Former New Hampshire Governor Elizabeth Armstrong aspired for a life of public service -- but the Presidency? Never. As a young woman, she sacrificed her own promising political career to marry Peter Armstrong, a prominent, fast-moving Texas senator, and support his presidential ambitions.
       A mysterious plane crash kills her husband and ultimately propels Elizabeth into the race for President of the United States. But when political journalist Jack Bradshaw investigates the crash, he uncovers intrigue, drug money, and other ties to Elizabeth's political opposition. How far will her opponents go to stop her? What incredible rigors, challenges, and threats will America's first female presidential candidate have to face?
       Legacy and Destiny, a savvy, fast-paced political thriller by San Francisco attorneys J. Michael Reidenbach and Dana K. Drenkowski. The book is in print and available through bookstores or directly from us. We hope that Elizabeth Dole and Hillary Clinton read it soon. Why? Because they desperately need to learn from Elizabeth Armstrong's experience -- before it's too late!

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Here's what the reviewers say:

From Midwest Book Review:The former New Hampshire governor, Elizabeth Armstrong, must overcome personal tragedy, political treachery, and even an assassin's bullet if she is to be successful in becoming the first woman elected President of the United States. It will take all of her intelligence, tenacity, wit, wisdom, courage, strength, decisiveness, as well as an unshakable integrity if she is to succeed. Legacy and Destiny is a super political thriller that also touches on such contemporary social and political issues as abortion rights, drug abuse policy, political ethics, and what has come to be called "family values." Highly recommended!

From Dead Tree Review Magazine: Elizabeth Armstrong is a former Governor of New Hampshire, now married to Peter Armstrong, fast-rising senator from Texas with his eye on the White House. He is killed in a plane crash under mysterious circumstances, a crash which almost kills Elizabeth; after her recovery, she becomes a sort of ambassador-without-portfolio for the US Government. Later, political journalist Jack Bradshaw looks into the crash. He discovers some Very Interesting Things, including the possibility that Peter was deliberately killed because he was getting too close to powerful people in his investigation of the flow of drugs into America. Around this time, Elizabeth accepts a bid to run as the Democratic Presidential candidate. If they silenced Peter, will Elizabeth be the next target? Death threats against Elizabeth and Jack, by this time husband and wife, plus an assassination attempt against Elizabeth on the Mall in Washington, answer the question pretty clearly. This one is really good. It's a fine campaign story, with just enough political conspiracy to keep it interesting. The fact that it's about a woman with a real chance to become President makes it that much more worth reading.

Tobert Cherry, November 6, 2000: Superb Political Novel. This book was extremely entertaining and held my attention from the first page to the last page. The characters were so believable that I forgot I was reading a fictitious book. Mr. Reidenbach’s masterful knowledge of the political arena was evident throughout the book. He made me feel as if I were an insider at the White House. I am looking forward to a sequel showing how well Elizabeth Armstrong handles future complex world affairs. Meryl Streep and Harrison Ford should insist on taking this entertaining book to the big screen. (courtest Barnes&noble.com)

A reviewer, an IT Project Manager in SF area., November 22, 1999: Don't like political novels, but liked this one. I normally stay away from political novels. However, this piece had enough whodunit to keep me interested. I found the pace fast and intriguing. It was hard to put down. (courtesy Barnes&noble.com)

My first reaction when I finished reading Legacy & Destiny was a simple WOW.  What a great read!  I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but was finally overcome with joy when Elizabeth won the presidency!!!  The twists and turns kept me riveted to this story.  Never wanting to put it down, I was always disappointed when my own life intervened.  This story has stayed in my mind, I find myself wondering how Elizabeth would handle certain situations.  Wondering what her opinions would be on current events such as Elian Gonzalez and Gun Control issues.  Finishing the book left me wanting to know more, wanting to hear President Armstrong's first address to the American Public as President, what her first day on the job was like, how she'd handle the first crisis and much more.  The characters in this book are wonderful.  I certainly hope there is a sequel and maybe even a movie!  -- a reader from Colorado, April 2000.

Its rarefied air and rollercoaster rides make for a great read. "When Jack Bradshaw, a rumpled columnist for a major metropolitan newspaper meets Elizabeth Armstrong, former governor of New Hampshire, she is still mourning the loss of her beloved husband, a formidable senator from Texas. His bid for the presidency had been cut short by his death in a deadly plane crash that she survived, but that had killed her "Pistol Pete" Armstrong, who had been piloting the plane.
       Written long before John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s tragic crash, Legacy and Destiny, a political thriller by J. Michael Reidenbach and Dana K. Drenkowski, is a riveting story with its roots in American history, insider politics, international events, and contemporary Beltway intrigue. It weaves the recent past and potential future into a skillful tapestry fraught with twists and turns that take us to Venezuela, Latino Los Angeles, upscale New England, and the candidate's bedroom. It follows the political trajectory of Armstrong, a skilled diplomat, loving mother, and striking beauty, as she makes her bid for the Presidency of the United States against a background of deception, political skullduggery, and the inevitable challenges posed by an opposition hell-bent on destroying her. Reporter Jack Bradshaw becomes witness to her life, and he gets the story of his career. But, how he handles it and Governor Armstrong is what makes this book so much fun.
       The mother is Elizabeth … the daughter is Amy … the names have not been changed to protect anyone; rather, they're as familiar as the American landscape. So, reading this book can sometimes make you feel like you've just picked up the daily newspaper. Except for one thing. The action is as fast-paced as that in the best Hollywood action drama. And, the writing is spare and to the point; no flowery phrases or long-winded descriptions mar the page:
       Suddenly, one of the national reporters thrust a microphone toward Elizabeth. Her camera operator moved in tight. 'Governor Armstrong, we have just received unconfirmed reports from the Shotwell campaign that your daughter is a drug addict. Would you care to comment on that?'
       Elizabeth stopped in mid-stride. She tried to gather her wits and think of a response. Her concern about Amy's feelings overtook her thoughts. She knew Grossman had been working on this with Amy, and they seemed to be handling it fine on their own. They planned to come to her for final approval on Amy's statement…
       The reporters closed in like a pack of sharks around a potential victim, responding to her hesitation as if it were blood in the water. She felt momentarily disarmed and helpless.
       'Power changes everything,' Armstrong says. Its rarefied air and rollercoaster rides also make for a great read." -- Lisa Carlson, author / editor, San Francisco

A poltical thriller with all the insight to be real. "It was simply impossible for me to stop reading this most entertaining book. From the first pages, I was drawn into the story of Elizabeth Armstrong with such captivation as to be in the same room with her. I found myself completely immeresed in the drama of her life and the progression of her political career. I was also facinated by the level of insight and detail which literally created the illusion that I was getting the story from the front pages of the Washington Post. The authors truly did go the extra mile in writing this book. I found the characters believably human and the poltical context most interesting. This is a masterfully written poltical thriller." -- Ken Gilliland, Oakland, CA, October 4, 1999

Outstanding, riveting - I could not put this book down. "I picked this book to read instead of two new books by best-selling authors, and I was very glad that I did. After the first five pages, I could not put the book down. This political thriller is packed with action and drama, and it makes you wish we had more politicians and presidential candidates like Elizabeth. Voting would be more fun if we did. I loved this book, and I'm sorry that it's finished, but I look forward to more by the same authors. The book would also make a great movie. This book also meets my requirement for teaching me new information at the same time that I enjoy a good story. It is obvious from the description of the authors, and the information in the book, that they know what they are talking about. I'm a book collector and an avid reader, reading about a book a day, and this book ranks among the best I have read. These authors tell a great story and I hope they write more soon." -- Robin, a reader from San Diego, CA, September 7, 1999 (courtesy of Amazon.com)

Gripping and suspenseful! "Never far from Elizabeth's mind, woven smoothly into the fast-moving narrative, is the unsolved mystery of the plane crash in which her husband died. Reading the book is like going to a movie. It was a great read. I can't wait to see who is cast in the movie." -- Ann Brebner, casting director, San Francisco (June 1999)

Readers will be uplifted from their present jaded attitude towards politics. "Accustomed though we are to the intensely graphic details of air tragedies, we can never fully grasp the nightmarish horror, anguish, and despair of the passengers involved. It is this grippingly suspenseful scene which captures the reader from the first paragraph of Legacy and Destiny, a fast-paced political thriller by J. Michael Reidenbach and Dana K. Drenkowski.
       Fully aware of the impending disaster, former governor of New Hampshire, Elizabeth Armstrong, uses her last desperate minutes to let her estranged daughter know that she loves her. Elizabeth does survive, however, but not her Presidential candidate husband, Peter, ending what many saw as the "new hope of our nation."
       When Los Angeles Times political correspondent Jack Bradshaw arrives on the scene to interview Elizabeth while researching material for a book on U.S. foreign policy, he soon begins to uncover suspicious links between the plane crash and Peter Armstrong's political enemies.
       Elizabeth takes Jack to the town where her mother was raised: a bucolic rural community, Durham, CT, which remains today untouched by urban decay and suburban sprawl. It is a town whose character reminds us of the quieter life of yesteryear. The authors seize upon this rare setting as a momentary retreat from the political intrigue and bi-coastal and even international nature of the characters' lives.
       Readers will be uplifted from their present jaded attitude towards politics as they cheer along this strong female candidate for high office as she and her new husband triumph over deception, treachery, and danger." -- Valerie J. Harrod, Director, Durham (CT) Public Library

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Legacy and Destiny. ISBN: 1-929175-06-X. LC 99-64498. Trade hardcover, 256 pp. In print now and available for immediate delivery.

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