For the majority of the past decade, Carol Leonnig has been investigative reporting on the Secret Service for The Washington Post. Her work has brought to light the agency’s secrets, scandals, and deficiencies, ranging from a toxic work culture and outdated equipment to internal resentment towards agency leaders prioritizing the preservation of its once-stellar image over addressing its flaws. However, the Secret Service had not always faced such challenges.
Established in 1865 in response to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the agency’s narrative truly begins in 1963 with the tragic death of John F. Kennedy. Prompted by its failure to protect the president in Dallas, the once-quiet agency underwent a radical transformation into an elite, highly trained unit. It redeemed itself on multiple occasions, most notably in 1981 when it thwarted an assassination attempt against Ronald Reagan. However, this reputation for courage and excellence eroded over time. By Barack Obama’s presidency, the once-proud Secret Service was plagued by mistakes and alarming lapses in judgment, including break-ins at the White House, an armed gunman firing into the residence while agents hesitated, and a significant prostitution scandal among agents in Cartagena.
With the arrival of Donald Trump, promised reforms were discarded, and a president indifferent to public service exploited the Secret Service for political and personal gains. To delve into these internal issues, Leonnig conducted interviews with numerous current and former agents, government officials, and whistleblowers who risked their careers to shed light on the agency’s dire need for reform. Leonnig expresses her gratitude to them, emphasizing that they came forward not to share tantalizing gossip about presidents and their families but to address the broken state of the Service and advocate for necessary changes. Through their collective stories, they aim to revive the Service they deeply care about.