Tom Ridge Summary and Analysis

Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of Homeland Security, began playing baseball when he was only five or six. Tom played catcher because he felt more in control in that position and believed himself to be very good. Tom tried out with the high school team his senior year and failed miserably, though he took it in stride. Tom also caddied from the time he was ten or eleven. Tom credits caddying with teaching him about human nature as well as integrity and character. Tom also played basketball, but was not very good. However, he was highly competitive and Tom credits this as the reason he is in politics.

Tom Ridge played a lot of sports as a child and credits each one with teaching him character, a theme of the book. Tom was good at baseball, but his level...