The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Engimatic Agency | 
| Author: Philip H. Melanson
Publisher: Basic Books
List Price: $18.95
Buy New: $11.31
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Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 100982
Media: Paperback
Edition: Revised
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.4
ISBN: 0786716177
Dewey Decimal Number: 363.2830973
EAN: 9780786716173
ASIN: 0786716177
Publication Date: September 20, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 4 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: P20090105120738S
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Product Description
This new edition of the definitive history of the Secret Service lays bare the 2004 Bush campaign s political uses of the agency and the new challenges it faces as a branch of the Homeland Security Department, in a post-9/11 world. Acclaimed scholar of political violence and governmental secrecy Philip Melanson explores the long-hidden workings of the Secret Service since its inception in 1865 and through rigorous research and extensive interviews with former White House staffers and retired agents, uncovers startling facts about the Agency s role in such traumatic national events as the assassination of JFK and the shooting of President Reagan. Included, too, are revelations about presidential demands on the agency; the problems of alcoholism, divorce, and burnout among agents; and the Service s inexplicable failure to develop profiles of potential assassins. Up-to-date and explosive, this book assails the public image of the Secret Service as a highly professional apolitical organization, exposing the often-detrimental influence that politics exerts on the Agency.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Vince Palamara, Secret Service expert, deceived us January 7, 2006
T.R. (Falls Church, VA)
13 out of 24 found this review helpful
As a proud former member of the United States Secret Service, I believe that this product is worth your time and money...and I also feel it is my perogative to inform everyone here that, while Vince Palamara is to be commended for his notable research acumen and getting many of my colleagues-and myself- to speak to him, he has also done so at the expense of many of their feelings, beliefs, and trust. In short, Vince Palamara believes the means justifies the ends.
So, imagine my horror when I turn on the television a few years back and I SEE the young researcher who promised myself and many others that he was not a journalist, stating facts, theories, and innuendo as the gospel truth. Emory Roberts, for one, cannot defend himself. I will concede that I have no good explanation for what transpires on the film Palamara shows-but does that have to lead to conspiratorial conclusions? Does it, Vince?
From what I gather, many members of the AFAUSSS, myself included, are quite upset with him, as well they should be.
Can we let sleeping dogs lie? Lee Harvy Oswald killed President John Kennedy, acting alone. Yes, my colleagues did not do their jobs as effectively as they could have or probably should have-but will that bring back the man? No. What useful purpose is served by defaming Kennedy's memory and all the still-living former agents with calling into question the very painful loss of said man, as well as their job performance.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
T.R., proud alumni/ past member of the folowing organizations:
MSU
Army 1957-1959
USSS 1961-1982
New & improved...sort of (4.5 stars, anyone?) September 16, 2005
Vince Palamara (South Park/Bethel Park, PA)
5 out of 20 found this review helpful
As the leading civilian authority on the U.S. Secret Service, I was much looking forward to the REVISED AND EXPANDED version of this book, as ***my*** own book ("The Third Alternative-Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The JFK Murder" [1993-1998], now massively expanded and updated as "Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The Failure To Protect The President", available now!)was listed in the original version and it is obvious Melanson made good use of my material for his chapter on the JFK assassination entitled "Losing Lancer." [pages 74, 77, 80, 87, 343-344 (endnotes), 358 (bibliography), & 371 (index) ["etc."]
Well, Melanson evidently heard all the first-edition bad reviews regarding editing and typos and the like: gone is his co-author, Peter F. Stevens. Also, he added a nice new cover and TWO new chapters, as well as sourcing former agent Joseph Petro's excellent 2005 book entitled "Standing Next To History." (It still says "the authors" [plural] in the Bibliography and, from the larger font, you can tell that Petro's book was added!]
That said, I highly recommend this book (as I did with regard to the poorly edited/ proofread first edition)---still alittle bit of a "dry" text, but he listened to all the criticisms regarding STYLE. And, while I achieved a world's record---SIXTY SEVEN former agent interviews (the old record was by the HSCA: 44)---Melanson did interview a handful of former agents (such as Winston Lawson, also interviewed numerous times by myself)and his book serves as a good general overview---using mostly secondary sources--- of the (history of) the Secret service, 1865-2005 (while my work focuses more on the FDR-Reagan days, with special emphasis on the JFK/ LBJ years...and alot more PRIMARY research). For the record, my work is now credited on pages 72, 74, 77, 85, 388, 389, 408, 424 ["uncredited": pages 59, 60, 70, 71, 73, 75-76]
Potscript: Melanson writes on page 61: "Some of the agents, THOUGH NOT WINSTON G. LAWSON, lied to the Warren Commission about how thorough they were [my emphasis]." It is obvious that Melson didn't want to ruffle Lawson's feathers, as he interviewed him and probably feared he would take exception to that!
If you want an extremely thorough, take-off-the-gloves approach to the Secret Service, get my 276-page book "Survivor's Guilt: The Secret Service & The Failure To Protect The President." In the meantime, Melanson's 30 pages regarding 11/22/63 should suffice...and the rest of the book, now mostly improved and expanded, should still be a good start for anyone interested in the U.S. Secret Service.
Not quite June 25, 2007
Thomas Morris (North Carolina)
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
For most of us the Service Service (a rather ominous sounding agency name in a democratic society) is best known as the security detail for the president and most foreign dignitaries, and maybe some know it also pursue counterfeiters. Stern, unsmiling, in black suits & sunglasses. (Clint Eastwood's "In the Line of Fire" (1993) did a lot to humanize the Service.) As a historian-type, gadfly, civil libertarian, civics junkie & polyhistor I came across the book and had to read it. For anyone interested or considering going into the Secret Service this should be a must-read. This is not a dissuation, but know what to expect being an agent--it is not an easy life. First it is a tough process. Second it is a storied agency. Third, it's had its moments (good and bad--the best are in the law enforcement part; unfortunately what people remember is when things go bad). It is a special kind of discipline to be an Agent, more about 'protect' than about (counter)-offense. Boredom vs. the anxiety of 'what if'. Meticulous detail work on preparation. It takes a special kind of discipline, and from reading about the other federal agencies, it takes quite a bit to be an FBI agent, but it takes something different (more?) to be a Secret Service Agent. I know I don't have the stuff, but my brother (CPA, former security officer, and aikido sho-dan, attention to detail, got stuff together, can put mind in 'pause') would have excelled at the fraud counterfeit investigation work. (I wish there was more on the work of forensics of counterfeiting--it may sound boring but I'm somewhat familiar because of a family interest in numismatics; my brother collected coins and our grandfather (also a CPA) had a large collection of silver dollars.) This is incredible work done by highly trained and dedicated people. As the historian type I actually do like them coming forward to support/verify *as a second or third sources* any stories historians are pursuing on presidential/high level persons (years/decades later, usually deceased or at least long since retired from public service and as documents and personal papers are being declassified & released after the usual 30+ years), but am thoroughly against having agents as 'listening bugs' for 'high crimes and misdemeanors' for oversight given the present & past atmospheres. (I think how the Jenna Bush fake ID was handled well, after all she was 'in custody' of federal law enforcement agents at all times.) Having worked with multiple agencies about bio-terrorism, this was interesting about their liaison/interface work with other agencies at all levels.
Again, this is a must read for anyone considering joining the Service. Also, there is a Uniformed Branch of the Secret Service (they are not called Agents) who also do protective detail work and around US Treasury facilities. After reading this I have a greater appreciation for these agents--now having to see through their sunglasses, when on that protective detail about who's just enthusiatic, who's just protesting, who's just angry, and who's actually about to ....
[Many years ago, I read my dad's copy of Bouton's "Ball Four" in [....]. So it was a look behind the curtain of baseball's 'clean image'. It was a funny book, and real people. Today I know more about baseball than most people, particular its history, statistics & sabermetrics, and a card-carrying member of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research). I consider baseball people the most quotable species on earth. While baseball, like most disciplines, has a seamy side (it's partly what gives it some color, not always the scandalous but stunts), it is not an indictment of the sport. Nor should what is seen behind the Secret Service's mystic dissuade anyone from pursuing a position. It is simply not an agency for those who are introspective, emotionally restless, or racked with doubt. Just know what to expect. It was a good read from beginning to end.]
 Disorganized the book somewhat was but covered it topic the well! May 8, 2008
K. H. Quantock (Palmyra, VA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As my title hinted...."The book was somewhat disorganized but it covered the topic well!" I am a student of Presidential History in my retirement and looked forward to adding this book to my collection. As I type this, I have finished about 1/2 of the book. We have jumped from the early security of the President/White House up to the Reagan shooting in DC in the 1980's, but now, we are back to the early days of Monroe, Lincoln, Adams. There just seems no rhyme or reason for the lay out of this book. Sorry guys....it just doesn't cut it!
The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Engimatic Agency April 5, 2008
George T. Miller, Jr.
An excellent look at the history and daily workings and responsibilities of the U.S. Secret Service. Easy reading, interesting to the point where I did not want to put the book down. The author is to be commended for a first class book that goes behind the scenes and enlightens the average citizen about an agency that is so vital to national security but gets little recognition or appreciation. George T. Miller, Jr. (Edison, N.J., U.S.A.).
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