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A three-part Disney television miniseries that aired in the mid-1950s gave Allen Wiener his first glimpse of the legend of Davy Crockett.

"The series created a national craze, and millions were spent on Crockett toys, clothing, lunch boxes, trading cards, comic books, et cetera," the Potomac resident recalls.

The nation's fascination with the "King of the Wild Frontier" has been based largely on a fictionalized version of Crockett, Wiener says, but a real man of upstanding character stands behind the myth.

Wiener co-authored "David Crockett in Congress, The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man's Friend" with James R. Boylston. The authors try to portray the real Davy Crockett.

Wiener and Boylston met during an online discussion of the Alamo and Texas history. They soon realized they shared an interest in Crockett, and Boylston invited Wiener to join in on his project – collecting Crockett's letters.

The original intention was to produce an annotated compilation of Crockett's correspondences, but the endeavor blossomed into an outright political biography. The book is an exhaustive collection of Crockett's writings, political literature and speeches, along with a healthy dose of biographical information.

"Unfortunately, most impressions of Crockett have come from Hollywood and, before that, the stage and pulp fiction, all of which have presented him as a quasi-fictional backwoodsman, given to bear hunting, Indian fighting and bad grammar, usually rounded off with his heroic death at the Alamo," Wiener says. "That image has obscured the real man for nearly two centuries, largely because Hollywood and the public find it more fun and entertaining."

The real Crockett, says Wiener, was a skilled politician who championed the common man and firmly believed that the person who works a piece of land is entitled to own it.

Crockett served in the Tennessee state legislature in the 1820s before going on to serve in the United States Congress. During his political career, he stood up against President Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Bill, claiming it was cruel, even though he knew his constituents would disagree with him, according to the book.

"Crockett's other biographers really missed a lot about his character, particularly the fact that Crockett had a clear and purposeful political agenda," says Wiener. "He was a strong advocate for the poor, and sought to use legislation to level the social and economic playing field for them."

Crockett's reputation was at least partially earned, Wiener says. He used jokes and stories – along with good old-fashioned liquor – to engage and entertain voters. Crockett wanted to let voters know that he, too, was a working man and that he would represent their interests, Wiener says.

"Crockett also turned out to be anything but the naive, clueless bumpkin he has often been portrayed as," Wiener says. "He was a savvy politician who knew how the system worked and could hold his own against the more educated, polished members of Congress despite his lack of formal education."

Crockett tried to create a delicate balance between his reputation as an everyman and being an apt leader.

"Eventually, he lost that battle and his ‘Davy' alter ego took center stage, eclipsing the real man," Wiener says.

Wiener, now retired, was an international policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Transportation. He has written several articles for major publications, including The Washington Post and People. This is his third book. His first, published in the late 1980s, was "The Beatles: The Ultimate Recording Guide," and "Music of the Alamo" was published in early 2009.

Wiener hopes the book sparks an interest not only in Crockett, but also in the time he lived. Many of the questions the country was dealing with then are still being discussed today, he points out.

"Crockett's career itself raises the question of how directly our democracy can work for the average American, regardless of the best political intentions," Wiener says. "Is it possible to maintain a government that places the best interests and welfare of the people above all else? Can we effectively limit disproportionate influence by those with money, position or privilege coming between the people and their government?"

"David Crockett in Congress, The Rise and Fall of the Poor Man's Friend" is available for purchase at major online booksellers.