20 Years in the Secret Service
My Life with Five Presidents
by Rufus W. Youngblood
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Pub Date Sep 24 2018 | Archive Date Dec 12 2018
Greenleaf Book Group | Fideli Publishing
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Description
When shots rang out in Dallas on November 22, 1963, U.S. Secret Service Agent Rufus W. Youngblood immediately lunged over the seat of the vice president's car and bravely used his body to shield Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Faced with the unknown, Youngblood maintained this protective position as they sped toward Parkland Hospital. Throughout that fateful day, he vigilantly remained by LBJ’s side to ensure his safety. This candid memoir includes Youngblood's first-hand account of the Kennedy assassination and its aftermath, as well as highlights from his twenty-year career in the Secret Service during which he protected Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Readers will enjoy Youngblood's behind-the-scenes look at some of the most pivotal events in U.S. history, humorous anecdotes, and descriptions of the complexities, risks, and constant tensions involved in protecting America's chief executive. A unique and comprehensive collection of more than one hundred photographs has been added to illustrate this agent's amazing story.
Advance Praise
"I have enjoyed Mr. Youngblood's book immensely, as I know personally so many people of whom he writes. This is an excellent description of the duties--both personal and official--of the Secret Service, and I am a great admirer of their organization."
--Mamie Doud Eisenhower
(Original endorsements from first edition in 1973)
"This is an 'insider's book' simply because there is no one more inside the public and private personalities of top government executives than Rufus Youngblood. His matchless description of the senseless murder of President Kennedy in Dallas could be written only by someone like Youngblood. I was there in Dallas, but like so many others, I saw fragments. Rufus saw it all and lived every horrible minute. And his portrait of LBJ, strong leader, great heart, large warts, is history stuff. It's a simple book about complex men and absorbing events. Funny thing, I never knew Rufe could write this well, which shows the Secret Service is pretty good at keeping secrets about themselves as well as presidents."
--Jack Valenti, 1973
President, Motion Picture Association
Former Special Assistant to President Johnson
(Original endorsements from first edition in 1973)
"After all that happened in Dallas, our father trusted Rufus completely. They shared a special connection. No question, Daddy was a difficult taskmaster. Not wanting to be bridled, he often rushed into crowds not wanting to follow Secret Service requests. Rufus knew how to work with him. I never saw any breakdown in trust on either side. All of our family respected and loved Rufus."
--Lynda Johnson Robb
"Rufus was a patriot and a friend. He was an elegant gentleman who put his country first and did his duty always. We loved him dearly. His story is a noble one that deserves being shared."
--Luci Baines Johnson
"I began working in the U.S. Secret Service in 1955, during President Eisenhower's term, and I worked with 'Rufe.' Over the years, I saw his leadership help modernize the Secret Service. He was a great asset to the agency and a great man to work with."
--Herbert C. Dixon
Former SAIC of the Eisenhower Protective Detail
"During my career in the U.S. Secret Service, I worked very closely with and for Rufus Youngblood. During these years, I was always impressed with his work ethic and devotion to duty. I am proud to have worked with such a man and to have been his friend. He was truly an agent who lived up to the Secret Service code as 'Worthy of Trust and Confidence.'"
-Paul Rundle
Special Agent USSS 1958-1978
"I am pleased to be asked to recall the friendship and contributions of Rufus Youngblood, whom I knew as an outstanding symbol of the United States Secret Service. I was a member of the White House Press Corps, so for a long time I had the pleasure of seeing or talking to Rufus and observing his dedication to duty. He was always pleasant, yet always a Secret Service agent fully occupied with the assignment at hand. Rufus's bravery during the tragic events in Dallas was not surprising. His trained reflexes took over at the sound of gunfire. He never lost his sense of duty to country nor worried about his own safety."
--Sid Davis
Former White House Correspondent
"It was my genuine honor to have know Rufus. When I arrived at the White House in 1965 as a young (twenty-three-year-old) presidential aide, Rufus had already become somewhat of a legend because of the publicity surrounding his heroic actions in Dallas. We both had personal family roots in Macon, Georgia, and became good friends over the years. I saw Rufus catch hell from President Johnson--at times when he did not deserve it. I also saw Rufus standing duty in rain, in snow, in storms--never asking more of the agents who worked under him than he did of himself. I saw him splattered with red paint from anti-war protestors in Australia. The life and times of a true American hero are captured magnificently within the pages of this book."
--Tom Johnson
Former Special Assistant to the President
Publisher and CEO, Los Angeles Times
Chairman and CEO, Cable News Network
Chairman-emeritus, LBJ Presidential Foundation
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781948638999 |
| PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 288 |
Featured Reviews
Heather B, Reviewer
Rufus Youngblood has written a epic account of 20 years through Presidential history. There is humor, a sense of pride, and of course the account of the horrible tragedy of President Kennedy. I recommend everyone should read this memoir and remember the dedication of the Secret Service.
Randal W, Reviewer
I enjoyed this look into the career of a Secret Service agent. Mr. Youngblood comes across as a very dedicated professional, with a good sense of humor. He has been around since the Kennedy administration and dealt with that assassination. He served all the President's up through Nixon. What a career!
Carol C, Reviewer
This is a fascinating look at history through the eyes of someone who saw it happening first hand. It's very well written in an easy-to-read style.
Zohar L, Reviewer
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
20 Years in the Secret Service: My Life with Five Presidents by Rufus W. Youngblood is a memoir spanning the author’s career. The book has been published in 1974, this is a re-release which includes photographs from Mr. Youngblood’s collection not included in the first printing as well as a forward by Clint Hill.
I picked up this book because I was looking for something similar to Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford by Clint Hill which I enjoyed very much. To my delight, I enjoyed 20 Years in the Secret Service: My Life with Five Presidents by Rufus W. Youngblood just as much.
Mr. Youngblood shares how he entered the Secret Service and got onto the Presidential detail. He goes on to share his experience the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, very interesting since Mr. Hill’s account was fresh in my head.
I enjoyed the easy manner in which the book is written in, Mr. Youngblood loved his job and the Presidents he swore to protect. One can tell that Mr. Youngblood is a witty, charming person who is friendly and must have been one heck of a storyteller.
I really enjoyed the little anecdotes the author shares with the readers. We get an intimate look into the Presidents private lives, into the halls of power and glimpses of conversation and personality quirks.
The book is very readable and highly enjoyable. Even though the book was written over 40 years ago, still reads fresh and true.
Reviewer 247162
Youngblood has an interesting career in and of itself but he also witnessed key parts of American history. This is definitely a book to read if you are interested in the more intimate sides of history. I wonder how much has changed today.
Jim C, Reviewer
An Insider's Story
Coming to this book with minimal expectations I found that it was an enthralling account of a true insider. Not a political one but someone close to a succession of presidents and privy to their private moods and tensions.
Rufus Youngblood served a number of presidents of different styles and politics. His commitment however was unwavering.
To hear from someone who was there when John F Kennedy was shot and the understand the impact that had on future presidential security is compelling reading.
Secret Service life clearly has its’ ups and downs and I’m in awe of Mrs Youngblood for enduring the long hours and frequent absences resulting from his demanding job.
Definitely a book to spend some time with.
This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher in return for an honest review. I reviewed it on Amazon on 4 December 2018.
Elizabeth R, Reviewer
I cannot recommend this book more highly! I'm a huge history buff and love politics. This was exactly the right book for me. It brought back so many memories of growing up in the Kennedy era. I
Rufus Youngblood was a Secret Service agent assigned mostly to the White House from the Truman era onward. The knowledge of the Presidents and their families he provided is amazing and his respect for the men and women he protected is heartwarming. It's a history and personal reflection of some of the great men of our times. I loved reading it and highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.
Kristi B, Librarian
I have always been fascinated with the Secret Service and their dedication to the protection of our highest leaders. This is a wonderful account of an historic period of our United States history.
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