a big deal where where are they staying siblings where my two sisters because I was very close to the ones that I did and he would be surprised at how that just was playing in life no matter where I wise if someone looked close to my age and favored me in any way had this burden almost to find out what their birthday wise it was just such a let down every Tom, I don't know what I expected at some point I just thought somebody was going to say is dates and when I never did. It was it was just another letdown. It was hundreds of times it was my whole in 2018. I got a call from my friend that it also had a situation where she found out about her adoption. She called me and said you have to get on ancestry.com and of course I was just I don't know have been burned semi-times in finding out things that I just was like okay out there so I got on there and ordered Mike yet, and it came in and just like today I did the kit send it off but really just forgot about it.

Well in about six weeks at open my email.

One morning, and absolutely freaked out.

I opened my email and had a map which immediately had a match for half-sister and on going online is a little hard to grade it gives you lot several options it said half-sister were like first cousin once removed in your life okay so this possibly could pay so I messaged her and said okay.

Hey, I think we may be related. Call me, well then I called my sister Renée and I told her okay you don't believe this messaged someone that we have a match with I can't wait to hear back. I don't know what it is for sure, and so she didn't respond so of course I messaged her again about light and I kept thinking this is my associate airlines and she didn't continue to Facebook her spelling of her name was a little different, so was easy to find our ally, Guinness. Let me. You're listening to Tracy Huguely and she's on a mission sort of the CSI case, find out who her sisters hearing her parents say these words we chose you wanted you your special her saying I felt like a prize possession will says everything about the power of love and adoption. We love adoption stories you and All-American stories and their complicated when we come back more of Tracy Huguely's quest to find her siblings and find out who she is and her people are on our American stores.

Millions will make Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7.

If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment.

Depending on your employer coverage.

It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be this UHC Medicare health.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance. I need my State Farm agent make sure my business days piping hot and cool and confident. The small business owners to help you best. State Farm is in your corner and on like a good neighbor. There call your local State Farm agent for quote today. You guys, this is Tori, and Jenny with the 90210 MG podcasts we have such a special episode brought to you by near attack ODT.

We recorded it at iHeartRadio's tentpole event windows handout. Did you know that your tech ODT were magic pant 75 mg can help migraine sufferers still such an exciting event window tango string. I had one night I took minor tech ODT and I was present and had an amazing time.

Here's a little glimpse of our conversation with some of our closest friends. This episode was brought to you by near tech ODT were magic pant 75 mg life with migraine attacks can mean missing out on big moments with friends and family, but thankfully no attack ODT were magic pant 75 mg is the only medication that is proven to treat a migraine attack and prevent episodic migraines and adults sell lively events like window tango don't have to be next and we returned to our American stories to Tracy Huguely telling the story of her adoption. When we last left off.

She just matched with someone on ancestry.com could possibly be her sister so sterile, Facebook and by the time she got off work. She had several missed messages from someone named Tracy said that afternoon I had a call and man my husband passed her chart and so I was actually in church and I got up and ran to my office and immediately when we hurt each other's voices.

It's hard to describe way just need something special was happening and the first thing I asked her was her birthday which was the question I had asked so many people for so many years and she said that magical day. January 21, 1975. I can't explain all of the emotions that happened in that moment because it was like a old puzzle was put together for me and it was amazing. I couldn't just lay down in the floor and felt my life is starting to come together in this area and she didn't understand that question.

It was my question to be answered so it was big. I tried to explain to her how we had looked for her and how we were so curious about her for all these years and she was overwhelmed to find out that people were out there that really cared about her and wanted to know where she buys and she told me about having great. And I guess the next thing she said blame my mind. She said you know there's two of us and I said no there's two of you all. How do you know there's to be all and she said while I found the other when when I was 18 years old so I said okay. What's her name and she said her name is Stacy Salas talking to Sherry and Sherry, then tell me it was a girl named Stacy and she was the 1973 Col. so she was the girl that was right after me and one thing that was so neat about it is there. Their first names were changed so it would have been very very difficult to find them because their names were changed and when I finally talk to Stacy on the found the first question I ask are was her birthday. I don't remember thinking about it just wasn't. It was just a reflects and she told me her birthday and it was crazy so we quickly started having correspondence with all of us and we planned a meeting place they lived 30 minutes apart and of course me and Renée lived 30 minutes apart so we just picked a place that was halfway and met in the lobby of the hotel and it was very very surreal.

We were all cry hugging and crying. I don't know that we really said anything at first because we were just overcome with emotion and then we wound up discrediting us wait and we went upstairs and Jess spent the day laughing and talking. So we had just the best day together. That day will probably always really stand out in my mind just having all my questions answered. It was really, really special. We talked about birthday parties. We talked about things we had missed with each other.

We talked about each other's families and our kids and our life growing up. We talked a lot about our locks and how they were similar. We grew up together, but you could not tell about the way we wore our hair nicely dressed in things we did that were very very similar.

This sounds crazy, but it was the very first day we met. We were in a restaurant and we were saying what I have this kind of dessert we gotten some probably what we wish they had strawberry cake and we were laughing so hard because it was like set your favorite thing is that your favorite saying and I mean it was like kind of a funny thing just to think, okay, we all like the same cake and on. When we went back to the hotel rain way kind of took bots of our data would say hey this is for your eighth birthday. This is for your.birthday and we just kinda celebrated the fact that we all love slaves and we all know miss those times together, but where we can have this tale for that. I think we all liked prints. We are laughing about. We all me all the same words to the songs. So I looked from.

I remember being in high school and starting to wonder about people all the way and I'm talking about the summer before I found them we were on the way from the beach and a girl at Cracker Barrel, and South Alabama said, you look just like this girl that was doing some theater and I literally felt. How do I find this person's phone number how to find a way to ask this person there birthday and so I really had not given up, but I sure had not envision how this would wind that happening. It felt like there was a piece of me that was full and fulfill. I didn't know what they would they lock. I of course I had some reservations that you know it wouldn't be the kind of reunion that we really did have, but thankfully we were all people that just came together really really easily and that we were Brady I think that's the big deal we were all ready for it in certain areas of our lives. Certain time frames.

I don't know that we would've been ready to just jump in the way that we did, but it worked out really really well had no idea that our kids would love each other and our husbands would all get along and that we would enjoy each other's company on this big scale that we day. We pray together. We have Bible study together some way have made up for a lot of years. In the short term by some of the things that we've been able to get together and day we will get a light cast together a couple times a year.

We love each other's kids and we get together for Christmas as our families got smaller, losing parents and that type of thing. It's like now. We've had this come entire world and all of us have each other and so when we look back over it all.

We all had great people love and honest in taking good care of so much that were so thankful for and we all get together and we just cook and laugh, and sometimes will just meet at my house and will swim it's just fine.

Going to Walmart together because we just enjoy in the fact that we found each other.

We've only known each other a short time, but it feels like it just feels like we just picked up where we could've always been one not bitter that we didn't have are growing at together were just thankful that we have a tether nail and a great job on my piece by medicine and the pieces dripping with gratitude and love, my goodness. Imagine being in the lobby and just watching that and wondering what's going on. Strangers meeting and picking up as if they'd known each other forever.

We all had similar hair. We all had a similar fondness for strawberry cake weave in all liked prints and those who don't believe in God. This is a test is God's footprint over this and a beautiful get together beautiful gathering again the power of love the power of adoption and if you have an empty home. Think about think about loving a stranger about adopting how we can change the world and in the world story of Tracy you going story of so many adopting sphere on our American stores. Millions will make Medicare coverage decisions for next year and United healthcare can help you feel confident about your choices for those eligible Medicare annual enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7. If you're working past age 65. You might be able to delay Medicare enrollment. Depending on your employer coverage. It can seem confusing, but it doesn't have to be this would UHC Medicare health plans.com to learn more United healthcare helping people live healthier lives. I know everything there is to know about running a coffee shop for small business insurance. I need my State Farm agent make sure my business days piping hot and I think cool and confident. The small business owners to help you best. State Farm is in your corner and on like a good neighbor. There call your local State Farm agent for quote today. You guys, this is Tori, and Jenny with the 90210 MG podcasts we have such a special episode brought to you by near attack ODT.

We recorded it at iHeartRadio's tentpole event window tango. Did you know that near attack ODT were magic pant 75 mg can help migraine sufferers still attend such an exciting event window tango. It's true. I had one night and I took minor attack ODT and I was present and had an amazing time.

Here's a little glimpse of our conversation with some of our closest friends. This episode was brought to you by near attack ODT were magic pant 75 mg life with migraine attacks can be missing out on big moments with friends and family, but thankfully no attack ODT were magic pant 75 mg is the only medication that is proven to treat a migraine attack and prevent episodic migraines and adults sell lively events like window tango don't have to be next, and we continue with our American stories mixed story from Bob Pres.'s poems in Kansas City, Missouri.

The above shares with us a story about one of his room, but the way Bob walked into the baseball literally walking the turnstiles into an old ballpark.

The first thing that you see this field in the field of legends is a mock baseball diamond that houses 10 of 12 life-size bronze sculptures of the grades and they are cast in position as if they were playing on the outside looking in, is by differently great buckle knew who was the only one of our collection of statues that wasn't in the National baseball Hall of Fame will thankfully on December 5 of 2021 buckle meal received enough votes to Bell be inducted into the National baseball Hall of Fame 15 years after the missed by one vote. I'll never forget that day as long as my mother would say a bit about that from a was the morning of February 27, 2006 and buckle meal and I love home with suitcases packed with airline tickets that the Hall of Fame had purchased for the house you were that book was about and so there was a of 12 visually destroyed his research with educators.

They were to gather thou in Tampa Florida where they were going to make the decision on the final gone through the process and made the final ballot delay. Great buckle meal and elderly great libido so were the only two living names on that list and so we were going to fly after the announcement bucket with flight out of top where he would participate in the press conference the very next and so, was the marketing director for the music and so I had brokered a deal with our partners then spread out and they have provided Sprint phone Sprint phone book and so were to take the Hall of Fame called Sprint phone board. A bunch of money to help build and so the call was supposed to come morning around 11 o'clock will phone call about moving my colleague Dr. Ray Dawes will one of the 12 people got there and tell Susan causes Bob Springs looking really tight, dog strong vote, that book is coming up one shot former Commissioner Fay Vincent, who was overseeing the committee didn't have was overseeing the committee cities reconvened us so that we could talk specifically about buckle feel a bit but also the only true does still a lot. 30+ what my good friend Joe Posner asked about where you sit still come out just got a call from Grady says this thing is looking tight. Book is coming up one disbelieved fondly about 2 o'clock I get a call from Jeff idols Jeff idols the vice president of marketing for the national baseball and Jeff called Bob about the felt like someone does not tell my friend vote when I know is, and so I come back you excuse book right to the head of the table and I sit down and I am literally trying to collect my thoughts. Don't know how.

And so I finally look book. We didn't get looks up at me and smiles. These are the cookie crumbles and in the next voice and asked me how that got 70 now. I was furious because it by you could put 17 book out his table jubilation is excited that 17 of his colleagues had gotten their rightful place in the National baseball Hall of Fame Val as a steward of this story. I should've had that same kind of what I was upset because my.asked me who they were that the point about and how that information in the next words that came out of his mom what the Hall of Fame Val my friend Joe Posner asked my brother turn looks at Buck and he said he would do that which book series, Joe.

Of course, go downstairs because downstairs.

We had well over 300+ people gathered what we all thought was bored. Hall of Fame celebration will as I often feel the school from this conference to field will read the podium set up at second base was the longest wall by I was little coaching ball.

Whatever you got to suck it up bull not to cry. I did to the podium. This is the honest to God like you I've never go back to watch the video.

I don't know if I will will is that I said there wasn't a dry people were openly emotional and this was a disappointment. This was all this was how did have both locally and throughout gift shop and the room erupts into overage and buckle walks up to the podium and delivers one of the most amazing sessions ever did that day with all not to be not not to express you will tool the one who had anything to do with this decision. He said I head up and in this great country about the Finkel book was good.

We got to the home of favor in your eyes, so that people love an old book over the court at this point, Rick just threw down our faces uncontrollably what buckle meal did was reached out his well all is okay, instead of us consoling he's consoling us and what I still say to this day to be one of the most amazing displays of strip of care that I've ever witnessed. Push aside his go to Cooperstown delivered this incredible speech on behalf of 17 different with the world was say this should be your induction and what I still say today was the most selfless and American sports history buckle meal. The was literally gave us a lesson on how to handle disappointment because he so graciously that people thought he was a disappointment course. The Hall of Fame represents the pinnacle book knew he was sick at the time just over two months later my friend buckle bill passed away himself at age 90. Bob side of his 95th birthday. This was going to be his swansong never complain even though he understood with his health situation was like what the doctors it already. Him for so you disappointment will and so he was never going to be so solid about his rejection could be genuinely joyous for those who would gotten their place in the National baseball Hall of Fame and so I try to people book a terrific job in the storytelling by Monty Montgomery and a special thanks to Bob what a terrific voice and he was telling the story of Buck O'Neil, who if you watched them burn's documentary on baseball. Buck O'Neil stole the show. He chewed up all the scenery. By the way, if you want to hear the remarkable speech even Cooperstown, New York you'll see a man you want to emulate the by the end of his speech, he had athletes famous ballplayers announcers and family members of Jackie Robinson and ordinary friends holding hands and singing and praising the idea of love of God. The story of Buck O'Neil on L Americans