My Discovery of America
Encyclopedia
My Discovery of America is a book by Canadian
author
Farley Mowat
, which recounts his troubles trying to enter the United States
. It was published by McClelland and Stewart
in 1986.
In 1985, Mowat tried to enter the United States for a book tour, and experienced trouble with the U.S. immigration
authorities. He was given no reason for being denied entry, and his attempts to find out the reason resulted in a classic run-around. He eventually learned that his name appeared in the "Lookout book" maintained by immigration officials to keep out subversives. Apparently he was believed to represent a threat to the country's national security due to his environmentalist
writings.
The denial of entry was very inconvenient for his publishers, who struggled to get Mowat a temporary visa
. Mowat was characteristically uncooperative. He insisted that he wouldn't go to the United States unless President
Ronald Reagan
flew to his door in Air Force One
to deliver a personal apology. His publishers, and others, encouraged him to be reasonable, and compromise. Mowat agreed to bend so far as to accept an apology if Vice President
George H. W. Bush
flew in Air Force Two
to a border crossing in Buffalo
, New York
.
Mowat's troubles generated considerable public ridicule aimed at the authorities. The book contains many quotes from letters and articles by the public and press who supported him. The ban was eventually lifted and Mowat was allowed to see his file, which revealed that he was barred due to an old security dossier supplied to the USA by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
.
The title of the book is intended to be an amusing reference to another one of his books, dealing with his discovery of Siberia
, a region to which the Soviet Union
did not deny him entry when he wanted to go on a lecture tour there, promoting his books and his ideas on the environment.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
, which recounts his troubles trying to enter the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was published by McClelland and Stewart
McClelland and Stewart
McClelland & Stewart Limited is a Canadian publishing company. It is partially owned by Random House of Canada, now a subsidiary of Bertelsmann....
in 1986.
In 1985, Mowat tried to enter the United States for a book tour, and experienced trouble with the U.S. immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
authorities. He was given no reason for being denied entry, and his attempts to find out the reason resulted in a classic run-around. He eventually learned that his name appeared in the "Lookout book" maintained by immigration officials to keep out subversives. Apparently he was believed to represent a threat to the country's national security due to his environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
writings.
The denial of entry was very inconvenient for his publishers, who struggled to get Mowat a temporary visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
. Mowat was characteristically uncooperative. He insisted that he wouldn't go to the United States unless President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
flew to his door in Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
to deliver a personal apology. His publishers, and others, encouraged him to be reasonable, and compromise. Mowat agreed to bend so far as to accept an apology if Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
flew in Air Force Two
Air Force Two
Air Force Two is the air traffic control call sign used by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the Vice President, but not the President. The term is often associated with the Boeing C-32, a modified 757 which is most commonly used as the Vice President's transport. The C-40 Clipper, a...
to a border crossing in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Mowat's troubles generated considerable public ridicule aimed at the authorities. The book contains many quotes from letters and articles by the public and press who supported him. The ban was eventually lifted and Mowat was allowed to see his file, which revealed that he was barred due to an old security dossier supplied to the USA by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
.
The title of the book is intended to be an amusing reference to another one of his books, dealing with his discovery of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, a region to which the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
did not deny him entry when he wanted to go on a lecture tour there, promoting his books and his ideas on the environment.