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A NOTE ON LANGUAGE

In most cases I have used the words that Bolton and his peers used. Their language included sometimes objectionable racial slurs, although these words and phrases are rare in Bolton's voluminous correspondence. I have quoted them in order to reveal as much about him and his views as possible.

I have used the terms “Anglo” and “Anglo-American,” although these categories are usually not accurate representations of actual ethnic identities. Anglophone would perhaps be a more accurate way to describe the mass of non-Hispanic white people. In Bolton's time “Anglo” was often used as an ethnic identifier. There was a Crocker Anglo National bank (where my parents had an account), as well as a Hibernia bank. The bank of America, as all Californians know, got its start as the bank of Italy. I use the term “Anglo” because in the American West it is commonly understood as a means to distinguish Hispanic from non-Hispanic people; it should not be understood to indicate a precise ethnic identity.

I sometimes use the terms “America” and “Americans” to refer to the united States and its citizens. Bolton must be spinning in his grave. He strenuously argued that everyone who lived in the Western Hemisphere was an American. Indeed they are, but it is awkward to use the phrase “United States citizens,” so I have used the commonly accepted “American” instead.

For the sake of variety and to avoid the repeated use of cumbersome institutional names (Leland Stanford Junior university, for example), I often use shortened names of universities or their common nicknames. “Cal” and “berkeley” are used interchangeably. When unpunctuated initials (UCLA and USC) are commonly understood, I have used them. Readers should understand from the context that “Texas” and “Austin,” “Wisconsin” and “Madison” mean the universities rather than the places. If these literary decisions cause confusion or offense to any readers, I apologize in advance.