I just finished reading Ronald Kessler’s book In the President’s Secret Service. It’s an eye-opening look at our presidents and the men and women who protect them.

Kessler shares stories about these “protectees” that were once only traded among agents. In the words of one agent, if Americans knew what their presidents were really like “they would scream.” Among the many things we learn: Kennedy was a philanderer. Johnson was a horny old man and a thief who “would have belonged in an insane asylum” if he hadn’t become president. Carter was untrusting and micromanaged everything. Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43 were kind to the agents. Clinton was, too, and was frequently late to his appointments because he wanted to speak to everyone who came to see him.

The book’s other theme is that the agency is being run into the ground. Morale is low and management doesn’t seem inclined to turn things around. This theme is woven around the tales of heroism but seems a bit pasted-on at times. So do other anecdotes, which are sometimes tacked on to places in the text only tangentally related. It seems that the book could’ve used another good reading by an editor before it went to print.

Overall, I enjoyed this book as I’m a political junkie. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know what our leaders are really like when the eye of the public isn’t on them. Then again, perhaps it’s better if you don’t know!

Update: National security expert James Bamford has a similar review.