No Such Thing as a Bad Day

Hamilton Jordan

Many people get cancer. It is not unusual to have two different cancers. Hamilton Jordon has survived three different cancers. Two of them needed extremely radical, invasive treatment. This book is his story of survival. It is a positive, inspirational book. He does not make light of the disease. He discusses his fears frankly. He usually glosses over the recovery time and accompanying problems. He does not ignore them, only refers to them.

Jordan came to the American public's notice as he worked for President Jimmy Carter's elections up through the presidency in 1976. He was Carter's chief-of-staff. A huge scandal surrounded him when he was falsely accused of using cocaine. He was finally acquitted of all charges, but not until after lengthy public hearings.

He was a civilian volunteer in Viet Nam, and exposed to Agent Orange. His uncle Clarence was a pioneer in the integration movement in Georgia. This exposed him to the civil rights movement in the South. It is fascinating to hear the integration movement from the viewpoint of someone who lived through it and watched it without participating actively in it. Instead, he talks about the confusion many decent southern white folk had to deal with as their viewpoints were changed around. Jordan grew up near Jimmy Carter and was with him throughout most Carter's political life.

This book is not only an upbeat book, in its own way it is also an instructional book. When Jordan was diagnosed, he researched his illnesses. He checked into the most recent cures and approaches. He discovered the best doctors or clinics he could access to cure him. He discusses the stages of acceptance of the disease. He then goes on with how he and his family had to deal with them.

This is a short book, well worth the reading. Although never having cancer, I can see how Jordan's story can help someone dealing with it. He also relates stories from his Viet Nam stay (he hid under a bed during the Tet Offensive), his political days with Governor and President Jimmy Carter, his family, and the Civil Rights movement in Georgia. The end also has lists of places for help with dealing with cancer.