The Kennedy Detail

JFK's Secret Service Agents Break Their Silence

By: Gerald Blaine, Lisa McCubbin

Narrated by: Alan Sklar

Length: 17 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

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 50 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 40 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them, never-before-published letters written by Jackie Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the bizarre unpublished story about a film Jackie made in September 1963 with the on-duty Secret Service agents about an assassination of the president, and the original November 18,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.

©2010 Gerald Blaine with Lisa McCubbin (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"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." ( Library Journal)

Great read, glad someone was reading it to me.

If you could sum up The Kennedy Detail in three words, what would they be?

Stick it out! This book was a little confusing at first, but stick with it, it will make since in the end.

Excellent-Couldn't Put it Down

Riveting. Lots of detail. Brought back a lot of memories.

This is the second book narrated by Alan Sklar that I have listened to and he does a great job.

worthwhile... interesting insight

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I found the 3rd person perspective a little self serving

If you’ve listened to books by Gerald Blaine and Lisa McCubbin before, how does this one compare?

I have not

What else would you have wanted to know about Gerald Blaine and Lisa McCubbin ’s life?

a little more about the "off campus adventures" so much evidence seems to exist regarding that aspect of the Kennedy years and he acknowledges them, but very little info

Any additional comments?

good read and interesting, but a pretty big "smooch" to the Secret Service. Not a bad thing, and perhaps to be expected

No One to Blame

This is a harsh review and after watching the outstanding mini series, "The Kennedys (2011)", I wanted to read this book. I respect the subject matter and the accuracy of what happened in Dallas and JFK and the men that serve for our president. It was an interesting read from Secret Service prospective, but it lacks on evidence of who was blame on Kennedy's assassination. In someways, this book was a bunch of excuses from Secret Service Agents of not doing their jobs. Overworked, too hard, no family, lack in pay, and too much, but the assassination happened on their watch.

I think, that the agents were too emotionally close with the president and first lady, and maybe their judgement were impair because of it. When the first lady walked in her husband's funeral procession, the agents should had step in for the safety of the nation, if not the world, to protect our country's greatest asset at the time.

I am hard on this book because we probably lost one of our great leaders, due to resources and the lack of detail.

It's a shame that JFK wasn't able to complete his term. Less than 5 years after his death, his brother, Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. I understand that Secret Service Agents wasn't require to be there to protect his brother, but JFK's assassination should had been a text book on what to look out for to protect our leaders. Robert's death should had been avoided from the fatal shot in 1963, but yet, they learned nothing and see another leader die.

great

great first hand account of a devastating event in history. thoroughly written. great narration. easy on the ears.

I’ve Been Waiting for Books Like This

I make it a point to not read any of the hundreds of conspiracy theory books about the JFK assassination. I like reading about authors which focus on the facts and evidence. Really enjoyed hearing from the Secret Service.

The Kennedy Detail

This was an interesting story. I have lived through it all and remember the day like it was yesterday. It was nice to hear an insider view point. The narration could have been better. The author repeated several points over and over but at least he got the information across. The information on Jackie Kennedy was interesting and confirmed other stories about her. Like any book it has it good and bad part but it is well worth a listen. It was about time the secret service agents provided their view point of that horrible day in Dallas.

Can't get a more personal perspective than this.

This book, along with Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, by Vincent Bugliosi erases away any doubt in my mind, and should do the same for any rational member of the general public, that a shining star was snuffed out by a simple lone nut. To believe anything else is to plead ignorance, in some cases, insanity.

This book is a lot of minute by minute as events unfold. It gives insight to processes and reasons for them leading up to Nov. 22, 1963. It may become difficult to keep track of all the anagrams for people's positions but, it doesn't detract from following the series of events.

Good history

Good history with the ring of truth - a little slow in the beginning - but part II moved along and kept me listening...

An intriguing look at Kennedy's final weeks

Which scene was your favorite?

This book is a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Secret Service agents and the structure of the agency 50 years ago. In 1963, the Secret Service was relatively lightly funded and thinly staffed. Agents dressed in a dignified manner, as many people did back then, always wearing wool suits, shirt and tie, whether they were on duty at the White House, or working Hyannisport or Palm Beach. Somehow, I imagine today's agents wear golf shirts when guarding Pres Obama on the links.