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Rufus W. Youngblood
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20 Years in the Secret Service: My Life with Five Presidents Kindle Edition

by Rufus W. Youngblood (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
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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, following closely behind the president’s limousine. Throughout the course of that fateful day, he vigilantly remained by LBJ’s side to ensure his safety.

This candid memoir includes Youngblood’s firsthand 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.

In addition, a unique and comprehensive collection of more than one hundred photographs illustrates this agent’s amazing story.
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  1. Print length
    330 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 1, 2018
  4. File size
    32995 KB
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  6. Word Wise
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
396 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book awesome, interesting, and enjoyable. They appreciate the information value, writing quality, and narrative quality. They mention it's a great first-person narrative about life in the Secret Service and insider stories of LBJ.

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ReadabilityInformation valueWriting qualityNarrative qualityPhotography
16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book awesome, interesting, and enjoyable. They say it's a remarkable book of high quality.

"...This is a very good book, utterly readable and a good addition to the history of those men who knew our presidents from a different angle." Read more

"Read this book late September 2019. Found this book to be interesting and informative as I enjoy HISTORICAL novels and reading about the White House" Read more

"From a fellow prior Secret Service officer. An awesome read. What a larger than life true American hero...." Read more

"...A remarkable book of noble and high quality. I would recommend it to anyone." Read more

15 customers mention "Information value"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They say it provides a great perspective on the development and expansion of the Secret Service during five presidents. Readers also mention the book contains stories and details about what goes on behind the scenes.

"...This is a very good book, utterly readable and a good addition to the history of those men who knew our presidents from a different angle." Read more

"...Found this book to be interesting and informative as I enjoy HISTORICAL novels and reading about the White House" Read more

"...A good read for anyone interested in history and would make a great resource in any U.S. History course." Read more

"...hand experience during the JFK assassination, Youngblood shares much insight for the reader, while maintaining respect for his commander in chief -..." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book well-written, refreshing, and easy to read. They appreciate the author's strong voice and find it engaging. Readers also mention it's interesting to hear first-hand accounts of protecting the President of the United States.

"...This is a very good book, utterly readable and a good addition to the history of those men who knew our presidents from a different angle." Read more

"...What I loved most about the book was the author's strong voice...." Read more

"It was interesting to hear first hand accounts of Protecting the President of the USA." Read more

"I enjoyed this book very much. Well written. Tons of interesting facts. Interesting look at how the secret service operates...." Read more

4 customers mention "Narrative quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative quality great. They mention it's a first-person narrative about life in the Secret Service and an insight into the insider stories of LBJ.

"...emergence of a beefed-up Secret Service and this, too, is a good part of the narrative...." Read more

"Great first person narrative about life in the Secret Service and an insight into the lives of five Presidents...." Read more

"I gave this a 5 star rating as it was such a captivating story of the secret service in unprecedented times...." Read more

"Great insider stories of LBJ!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Photography"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the photographs in the book great, wonderful, and amazing.

"...The new photographs are a wonderful addition...." Read more

"...Great pictures too!" Read more

"Amazing Glimpse!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Jon Hunt
5.0 out of 5 stars Protecting the president
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2019
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Anyone who has studied the events of Dallas on November 22, 1963 will remember the name, Rufus Youngblood.... he was the Secret Service agent who flung himself over then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson, thus saving him from possible assassination. It propelled agent Youngblood into the history books.

Originally written in 1973, two years after retiring from a twenty-year career in the Secret Service, his book was re-issued last year with a series of photographs that were deemed unacceptable to be included in the original edition. The new photographs are a wonderful addition. This is a two-fold story...the first is about Younblood's close association with Lyndon Johnson, even though Youngblood served under five presidents form Truman to Nixon. But it also about the emergence of a beefed-up Secret Service and this, too, is a good part of the narrative. Though told with necessary gravity, there are several instances of humor that Youngblood recalls, especially when describing events surrounding LBJ. This is a very good book, utterly readable and a good addition to the history of those men who knew our presidents from a different angle.
19 people found this helpful
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John Gibble
4.0 out of 5 stars 20 Years in the Secret in the Secret Service
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2019
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Read this book late September 2019. Found this book to be interesting and informative as I enjoy HISTORICAL novels and reading about the White House
One person found this helpful
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Douglas Karber
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir of Rufus Youngblood's time in the ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2018
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Thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir of Rufus Youngblood's time in the Secret Service. What I loved most about the book was the author's strong voice. You can hear in Mr. Youngblood's writing his sense of dedication to the job, how seriously he took his role, and the gentlemanly manner in which he honored those he served. Through his eyes, the reader gets a view into the lives of the presidents he protected including his first hand account of the Kennedy assassination. A good read for anyone interested in history and would make a great resource in any U.S. History course.
7 people found this helpful
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John Less
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
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From a fellow prior Secret Service officer. An awesome read. What a larger than life true American hero. Proud to have somewhat followed in the foot steps of such true legends.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A personalized walk through history.
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2022
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This historical memoir takes the reader behind the scenes of the presidency via the unique perspective of a Secret Service agent. Covering two decades of tumultuous events in American history, including
his first hand experience during the JFK assassination, Youngblood shares much insight for the reader, while maintaining respect for his commander in chief - so reflective of his era. Very interesting in contrast to some of the more recent publications of the day.
One person found this helpful
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Robert T. Fearnside
4.0 out of 5 stars The complete protection of any famous person is almost impossible.
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2019
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It was interesting to hear first hand accounts of Protecting the President of the USA.
One person found this helpful
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Terri Chalmers
3.0 out of 5 stars Engaging memoir
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019
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An interesting look at the workings of the Secret Service as told by an agent. I enjoyed his stories about the various presidents he served, from Truman to Nixon. We only get glimpses of Truman, JFK and Nixon; most of the anecdotes are about Eisenhower and LBJ. Most of his time was spent guarding Lyndon Johnson first as Vice President and then as President. Having grown up in the 60s, I've always been somewhat contemptuous of LBJ and Youngblood's perspective did a lot to humanize him for me.
7 people found this helpful
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Ranjana Angel
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Glimpse!
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018
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This is not a tell-all book. With dignity, grace, and a profound loyalty and selflessness, Rufus Youngblood offers a glimpse of what it means to embrace a life of protecting the President and Vice President. In today’s world, living a principled life of integrity is not always on display. It stands out clearly in Rufus Youngblood,s life and extraordinary role. A remarkable book of noble and high quality. I would recommend it to anyone.
13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

James
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book and very amusing in places
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2018
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Rufus W. Youngblood spent twenty years in the U.S Secret Service. From collaring fraudsters for stealing social security money to protecting LBJ during the Kennedy assassination, Ruf ( as he was known) did it all. His original memoir was published after his retirement from the Secret Service, and more than twenty years after he sadly passed away, his youngest daughter Rebecca has done a marvellous job in republishing the book for future generations. A quiet, unassuming family man, Rufus W. Youngblood did his job effectively and professionally and the motto of the Secret Service 'Worthy of trust and confidence' is one that can apply to him. An excellent book and very amusing in places. Recommended!
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