Douglas Brinkley is professor of history and director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans. Described as “the best of the new generation of American historians,” Brinkley currently serves as Director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies and is a Distinguished Professor of History at the University of New Orleans. His published dissertation, Dean Acheson: The Cold War Years, 1953-1971, as well as The Unfinished Presidency: Jimmy Carter’s Journey Beyond the White House, both won The New York Times Notable Book of the Year award. The most recent of his twelve books is Tour of Duty: John Kerry and the Vietnam War. He lives in New Orleans.

Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1922 and died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1969. He is the author of the Beat classic On the Road and his other works include The Dharma Bums and Big Sur.