Chapter 26THE LOWER OHIO River winds slowly westward along the border of Kentucky and finally dips south to join the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois. The confluence of the two great rivers is the meeting place of three states, Kentucky across the Ohio, Missouri across the Mississippi and the southernmost tip of Illinois. The president viewed THE LATE SUMMER venue from his perch in his helicopter.
“This is the most ridiculous place to have a speech I can imagine,” said the president to Sam Clemmons, his chief of staff.
“They asked us, sir. Cairo has a strong historical significance, the last free city in the North. Illinois will love it. That may be important in November. All the candidates will be here. We'll be in St. Louis this afternoon. Be home by midnight.”
“How many people will be
