AVAILABLE IN KINDLE (SELLING LIKE WILDFIRE!) AND HARDCOVER/ PAPERBACK:
DAN EMMETT: AS SEEN ON “INSIDE EDITION”, FOX NEWS, AND MANY OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS
36 of 36 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on presidential protection February 24, 2012
By Fmr. Agent Abraham Bolden
Format:PaperbackAs an ex-secret service agent and the first African American to be assigned to the Secret Service White House Detail during the presidency of John F. Kennedy, I found “Within Arm’s Length” to be to be a very well written and informative book detailing the duties of a secret service agent. Without embellishing or attempting to paint a heroic picture of the awesome job of presidential protection, Agent Emmett skillfully gives the reader an inside view of what it means to be an agent of the elite group of agents surrounding the president.
I was deeply impressed by his descriptions of the responsibilities and duties of the advance detail agents who are responsible for setting up the protection of the president whenever the president travels. The marvel of this book is that it describes these procedures without sacrificing the security of the current operations.
This is a book well written. It is a “must read” for anyone anticipating a job in government security services or police administration.
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book on the Secret Service ever written! A must have! Outstanding! January 17, 2012
By Vince Palamara
Format:PaperbackFormer Secret Service agent Dan Emmett, author of “Within Arm’s Length”, is to be commended on putting together a refreshing take on a well-worn subject as of late: the United States Secret Service. While many of the books written by former agents are ghost-written, dry, dull, and are often dated, Emmett’s is exciting, never boring, compelling, and employed no co-author or ghost-writer; this work is solely his own. After the recent debacle of best-selling author Ronald Kessler’s dubious tome “In The President’s Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect”, a book that seemingly betrayed the trust of the agents, past and present, that the author took into his confidence, littering the literary landscape with dubious tawdry tales of presidential sex, alleged agency incompetence, or worse, Emmett’s book will be embraced by scholars, the public and, perhaps most important of all, his colleagues.
Someone needed to take up the mantle and do away with all the controversy, poor writing, myopic outlook, and compromising information out there on the Secret Service and write a book the agency would be proud of AND that would also appeal to the lay public, as well. Dan Emmett took up the quest and succeeded admirably. In short, “Within Arm’s Length” is the antidote to Kessler, McCarthy, and all the silly and overwrought books and television specials that violate the agency’s code of being Worthy of Trust and Confidence. If there was a literary Medal of Valor the Secret Service could award Emmett for his book, they should hold the ceremony tomorrow. Emmett’s book truly reads like he had this epiphany: “I have had enough with Kessler, the hero worship, the gossip, the untruths, and all the crap—here is the TRUE story of an agent without the junk… and no compromising information, dammit!” Mission accomplished.
In short, Dan Emmett provides the reader with the nuts and bolts without giving away the game, so to speak.
“Within Arm’s Length” grabs the reader from the very first sentence and doesn’t ever let up.
“Within Arm’s Length” is, without question, the best book ever written about the Secret Service: current, well-written, classy, very informative, but, most importantly, does not indulge in hero worship of presidents or reveal “inside secrets” or other compromising details. In short, “WITHIN ARM’S LENGTH” makes you feel like you are THERE! Emmett is a great guy with an impressive background who truly represents the valor of the Secret Service. Emmett has given a blueprint for all agents—past, present, and future—to follow and admire. Worthy of Trust & Confidence indeed! Dan Emmett is an example of a great American.
Vince Palamara, literary Secret Service expert
NOTE: Dan Emmett is a true patriot and first-class gentleman. His book is fantastic. That said, the various recent news articles that the book are allegedly based on have taken things way out of context, leaving the false impression that Dan has attacked the Clintons, which is patently false. Please READ the book before taking things out of context…and kudos to Mr Emmett for the BEST book ever on the Secret Service (1865-2012)
revised 3/8/12
Vince Palamara 