Son of the Secret Service

ClintMcCowngrew up among men who cast very long shadows. His father was a war hero who rose to become a command-level special agent in the US Secret Service. As a teenager;McCownworked as a yard boy on the Gettysburg farm of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower;who imparted lessons in both hunting and battle strategies. With such formidable role models;young McCown felt pressured to prove himself;which led to impulsive and reckless decisions as a teenager;such as jumping the fence into East Germany during the Cold War;right under the nose of a machine-gun tower. Eventually;however;McCown's risky exploits found purpose: he became a journalist;and his investigations into corrupt politicians played a crucial role in thwarting a Mafia takeover of the Alabama state government. This work earned him the Associated Press Award for Documentary Excellence;but not before a failed assassination attempt on his life. _x000D_ Son of the Secret Service: A Memoir is a collection of award-winning essays;three of which receivedNotable Essay citations in the Best American Essays series. McCown brings a unique perspective to his story-as the son of a Secret Service agent;a member of the generation that came of age in the 1960s and 1970s;and a veteran of the arts. Across a diverse range of settings-including the streets of Birmingham during civil rights demonstrations;a nudist colony in New Mexico,a New York theater company;and even a small-town department store hosting a funeral-McCownshares his encounters with a Puerto Rican terrorist;a poisoned dog;a parade of famous actors;politicians;and athletes;and a giant shark in the Baltic Sea. _x000D_ Through masterful storytelling and vibrant prose;these personal essays capture a rich tapestry of life experiences;each rendered with striking beauty;clarity;and depth. In these poignant snapshots of an extraordinary existence;McCown examines the evolving nature of the world;highlighting the profound and valuable lessons woven into our defining moments.