Even today, almost five decades after John F. Kennedy was slain, the public continues to be captivated by the "Kennedy Curse" and new theories about what really happened on that fateful day in 1963. For nearly fifty years former Secret Service agent Clint Hill has lived with the unimaginable guilt of losing a president on his watch and has obeyed an honor code of silence, refusing to contribute to any books about the assassination. Until now. Hill was just eight feet from President Kennedy when bullets pierced the president's head right before his eyes. Covered with blood, Agent Hill pushed Jackie Kennedy into the back seat. Clinging to the trunk of the open-top limousine as it sped away from Dealey Plaza to Parkland Hospital, he slammed his fist in anger, as he looked back to the agents in the follow-up car. His eyes, filled with despair, told them what they already knew. Including contributions from over forty agents who were on the Kennedy Detail from November 1960 to November 1963 and those who knew them, never-before-published letters written by Jackie Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the bizarre unpublished story about a film Jackie made in September 1963 with the on-duty Secret Service agents about an assassination of the president, and the original November 18, 1963, Tampa security report from the author's personal files, which conspiracy theorists have long claimed was destroyed by the Secret Service, The Kennedy Detail provides an unfiltered look at the events surrounding this pivotal moment in American history.
Download and start listening now!
"I was very interested in this book. I loved the fact that is was written by people with first hand accounts of the First Family. There is a lot of emotion in this book, and although I did not think it possible, this book made me fall in love with JFK even more. The struggles that all of the agents (on duty and off) went through when JFK fell is clearly illistrated in this book. I did however, find that the book did not keep me fully engaged after the death and funeral of JFK. The book became a bit slow in parts after that. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading it." — Krystal (4 out of 5 stars)
"I was very interested in this book. I loved the fact that is was written by people with first hand accounts of the First Family. There is a lot of emotion in this book, and although I did not think it possible, this book made me fall in love with JFK even more. The struggles that all of the agents (on duty and off) went through when JFK fell is clearly illistrated in this book. I did however, find that the book did not keep me fully engaged after the death and funeral of JFK. The book became a bit slow in parts after that. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading it."
“An important contribution to Kennedy assassination literature because it presents in riveting detail the assassination from the agents’ perspective and describes the lifelong emotional burden the agents endured when their best efforts were not enough.”
An important contribution to Kennedy assassination literature because it presents in riveting detail the assassination from the agents' perspective and describes the lifelong emotional burden the agents endured when their best efforts were not enough.
" I highly recommend this book and Five Days in November by Clint Hill and Lisa McCubbin! It is a second by second recounting and you feel like you were there. It answers all of your questions. It is history come to life. Clint Hill also has other books about the 5 presidents he worked with and books about his protection of Jackie Kennedy. "
" It was an interesting read. Sadly I knew the ending but getting there kept my interest. The use of 3rd person was distracting a bit. I never felt a bond with the narrator. I guess that was by design but at the same time I missed it. If you have any interest in JFK you should pick this up. "
" Great historical account!!! "
" This is another of the Kennedy era books I have just read. This one had a lot of detail and was sometimes bogged down by all the names to remember. But still another perspective on the life of JFK. "
" After a lifetime of hearing conspiracy theories and others' point of view, it was very enlightening to learn about the insiders view of this poignant event in our nation's history. "
" Mediocre writing, but it is useful for debunking a number of salacious myths. Not bad, just not great. "
" Beautifully written, fascinating and devastating. This book is a must read. Especially for you, Tim Meaney. "
" Having some insight about the ss, I thought this book was intriguing and fascinating. This book is not historical as much as it is about the agent's lives during the Kennedy presidency. "
" Interesting read about the days leading up to Kennedy's assassination and the intimate relationships that the secret service share with each other and the first family. "
" Very interesting book about an event I remember clearly. Previously unknown facts because the Secret Service didn't share this info before. "
" I thought the first half was slow, but the second half was very interesting and educational. "
" It was very well written! It was a perspective of what happened that you never hear of, and I actually learned a lot more about the what was going on during those times then I ever did in any of my history classes "
" laborously written quite dull, yet did give in insight into the events. Obviously written by non writer, a very dedicated government worker. "
" Good book. Would have been better if it didn't jump around in time so much. "
" Interesting inside story of how secret service men dealt with Kennedy's family and his death and how it effected their lives. Took me a long time to read but was worth the time it took!! "
" Fascinating from beginning to end. Your heart breaks for these agents, especially Clint Hill, Mrs. Kennedy's personal agent. Reading his book next. Would've loved to have discussed this read with a group. "
" Very very interesting! A fascinating look at not only the Secret Service Agents who protected President Kennedy & his family, etc. but an insightful portrait into the Secret Service, in general, as well. "
" What a great view into the lives of the Kennedys. An especially good introspection into the lives of the families of the special agents on the Presidential Detail. "
" Great read. Neat to hear some of the behind the scenes of how the Secret Service works. Great stories told in a good way. "
" I liked this book....I have read a few books about the Kennedy's and I lived thru JFK's asassination (!). I liked the 'first hand' accounting of this book. Very easy to read, enjoyable. "
" Very interesting! I had a hard time remembering who the agents were, but a very interesting read. "
" A very telling account of the six seconds it took to kill JFK. An event in history we all remember where we were and what we were doing. I have a greater respect for all the men and women who serve our country as Secret Service agents. "
" Fascinating!!! The inside scoop of President Kennedy's assassination from the perspective of the Secret Service on duty. Their story is heartbreaking as it affected the lives of each man. They all felt responsible and that they could have done more, but there was nothing that anyone could do. "
" this is an interesting look into an untapped piece of history. i'm not so sure that i believe the neutral tone of the book. it seems that the loyality the officers held for kennedy's is still in place. but it still is worth your time and effort. "
" Very good to hear from those who were there. I'm so glad I read this book! "
" Great book, lots of interesting details relating to the assassination and the Kennedy family before and after the president was killed. "
" Very well-written and the organization of the book makes it read like a novel. Fantastic recount of the lives of the agents, great stories about a beloved president and his family. Recommend as a read to all generations! "
" A touch slow in the first half. Fascinating read. "
" A very insightful,heartwrenching "behind the scenes" account of the brief Kennedy years and those few moments in our American history that fowever changed so many of us. I read it cover to cover without putting it down and am most apprecitative of the author's personal revelations. "
" Agents were dedicated and loyal. I wonder what they saw but were not willing to tell others. "
" Lots of fascinating detail about the secret service and the people they protect "
Gerald Blaine, as a special agent of the Secret Service on the White House detail, had the privilege of serving three United States presidents during one of the most tumultuous times in American history. After resigning from the Secret Service following John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Blaine embarked on a career path with IBM Corporation and became a leading expert in high-level security, lecturing worldwide on the use of computers in criminal justice and intelligence. He now lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, with his wife of more than fifty years.
Lisa McCubbin is an award-winning journalist who has worked as a television news anchor, reporter, and host of her own radio show. She also spent more than five years in the Middle East as a freelance writer. She is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Kennedy Detail.
Alan Sklar, a graduate of Dartmouth, has excelled in his career as a freelance voice actor. Named a Best Voice of 2009 by AudioFile magazine, his work has earned him several Earphones Awards, a Booklist Editors’ Choice Award (twice), a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award, and Audiobook of the Year by ForeWord magazine. He has also narrated thousands of corporate videos for clients such as NASA, Sikorsky Aircraft, IBM, Dannon, Pfizer, AT&T, and SONY.
Audiobooks Were Restored to Your Cart
[ShoppingCartItemsAddedOnMerge] audiobook(s) were left in your cart from a previous visit, and saved to your account for your convenience. You may view or remove these audiobooks on the shopping cart page.