Who is US Customs Officer from Travels with Charley: In Search of America and what is their importance?

The US Customs officer gives Steinbeck a hard time. Steinbeck had tried to cross over into Canada to save time, but the Canadian side warns him that he needs rabies vaccination papers for Charley. This is a US requirement, not Canadian. The warning is that Steinbeck might not be able to get back into the US, so the author turns around without ever having crossed the border. The officer eventually lets the author back into the US, but this leaves Steinbeck with a reminder why he hates all governments. The mindless bureaucracy irritates him to no end.