To My Three Sons, Peter, Scott, And

To My Three Sons, Peter, Scott, And Alexander Who Pulled Me From The 18th Century And Back Into The Present On A Regular Basis And Therefore Made Me A Better Person, Thank You. And To My Wife, Who Sits At The Table There. Who Is Right About Almost Everything.

I Believe I Am An Honorable Man.

Even In The Best Of Lives, Mistakes Are Made.

I Deeply Regret Having Let Stand And Later Confirming The Assumption That I Went To Vietnam. For This And Any Other Distortions About My Personal Life, I Want To Apologize To My Family, Friends, Colleagues And Students. Beyond That Circle, However, I Shall Have No Further Comment.

Chronology, So The Saying Goes, Is The Last Refuge Of The Feeble-minded And The Only Resort For Historians.