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them, never-before-published letters written by Jackie Kennedy in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the bizarre unpublished story about a film Jackie made in September 1963 with the on-duty Secret Service agents about an assassination of the president, and the original November 18,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

Powerful story

What did you love best about The Kennedy Detail?

Finally someone who knows the inside of the event speaks out!

What other book might you compare The Kennedy Detail to and why?

Killing Kennedy holds a similar account of some detail.

Have you listened to any of Alan Sklar’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I was not able to set it aside until the end.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book to all who continue to find the truth.

A new perspective of the Kennedy assassination

What made the experience of listening to The Kennedy Detail the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed hearing a different take on the assassination of JFK

Any additional comments?

Some other reviews felt this audio book was boring or repetitive, I didn't feel that at all
of your interested in the events of November 22, 1963, this is something you need to listen to !!

The Kennedy Detail Deserves a Medal

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

Devoted, determined, dangerous!

What did you like best about this story?

The human side of the Secret Service men and their trauma of the assassination of JFK.
SO sweet and tender, their pain and sorrow drips on each page. And FINALLY straight from the horses mouth their OWN account of their failure to protect the President and how a lone gun man succeeded to killing JFK in Dallas. Finally the conspiracy theories are debunked.

The early days of them getting to know the Kennedy's and the children were precious.

The interview with 60 Minutes of Jerry Baine and Mike Wallace was so powerful.

What about Alan Sklar’s performance did you like?

Very good. His deep voice was wonderful to listen to. He was genuine and tender as well as agressive and tough.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

OH YES!

Any additional comments?

Going to get the paperback to share with my book club.

Nice Story

I think the book coul have focused more on the details and less on the fluff, but all in all, it kept me busy while driving and provided some interesting information.

Intriguing!

This is the best book about JKF that I have read to date; absolutely fascinating to learn for the first time details about JFK, his family, and his assassination as told by the folks who were closest to the events: The Secret Service!

The truth is hard for some people

Any additional comments?

Some people simply can't accept the truth. Gerald Blaine does a remarkable job telling the agent's stories.

"The Coincidence"

An outstanding recollection of the facts. My eyes filled with tears many times while listening. My take away: President Kennedy faught hard to protect our nation from desyruction during the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Abraham Lincoln did the same during the Civil War. President Kennedy worked for equality that had not been fulfilled after the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln worked to set free, the African people chained into slavery. Mr. Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. President Kennedy's hobby was reading about the Civil War. Perhaps this is the greatest conspirarcy theory of them all ! Supernatural Intervention.

Fascinating

What a fascinating look back into the 60s and the story of one of the more secretive branches of security in the US! A heartbreaking account of history from a different perspective than ever heard before. Don't let the narration/narrator keep you from enjoying this book. It is excellent and well worth it!

Fantastic Book

Nothing like real world events emotions and loyalties to take you away.
Great book with a glimpse back to what the world was like when integrity ruled if not in politics, around politicians.

Finally, enough back story to satisfy me

This is a great book. The book was told from personal perspectives of the Secret Agents protecting the Kennedy family. It offers insight into the relationships which developed between the Kennedy's and the Secret Service as well as the inner workings of the Kennedy White House. It also detailed the difficulties encountered as the Secret Service tried to provide protection. I found it very interesting and informative …sort of an inside view of a line of business I know nothing about (secret service agents) while, at the same time, listening to the back story of that era and of the events leading to and surrounding the killing of President Kennedy. As anyone else who was alive at that time, I remember exactly where I was and how I felt, at age 17, upon hearing the devastating news. I feel that this book is one that most people, who are remotely interested in that event, would enjoy reading – it’s as though I finally know some details about it, which I didn’t have before, and I am satisfied with the accounting.