Description:
From the first African American assigned to the presidential Secret
Service detail comes a gripping and unforgettable true story of bravery
and patriotism in the face of bitter hatred and unthinkable corruption.
Abraham Bolden was a young African American Secret Service agent in
Chicago when he was asked by John F. Kennedy himself to join the White
House Secret Service detail. For Bolden, it was a dream come
true—and an encouraging sign of the charismatic
president’s vision for a new America.
But the dream quickly turned sour when Bolden found himself regularly
subjected to open hostility and blatant racism. He was taunted, mocked,
and disparaged but remained strong, and he did not allow himself to
become discouraged.
More of a concern was the White House team’s irresponsible
approach to security. While on his tour of presidential duty, Bolden
witnessed firsthand the White House agents’ long-rumored lax
approach to their job. Drinking on duty, abandoning key
posts—this was not a team that appeared to take their
responsibility to protect the life of the president particularly
seriously. Both prior to and following JFK’s assassination,
Bolden sought to expose and address the inappropriate behavior and
negligence of these agents, only to find himself the victim of a
sinister conspiracy that resulted in his conviction and imprisonment on
a trumped-up bribery charge.
A gripping memoir substantiated by recently declassified government
documents, The Echo from Dealey Plaza is the story of the terrible
price paid by one man for his commitment to truth and justice, as well
as a shocking new perspective on the circumstances surrounding the
death of a beloved president.
About the Author
ABRAHAM BOLDEN graduated cum laude from Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, Missouri, with a B.A. in music composition. He served in the U.S.
Secret Service from 1960 to 1964. Bolden now lives in Chicago and is
retired after working for thirty years in the field of quality-control
supervision.
The Echo from Dealey Plaza
The true story of the first African American on the White House Secret
Service detail and his quest for justice after the assassination of JFK
by Abraham Bolden
ISBN:
9780307382016
ISBN-10:
030738201X
Publisher:
Harmony Books (Random House)
Publication Date:
2008
Format:
Hardcover, 320 pages
Book Type:
New