Review: In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler

Goodreads: Never before has a journalist penetrated the wall of secrecy that surrounds the U.S. Secret Service, that elite corps of agents who pledge to take a bullet to protect the president and his family. After conducting exclusive interviews with more than one hundred current and former Secret Service agents, bestselling author and award-winning reporter Ronald Kessler reveals their secrets for the first time.

Secret Service agents, acting as human surveillance cameras, observe everything that goes on behind the scenes in the president’s inner circle. Kessler reveals what they have seen, providing startling, previously untold stories about the presidents, from John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush and Barack Obama, as well as about their families, Cabinet officers, and White House aides.

Kessler portrays the dangers that agents face and how they carry out their missions–from how they are trained to how they spot and assess potential threats. With fly-on-the-wall perspective, he captures the drama and tension that characterize agents’ lives.

Kritters Thoughts: An interesting read that I sit on the fence about, even after sitting and waiting to write the review for a bit.

I absolutely loved the behind the scenes stories of life with a president. All the little tid bits that don't come into the news. As I am related to someone in the service (his photo is in the book), I was aware that there were many threats that never hit the news, but never the personal stories and personalities of each president. How crazy that they were complete demons behind the scenes?

I was appalled to learn that some of the past president's children would evade their protection and complain. I know that their parents put them in that place, BUT if a child of the president was ever in danger it would be a reflection on the United States. As well, to hear that some presidents of the past did not treat their detail as human beings, absolutely rude.

This book could be read by both males and females. I found it especially interesting after reading some books by presidents and presidential candidates recently and living so close to the capital.

Rating:enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

Pages: 288