History Textbook and Movies: Remember the Alamo!!

From Mexico, Raśl Escalante says: "James Michener's The Eagle and the Raven, a short, semi-novelized narrative on the lives of Santa Ana and Houston, provides an interesting perspective. In a poignant epilogue, Michener narrates the last visit by an American journalist ( I believe the narrative was based on first-hand notes of a real-life episode) to Santa Ana at his ramshackle home in Mexico City. The General, doddering and impoverished, interprets the visit as an overture to supporting his n-th return to power. The book sketches an image of an extremely charismatic man who is extremely vain and inconsistent. No explanations for his frequent withdrawal from positions of power are given other than that he grew tired of life in the capital and the responsibilities of public office. By contrast, Sam Houston, the "Raven", is portrayed as an austere, practical-minded leader. The book is a very enjoyable read, although I'm not sure about its degree of accuracy".

My comment: The old age of heroes can be pathetic. this was true of Sam Houston. After the annexation of Texas by the US in 1845, he was elected to the US Senate, where he served from 1846 to 1859 as a staunch Unionist. As Texas moved toward secession, he ran fpr governor of Texas as an independent Unionist in 1859. He won, but Texans voted to secede in 1861, and he was forced from office. This drove him to drink, but his wife forced him to join the Baptist Church. He died in 1863. You should judge who had the happier old age, Santa Anna or poor old Sam.

Ronald Hilton - 3/9/02