How did a low-income boy from Long Island, New York, become one of the most sought-after construction managers on the East Coast of America? William R. Martin learned several trades at an early age then used that information to become a very successful construction supervisor. He worked hard, paying attention to every detail first as a carpenter's assistant, then a plumber's helper; and finally he was doing electrical work on his own built-from-scratch homes. Using all this information, along with a confidence, willingness to put in long hours, and desire to get it right the first time, all served him well in his career. Along his life's journey, he had dozens of interesting adventures (owned a restaurant), met famous people (served with Rocky Graziano in the Army), and built some of the largest nursing facilities, hospitals, and offices on the East Coast. He also served in the Army at the Roswell, New Mexico, base that was notorious for UFO sightings of which William R. Martin participated. The author Stephen J. Cernava wrote this biography for William R. Martin the subject of this book as a collaboration built out of respect for Bill Jr's. accomplishments. Having earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Stephen appreciates the details along with trials and tribulations that come while managing large projects. Stephen is originally from Akron, Ohio and now lives in North Carolina. He has two children John (UNC Charlotte), and Katy (NC St.) that he is most proud of. This book would not have happened without the love and support provided by my friend and love of my life Maria.

'Nick Bryant is brilliant. He has a way of showing you what you've been missing from the whole story whilst never leaving you feeling stupid.' – Emily Maitlis 'Bryant is a genuine rarity, a Brit who understands America' – Washington Post In When America Stopped Being Great, veteran reporter and BBC New York correspondent Nick Bryant reveals how America's decline paved the way for Donald Trump's rise, sowing division and leaving the country vulnerable to its greatest challenge of the modern era. Deftly sifting through almost four decades of American history, from post-Cold War optimism, through the scandal-wracked nineties and into the new millennium, Bryant unpacks the mistakes of past administrations, from Ronald Reagan's 'celebrity presidency' to Barack Obama's failure to adequately address income and racial inequality. He explains how the historical clues, unseen by many (including the media) paved the way for an outsider to take power and a country to slide towards disaster. As Bryant writes, 'rather than being an aberration, Trump's presidency marked the culmination of so much of what had been going wrong in the United States for decades – economically, racially, politically, culturally, technologically and constitutionally.' A personal elegy for an America lost, unafraid to criticise actors on both sides of the political divide, When America Stopped Being Great takes the long view, combining engaging storytelling with recent history to show how the country moved from the optimism of Reagan's 'Morning in America' to the darkness of Trump's 'American Carnage'. It concludes with some of the most dramatic events in recent memory, in an America torn apart by a bitterly polarised election, racial division, the national catastrophe of the coronavirus and the threat to US democracy evidenced by the storming of Capitol Hill.

From the 9/11 attacks to waterboarding to drone strikes, relations between the United States and the Middle East seem caught in a downward spiral. And all too often, the Central Intelligence Agency has made the situation worse. But this crisis was not a historical inevitability—far from it. Indeed, the earliest generation of CIA operatives was actually the region’s staunchest western ally. In America’s Great Game, celebrated intelligence historian Hugh Wilford reveals the surprising history of the CIA’s pro-Arab operations in the 1940s and 50s by tracing the work of the agency’s three most influential—and colorful—officers in the Middle East. Kermit “Kim” Roosevelt was the grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and the first head of CIA covert action in the region; his cousin, Archie Roosevelt, was a Middle East scholar and chief of the Beirut station. The two Roosevelts joined combined forces with Miles Copeland, a maverick covert operations specialist who had joined the American intelligence establishment during World War II. With their deep knowledge of Middle Eastern affairs, the three men were heirs to an American missionary tradition that engaged Arabs and Muslims with respect and empathy. Yet they were also fascinated by imperial intrigue, and were eager to play a modern rematch of the “Great Game,” the nineteenth-century struggle between Britain and Russia for control over central Asia. Despite their good intentions, these “Arabists” propped up authoritarian regimes, attempted secretly to sway public opinion in America against support for the new state of Israel, and staged coups that irrevocably destabilized the nations with which they empathized. Their efforts, and ultimate failure, would shape the course of U.S.–Middle Eastern relations for decades to come. Based on a vast array of declassified government records, private papers, and personal interviews, America’s Great Game tells the riveting story of the merry band of CIA officers whose spy games forever changed U.S. foreign policy.

Make America Great Again? or Build it back Better? Well it certainly has the potential to be great and better, always has been, but with gun violence, skyrocketing inflation, supply shortages and a deeply divided nation at least in the world of politics, we still have a lot of work to do. The thoughts and opinions in this book are those of an average American, woman, wife, mother, gig worker, and entrepreneur that will touch on hot button issues such as gun control legislation, free education, affordable healthcare and immigration just to name a few. The suggestions aren't far right or far left but exactly what this country needs to be great by being better. The goal, is to work together to improve our communities, cities, states and thereby country and to elect politicians who want the same, not just to be in power. This book is not a left wing socialist ideology or a right wing, conspiracy theory driven guide. It is a "we the people" list of ideas of ways to help this country live up to its fullest potential and ways to make that happen.

"Building the American Republic tells the story of United States with remarkable grace and skill, its fast moving narrative making the nation's struggles and accomplishments new and compelling. Weaving together stories of abroad range of Americans. Volume 1 starts at sea and ends on the field. Beginning with the earliest Americans and the arrival of strangers on the eastern shore, it then moves through colonial society to the fight for independence and the construction of a federal republic. Vol 2 opens as America struggles to regain its footing, reeling from a presidential assassination and facing massive economic growth, rapid demographic change, and combustive politics.

Greenville: The well-kept gem of South Carolina. Visitors from everywhere have hailed downtown Greenville as one of the best in America. From its tree-lined Main Street to its bustling riverfront, the city inspired numerous other cities to try and duplicate its success. Using unique public-private partnerships, the revitalization of downtown Greenville was a true collaborative effort that helped to create a walkable and viable downtown. Once considered just a business-only town, Greenville has emerged as a metropolitan destination. In this updated edition, authors John Boyanoski and Mayor Knox White detail the toils and tribulations necessary to create a world-class city.

The Book That Launched MAGA Nation The media scoffed at Trump’s vision and the people who supported him; they were blinded by the Clinton machine. But their eyes were opened after Trump won sixty-two million votes and the Oval Office in 2016. Even Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “Donald Trump heard a voice in this country that no one else heard.” He still does. Donald Trump puts “America’s interests first—and that means doing what’s right for our economy, our national security, and our public safety.” He made the biggest deals of his life as President of the United States, but there are more deals to be made. From ending the border crisis to enacting policies to eliminate regulations that restrict small businesses, Donald Trump understands that America “doesn’t need cowardice, it needs courage.” It is Time to Get Tough