In these engaging walking tours of the nation's capital, Buckley, a speechwriter for Vice President Bush during Reagan's first term, lets plenty of insider secrets out of the bag; as one of the only men alive who's stolen stationery from Air Force One, he should know them. Buckley's fresh look at grand old dames like the Washington Monument invites even seasoned visitors to take another look, and his stories about the city's founders give favorite haunts a richer burnish. Readers will relish his tales of city designer Pierre L'Enfant, who died a pauper's death, and other mavericks who left their stamp on this most Parisian of American cities. Buckley's humor keeps the pace brisk, and he wears his patriotism on his sleeve.