Within Arm's Length

June 23, 2014
In this deep look at the Secret Service's operations, Emmett, a veteran agent of more than two decades, examines the recent history of the agency responsible for protecting those in the White House. A native of Gainesville, Georgia, as a child he was impressed by the lone Secret Service agent shielding the mortally wounded President Kennedy and his wife with his body on that fateful day in Dallas. He became a Marine before joining the agency in 1983. Some of the most noteworthy passages in the book address the making of an agent, their rigorous training, and the numerous postings in regional offices. Emmett makes note of the routine investigations the Secret Service conducts and the tense protection roles provided for the president and vice president while offering anecdotes about guarding Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. The agents also serve as caretakers for former presidents and their families, even when the subjects indulge in dangerous behavior after leaving office. Emmett's engaging account is a reminder of the constant threats this esteemed agency faces and the effort each agent puts into their work.