Rural Reminisce: John Block

Ken Root spoke to John Block, former US Secretary of Agriculture in the Reagan Administration.  Block grew up in Illinois before attending the US Military Academy at West Point.  He served in the US Army and returned home to farm.  In the 1970's, Block began to become active in farm organizations and state government.  He was the Illinois Commissioner of Agriculture when Ronald Reagan ran for President of the United States.
Block shares many of the events of the era and a particularly scary meeting date with the President that didn't happen.  Block was a marathon runner during his time in office and kept a blistering pace traveling around the world to market US grain.  Root was a reporter on the Secretary's trade  mission to Korea, Japan, China and another to Central and South America.  

Mr. Block has had a life of triumph and tragedy.  He remains committed to the home farm in Illinois, his family and his country.