Review: In the President’s Secret Service

I was driving on my way to an appointment, when an interview with Ronald Kessler came on the radio.  Kessler, a prolific author and former columnist for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, has a new book out, In the President’s Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect . Although a bit too much of the interview was whinging about the Secret Service needing more money (I’m neither agreeing nor disagreeing with that premise), some of the gossipy presidential tidbits grabbed my attention.

I fired up my trusty Kindle, downloaded it, and settled in for a read.

The book was based on interviews that Kessler conducted with over 100 current and former Secret Service agents, including at the management level.  In most cases, he names names and provides sources.  The absences of sources is missing in some of the more over-the-top anecdotes, making them a little more difficult to attach credence to.

The book traces the birth and evolution of the Secret Service, and how its missions has been honed, and changed, over the years.  It’s very clear that Kessler resents the shifting of the Service away from the Treasury Department and over to Homeland Security.  Equally clear is his dissatisfaction with the budget allocation that came with that shift.  He cites countless examples of weakness and gaps in the protection protocol, and continues the whinging for more money.

What struck me as the difficult question in all of this, is that protectees are looking for less (or perhaps less obtrusive) protection, allowing them to be closer to the people who elect them, at the same time that the Service insists on higher levels of protection and risks at an all time.  Until those disparate interests find some middle ground, I don’t see the budget and structural issues of the department getting resolved.

I enjoyed the book, which was a very quick read, for it’s tabloid-like anecdotes about the foibles, misadventures, and lives of Presidents, Vice Presidents, public officials, and their families.  It felt a bit voyeuristic at times, but that didn’t stop me from plowing ahead.

I liked the tidbits about how the Service felt about the people who they protected, which in large part seems to be based on how willing the protectee was in complying with their requests.  A brief overview below:

• Kennedy – No surprises here as they talk about his infidelities.
• Johnson – A picture of LBJ as a sexual conqueror, and Lady Bird’s turning away and choosing not to see or acknowledge
• Nixon – Despised him, felt pathetic toward Pat and her alcohol issues
• Ford – Not the bumbler that was portrayed in the press, he was actually quite athletically gifted – but very cheap.
• Carter – Hypocrite about using alcohol and carrying his own bags, and examples of brattiness on the part of first daughter Amy.
• Reagan – Loved him, thought him jovial and engaging, but Nancy called the shots.
• Bush I – Both he and Barbara were thought to be charming and caring people.
• Clinton – Loved him as well, and though his caring about people and their situation was honest and real.  Always late.  Not fond of Hillary at all.
• Bush II – Loved him, and absolutely adored Laura.  Many examples of kindness and thoughtfulness expressed toward the service.  Always prompt.  Also plenty of stories about the first twins.
• Obama – A little too early for complete feedback, but the initial word is that what you see is what you get, except that he hasn’t quit smoking.  They appear to love Michelle, citing examples of her kindness toward them.  And as for the girls, well, they have to do their homework.

There’s lots of other dirt on public officials, from cabinet members to aides, who’ve made less than stellar choices in their personal life.  While it’s mean spirited to say, we love reading this stuff!  It’s a little like reading the supermarket tabloids, only in book form.

Interested in buying the book?