On September 20, 1988, Lauro Cavazos became the first Hispanic in the history of United States to be appointed to Cabinet, when then - vice president George H W Bush swore him in as secretary of education. This memoir recounts not only his years in Washington but also childhood influences and life experiences that informed his policies in office.

Lauro F. Cavazos is currently a professor in the department of public health and family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, having previously served as dean of the School of Medicine. He has published extensively in his academic field.