Clint Eastwood’s Long Run

When Clint Eastwood was born in Oakland in 1930, the nurses in the maternity ward nicknamed him Samson for his size. The Great Depression was on, so his father, who had worked in securities, was taking whatever jobs he could find. This meant moving frequently up and down the West Coast. Clint would speak of his father’s work ethic and ability to provide more than most for his family, but also of the childhood loneliness that resulted from all the moves. He took solace in playing the family piano, developing a lifelong love of jazz, and going to lots of...