What with the 60th Anniversary of the Today Show today, I thought this may be appropriate, especially for an election year
Tracks with comments from SS agents I met during and after my OSI days
Secret Service - Behind The Scenes
Enlightening, interesting and
not all together surprising.
"Here are snippets from a book of "Impressions & Observations"
of Secret Service personnel assigned to guard *U.S. Presidents /
**First Ladies, and ***Vice Presidents."
JOHN & JACQUELINE KENNEDY:
*"A philanderer of the highest order. "
**"She ordered the kitchen help to save all the left-over wine during
State dinner, which mixed with fresh wine and served again during
the next White House occasion."
LYNDON & LADYBIRD JOHNSON:
*"Another philanderer of the highest order. In addition, LBJ was as
crude as the day is long."
"Both JFK and LBJ kept a lot of women in the White House for
extramarital affairs, and both had set up "early warning systems"
to alert them if/when their wives were nearby. Both Kennedy &
Johnson were promiscuous and oversexed men. "
**"She was either naive or just pretended to "not know" about her
husband's many liaisons. "
RICHARD & PAT NIXON
*"A "moral" man but very odd and weird, paranoid, etc. He had
horrible relationship with his family, and in a way, was almost
a recluse."
**"She was quiet most of the time."
SPIRO AGNEW:
***Nice, decent man, everyone in the Secret Service was
surprised about his downfall."
GERALD & BETTY FORD:
*"A true gentlemen who treated the Secret Service with
respect and dignity. He had a great sense of humor. "
**"She drank a lot!"
JIMMY & ROSALYN CARTER:
*"A complete phony who would portray one picture of himself
to public and very different in private, eg., would be shown
carrying his own luggage, but the suit cases were always empty;
he kept empty ones just for photo op's. Wanted the people to
see him as pious and a non-drinker, but he and his family drank
alcohol a lot. He had disdain for the Secret Service, and was
very irresponsible with the "football" nuclear codes. He didn't
think it was a big deal and would keep military aides at a great
distance. Often does not acknowledge the presence of Secret
Service personnel assigned to serve him."
**"She mostly did her own thing."
RONALD & NANCY REAGAN:
*"The real deal --- moral, honest, respectful, and dignified.
They treated Secret Service and everyone else with respect and
honor. Thanked everyone all the time. He took the time to know
everyone on a personal level. "
"One "favorite" story which has circulated among the Secret
Service personnel was an incident early in his Presidency,
when he came out of his room with a pistol tucked on his hip.
The agent in charge asked: "Why the pistol, Mr. President?"
He replied, "In case you boys can't get the job done, I can help."
It was common for him to carry a pistol. When he met with
Gorbachev, he had a pistol in his briefcase. Upon learning that
Gary Hart was caught with Donna Rice, Reagan said,
"Boys will be boys, but boys will not be Presidents."
[He obviously either did not know or forgot JFK's and LBJ's
sexcapades!]"
**"She was very nice but very protective of the President; and
the Secret Service was often caught in the middle. She tried
hard to control what the President ate, and he would say to the
agent "Come on, you gotta help me out."
The Reagans drank wine during State dinners and special
occasions only; otherwise, they shunned alcohol; the Secret
Service could count on one hand the times they were served
wine during their "family dinner". For all the fake bluster of
the Carters, the Reagans were the ones who lived life as
genuinely moral people."
GEORGE H. & BARBARA BUSH:
*"Extremely kind and considerate Always respectful.
Took great care in making sure the agents' comforts were
taken care of. They even brought them meals, etc.
He was the most prompt of the Presidents. He ran the White
House like a well-oiled machine."
**"One time Barbara Bush brought warm clothes to agents
standing outside at Kennebunkport; one agent who was given
a warm hat, and when he tried to nicely say "no thanks"
even though he was obviously freezing, President Bush said
"Son, don't argue with the First Lady, put the hat on."
She ruled the house and spoke her mind."
BILL & HILLARY CLINTON:
*"Presidency was one giant party. Not trustworthy --- he was
nice because he wanted everyone to like him, but to him life
is just one big game and party. Everyone knows of his sexuality."
**She is another phony. Her personality would change the instant
cameras were near. She hated with open disdain the military and
Secret Service. She was another one who felt people are there to
serve her. She was always trying to keep tabs on Bill Clinton."
ALBERT GORE:
***An egotistical ass, who was once overheard by his Secret
Service detail lecturing his only son that he needed to do better
in school or he "would end up like these guys" --- pointing to
the agents."
GEORGE W. & LAURA BUSH:
*The Secret Service loved him and Laura Bush.
He was also the most physically "in shape" who had a very
strict workout regimen. The Bushes made sure their entire
administrative and household staff understood to respect and
be considerate of the Secret Service. KARL ROVE was the
one who was the most caring of the Secret Service in the
administration."
**"She was one of the nicest First Ladies, if not the nicest;
she never had any harsh word to say about anyone."
BARACK & MICHELLE OBAMA:
*" Clinton all over again" - hates the military and looks down
on the Secret Service. He is egotistical and cunning; looks you
in the eye and appears to agree with you, but turns around and
does the opposite---untrustworthy. He has temper tantrums."
**She is a complete bitch, who hates anybody who is not black;
hates the military; and looks at the Secret Service as servants."
"In The President's Secret Service"
Behind The Scenes With Agents...
By Robert Kessler |
