Attended Utah State University, majoring in journalism and political science. Edited the campus newspaper and was elected student body president. Served LDS mission to New Zealand. Utah/Idaho regional correspondent for the Associated Press. Master's degree in international relations, George Washington University. Planned to stay in nation's capital three or four years; stayed more than 20. In 1967 married Eleanor Westerberg from St. Anthony, Idaho. Also that year became press secretary to Utah Sen. Wallace F. Bennett, whose son Bob later was a senator. In 1972 joined the staff of Cabinet Secretary Caspar Weinberger as a speech writer. Three years later founded the D.C. news bureau for Scripps League Newspapers, 30 papers in 15 states and five time zones. Directed a staff of reporters and wrote a syndicated column. Covered Congress and the White House, including seven national political conventions. Traveled widely covering global hotspots, including Iran in 1979 after 52 Americans were taken hostage. Three children were born to Eleanor and me, our daughter Angela and sons Eric and Justin. In October 1980 Eleanor died of breast cancer. Two years later I married Yvonne Maddox, a native of Alabama who helped run Gov. Ronald Reagan's successful campaign for the presidency in 1980. Yvonne and I have been blessed with another three children, daughters Kimberly and C.C. and son Matthew. In 1988 was elected president of the National Press Club, the leading public forum in the U.S. for world newsmakers. Returned to Utah in 1990 as assistant news director at KSL Television, rising to news director later that year. Began career as an author in 1993 with "Leading the Charge," the biography of Sen. Orrin Hatch. Returned to my beloved alma mater, USU, as an educator in 1964, while continuing to write books. Left USU in 2011 to devote full time to writing. Have written seven major biographies. My occasional feature articles have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, American heritage, and Parade magazine. Yvonne and I live in Cache Valley.