Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

If you want a detailed, intelligent, eloquent tale of presidential history read Clint Hill's "Five Presidents" which covers his 17 years in the Secret Service protecting occupants of the White House. From the days of Eisenhower, when security was far more casual than it would be after the assassination of JFK, to the Ford administration Mr Hill tells the stories which illuminate the lives of each leader in a thoughtful way. He allows us to see the human side, but keeps the anecdotes to the humorous/insightful, devoid of the trashy/speculative material so many "insiders" go to in order to boost sales.This is Clint Hill's story and it is peopled with all the names we have heard in the headlines, but on a human scale. He explains the passion Eisenhower had for golf but does not make it an attack on him. We learn about Lyndon Johnson from someone who walked right beside him daily. Of course there are more stories about Hill's years with Jacqueline Kennedy, a favored time of his career. And one is certain that Mrs Kennedy would approve the way he describes working with her and the president.Lisa McCubbin is the co-author of this book and it is clear that she has magnificently set the tone and voice with which it is written. Selecting the stories to tell and shaping the narration has resulted in a grand book, which will resonate with all interested in a life of service to his country.Bravo to both authors.

While I was alive , though somewhat young in the early part of this book, I was reminded constantly the turmoil our country has gone through. This reads like a history book but with one big difference – this is a smooth and easy read and you cannot put it down. I highly recommend this book to you. I promise you won't find yourself yawning at any time . Also, as an added benefit , there are many fine and high-resolution photos included.

Clint Hill, probably the most recognized Secret Service agent in history, writes of his sixteen-year career covering presidents from Eisenhower to Ford. It's a book of mostly light fare, much of which is spent relating presidential foreign trips and how the secret service attended to the details necessary in making a president's trip safe. Apart from the often remembered day in Dallas, which Hill has written about previously, he spends several entertaining chapters describing how life was like with Lyndon Johnson. These chapters were lots of fun to read as LBJ kept the agents hopping with last-minute decisions to "go places".A good bit of the book is taken up with historical context rather than Hill's own personal involvement in protecting the president, so the narrative gets a little diversionary at times. But I was amazed to read about how long the SS-100-X, the limousine in which JFK was riding when assassinated, was still in use. And it wasn't until Nixon's tenure that limousines finally got bulletproof glass!There are some questions that are never answered. Was it really alcohol abuse that shortened his years with the Secret Service?He doesn't tell much about this. And what ever happened to his wife, Gwen? She fades away somewhere near the end of the book."Five Presidents" is an easy read, told my a man who was a witness to dozens of major historical events. It's worth that read to learn about his career and the men he served.

Definitely a page turner of the nth degree. Clint and Lisa weave an insider's view of the Presidency as no one else can. Their crisp and readable prose makes this a fascinating and enjoyable book that is hard to put down. We all know about Clint's interaction with John and Jacqueline Kennedy but the anecdotes of the others he protected are priceless. This is all new material here. Tales of Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Agnew and Ford will keep you craving more. When you are finished you'll want Clint and Lisa to write a sequel with other historical gems too. Books like this are rare, informative and incredibly enjoyable to read. A winning combination!

If you want to know what a person is really like, watch how they treat the hired help. There are personal observations and stories in "Five Presidents" that are available nowhere else. They really open up insights into these five men that only someone who is invisible can have.No matter what we hold as political ideology, these Presidents are much more than the press opportunities show. These Presidents brought us from the a time when pre-World War II thinking was the norm into the nuclear and space ages, from the seemingly placid Eisenhower years into the tumult and chaos of assassinations, the Vietnam War, the rise and fall of President Nixon and the attempts of President Ford to calm the national sentiments."Five Presidents" is not an American history book. It is the memoir of a man who served five men of great personal drive and ambition. The memoir of a man who ably adjusted his service to suit the demands of the new President. Living and working so closely with these Presidents gives the author the chance to share with us stories that the press secretary would never have allowed to be circulated. Love them, or hate them, these are the five Presidents that the country elected and had to learn to live with. As this book shows, we hardly knew them.

The story of a man who walked beside people who made history. Well written without judging his Principals (the people he was charged to protect).The man who has been seen by literally millions of people as he leapt onto the back of Kennedy's car after the shooting. But that was a minor part of his life, a minor part that has haunted him since.I became aware of the man after an anecdote about a drink named after him. Well worth reading

A very good read told in a very simple fashion. Interesting insights. Not a great fan of Nixon I imagine but gave a very positive review of Spiro Agnew as a person who was kind and amiable. Dedicated to his job. I would’ve liked to read more about his life from 1975 onwards, particularly how his relationship developed with his wife and family.

I have read all 3 books from Clint Hill and they are just fantastic it is eye opening to an era didn’t know much. There is so much respect gratitud and humanity in them that you feel sad when you get to the last page !!! Highly recommended

I liked how it brought home that the great men in history were also human and had their sufferings. Highly reccomend.

Great book very interesting read history in the making behind the seans of five Presidents