SSR Book Review

The book I chose to read for the first quarter was In the Presidents Secret Service by Ronald Kessler. My dream job after High school is to be part of the Secret Service so this book was really appealing to me. Throughout this 298 page book, they have first-hand accounts from retired and current agents. They provide an insight into the Service and also insight into their individual in which they must protect which most often is either the president or the Vice President. The book gives insights into each President since their establishment in 1865 and their growth following incidents such as JFK and the multiple attempts on Reagan. The book talks about the affair that JFK had with Marilyn Monroe, Jimmy Carter and his disrespect for the Secret Service, and that threats on Obama had increased by over 400%. They mention attempts that weren’t newsworthy, the lives of the first family and presidential aides. Not only does it cover the protection of the President it also talks about how each president and First Lady would treat their agents.

What I found the most interesting about the book, was the chapter that went through the process of becoming an agent. That includes the application process, interviews, and requirements. Kessler describes the trading process at their facilities in Maryland. Like I stated earlier, as this is the job I would like to pursue, I found this chapter the most beneficial.  The book was very interesting and each chapter was broken down by each president, with the title being their code name.  Each chapter mentioned the personal life of the president, his treatment of his agents, and how the Secret Service developed and progressed through each term and from president to president.  I would really recommend this book if you have any interest in the presidents, the presidency, or the Secret Service.

Tyler Stibal