Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and FordFrom the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mrs. Kennedy and Me and Five Days in November comes a revealing Secret Service memoir that offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of presidential protection and life inside the White House of five US Presidents—Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. The assassination of one president, the resignation of another, and the swearing-in of the two who followed those unprecedented events: Secret Service Agent Clint Hill was there on duty through five administrations. After an extraordinary career as a Special Agent on the White House Detail, Clint Hill retired in 1975. His career spanned the administrations of Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford. A witness to some of the most pivotal moments in 20th-century America, Hill lets you walk in his shoes alongside the most powerful men in the world during tumultuous times in America’s history—the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Vice President Spiro Agnew and President Nixon. It was indeed a turbulent time—and through it all, Clint Hill had a unique insider perspective. His fascinating stories will shed new light on the character and personality of each of these five presidents, as Hill witnesses their human sides in the face of grave decisions. From the laughter and quirks of Eisenhower’s golf outings, to the heroic urgency of Dallas on November 22nd, 1963, to Johnson’s White House besieged by protest, to Nixon’s meltdown and Ford’s fraught ascension, this book brings history to life as told through the eyes of the man whose job was to keep the man in office safe. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to walk in the shoes of a Secret Service agent or to peer into the inner corridors of presidential power, this is the book for you. |
Contents
WITH PRESIDENT EISENHOWER | 1 |
The Secret Dead Body | 3 |
The White House Detail | 13 |
The ElevenNation Tour | 23 |
The South American Tour | 51 |
Spying on the Soviets | 65 |
The Asian Trip | 71 |
The 1960 Presidential Campaign | 77 |
Triumph and Tragedy | 133 |
The Trip to Texas | 141 |
Dallas | 149 |
The Funeral | 161 |
The Year After | 167 |
WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON | 181 |
Inauguration 1965 | 197 |
Honolulu and Mexico City | 221 |
WITH PRESIDENT KENNEDY | 85 |
On the First Lady Detail | 87 |
Palm Beach | 91 |
Europe | 99 |
Hyannis Port | 105 |
South America and Mexico | 111 |
The Cuban Missile Crisis | 121 |
Great Expectations | 127 |
Loyalty | 297 |
Last Days with LBJ | 313 |
Vice President Spiro Agnew | 327 |
Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts | 349 |
A White House in Turmoil | 397 |
History Takes Its Toll | 415 |
EPILOGUE | 431 |
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Agent in Charge Air Force Base aircraft airport American Andrews Air Force arrived asked assassination assigned began called casket cheering Clint Clint Hill crowd Dallas dinner Director Eisenhower’s flew follow-up car front going golf guests Gwen happened head helicopter John Kennedy’s knew landed later LBJ Ranch leaders limousine looked Lyndon Lyndon Johnson meeting military minutes morning motorcade move National nedy night o’clock Oval Office Palm Beach plane planned police Pres President Eisenhower President Johnson President Kennedy President Nixon presidential protestors Robert Kennedy route Rowley Rufus Youngblood SAIC schedule seat Secret Service agents Senate situation South South Vietnam Soviet Special Agent speech Spiro Agnew staff standing stay stop streets Ted Kennedy television Texas thing thousands tour trip turned U.S. Secret Service United vehicle Vice President Agnew Vietnam walked wanted waving White House Detail