On Wings of Eagles.

FOLLETT, Ken [Ross Perot].

Item Number: 133046

New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1983.

First edition of the thrilling true story of Ross Perot’s attempt to rescue two of his employees in Iran. Octavo, original half cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Ross Perot on the half-title page, “To Helen King with best wishes and deep appreciation for your work at Hockaday Ross Perot.” Additionally signed by Merv Stauffer, Perot’s right hand man; Bill Gayden, president of EDS World; Tom Walter, CFO of EDS; T. J. Marquez, VP of EDS; and Bill Gaylord on the half-title page. Also signed by Ken Follet on a tipped in note. The recipient, Helen King, resided in Dallas and taught at the Hockaday School for nearly 30 years. In December 1978, Electronic Data Systems (EDS) executives Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord were arrested on suspicion of bribery. When H. Ross Perot, head of the Dallas-based company was informed of the arrest, he recruited a team of volunteers from his executives, led by a retired United States Army officer, to break them out by force, if necessary. The team was ultimately successful in facilitating the escape. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with the rare wrap-around band present. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin. Rare and desirable.

Set against the background of the Iranian revolution, On Wings of Eagles tells the story of the rescue of Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord from prison in pre-revolutionary Tehran by a team of Electronic Data Systems executives headed by Ross Perot. The book was a #1 International Bestseller and adapted into the 1986 five-hour mini series of the same name starring Burt Lancaster as Arthur D. "Bull" Simons and Richard Crenna as Ross Perot. It was watched by an estimated 25 million Americans.