anyone with an interest in american history will want to read this quintissentially american story. it's the story of anthony butler, a larger-than-life 19th century american character… and perhaps president andrew jackson's biggest mistake. named by jackson as attaché to mexico, butler was one of america's worst diplomatic appointments ever. he insulted the mexican men and violated mexican women. he completely failed in his mission, forever changing the course of mexican-american relations. in america he was elected to the state legislatures in three states, and he was also a legislator in the republic of texas. He had two, and possibly three, wives at the same time. as he moved from south carolina to tennessee to kentucky to mississippi to mexico city and then to texas, he left a trail of enemies well-known in america's history, and a trail of bad debts as well. but at the end, he died a hero's death. his full story has never before been told…now it has been.