Local author and good friend of Jim DeMay, Steve Yoch, was our speaker today. Steve visited our club some years ago following the release of his historical fiction book "Becoming George Washington", which I read and enjoyed. His subject today was his new book, "Becoming Benedict Arnold" , which tells the story of how this highly accomplished military leader came to be known as an infamous turncoat, which is what most of us know about him. He draws parallels between the two, saying they both had distant parents and not much in the way of education. Both had mentors that helped them develop, but Washington chose more wisely, and also had a wonderful spouse in his wife Martha. Martha convinced Washington to return his commission after the war, which was unheard of, whereas Arnold's wife encouraged his ongoing feelings of inferiority and resentment. In short, Washington's emotional intelligence produced a brilliant leader whereas Arnold's lack of social intelligence led to his downfall.