Father's Day Letter

For Father's Day in 1998, I bought my Dad "Churchill: A Life", by Martin Gilbert. On the inside, I wrote him the following note:

Dear Dad,

Father's Day this year is especially important to me, because this year, more than any other I can remember, I am acutely aware of the role you have played in my life in helping me achieve my goals. I'm not only talking about things like helping me prepare my law applications, or putting me through school. I'm talking about all the times you have provided me with guidance in my life, all the times you've encouraged me to think critically about everything from politics and history to personal issues, and perhaps most importantly, the role model of heroic proportions you always have and always will be in my eyes. Not only have you played all those different roles, but like a true dad, every time I have faltered and made mistakes, you understood, and you made sure I learned from those mistakes to become a better person. I love you, Dad.