FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A native of rural Alabama, retired USAF Brig. Gen. James U. Cross, grew up to serve one of the most powerful men in the world. He tells the account of his amazing journey in the new book, Around the World with LBJ: My Wild Ride as Air Force One Pilot, White House Aide, and Personal Confidante.

Cross will sign his book June 7, 2-4 p.m., at Page & Palette Bookstore, 32 S. Section St. in Fairhope.

When Lyndon Baines Johnson wanted to go somewhere, there was no stopping him. This dynamic president called for Air Force One as others summon a taxi — at a moment’s notice, whatever the hour or the weather. And the man who made sure that LBJ got his ride was Cross, the president’s hand-picked pilot, top military assistant and personal confidante.

One of the few Air Force One pilots to have a position, simultaneously, in the White House, Cross is also the only member of LBJ’s inner circle who has not publicly offered his recollections of the president.

In this book, he goes on the record, creating a fascinating, behind-the-scenes portrait of America’s complex, often contradictory, always larger-than-life 36th president.

Cross tells an engrossing story. In addition to piloting Air Force One around the globe, he served President Johnson in multiple capacities, including directing the Military Office in the White House; managing a secret $2 million presidential emergency fund; supervising the presidential retreat at Camp David, the president’s entire transportation fleet, and the presidential bomb shelters; running the White House Mess; hiring White House social aides, including the president’s future son-in-law, Charles Robb; and writing condolence letters to the families of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

This wide-ranging, around-the-clock access to President Johnson enabled Cross to witness events and share moments that add color and depth to our understanding of America’s arguably most demanding and unpredictable president.

“General Cross is an American hero and the hero of generations of Johnsons. Daddy used to say there are two types of people; the talkers and the doers. Gen. Cross was always a ‘can-do’ presence in our lives. No job was too great or too small for God, country and his friends. Jim Cross has led a dynamic life in service for others, and I have no doubt generations yet to come will be enriched by his worthy story, as our family always has been,” commented Luci Baines Johnson.

Cross served as Lyndon Johnson’s pilot from 1962 until mid-1968. He retired from the Air Force as a brigadier general and commander of Bergstrom Air Force Base in 1971. Today he lives in Gatesville, Texas.

Denise Gamino, an award-winning journalist, and Gary Rice, professor of mass communication and journalism at California State University, Fresno,  contributed in the writing of Around the World with LBJ.

For more information, contact Page & Palette at (251) 928-5295 or visit online at www.pageandpalette.com.