Secret Service Blunders, White House Secrets and Why Hillary Clinton Is ‘Detested’ by Agents

Investigative reporter and author Ronald Kessler – who is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on the U.S. Secret Service – reveals the results of his exhaustive research into how the current and former presidents treated members of their personal security detail, and gives his views on the series of serious security breaches at the White House.

When asked about Vice President Joe Biden, who has the reputation of wanting to appear as a down-to-earth man of the people, Kessler he has a different approach to handling Secret Service agents around him.

“In order to maintain his image as a Regular Joe, when Biden goes back to Wilmington, Delaware – which he does several times a week, back to his home – he insists that his agents keep his military aide with the nuclear football… at least a mile behind in the motorcade.”

He explains that the nuclear football is essential in case the United States needs to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike. “So of course if Obama were taken out, we would be defenseless against a nuclear attack because there would not be time for the military aides to catch up to Biden with the nuclear football, which has codes for unleashing a nuclear strike.”

Kessler noted that of course Biden uses his official plane, Air Force Two, as his personal taxi going back and forth to Delaware several times a week. “It’s actually cost a million dollars since he took office to take these personal trips.”

Of the presidents and vice presidents Kessler has researched, he says Biden is one of the worst offenders for not giving enough advance notice to agents about his plans from week to week, making it difficult for them to have normal lives.

“He also likes to skinny dip, and this offends his female agents,” Kessler revealed. “He does this both at the Vice President’s residence and also at his home in Wilmington.”

But the author of The First Family Detail said the one person considered “the most detested by the Secret Service” is Hillary Clinton. “Being assigned to her detail is actually considered a form of punishment because she is so nasty to agents,” he said. “And yet, here is a woman who professes to be a compassionate person, cares about the little people, she going to a champion for the middle class. And behind the scenes, she treats those very same people with contempt.

He said his sources were pretty consistent in their feelings towards the former First Lady. “And this is a clue to character that I pursue in the book, that we should look at character, we should look at track record when we choose a president, as opposed to how well they smile on TV or what they promise, because most of the time they renege on those promises.”

Kessler also provided more intimate details of life behind-the-scenes for the Clintons. “The book reveals that on a current basis, Bill Clinton has this mistress mentioned, who’s been unofficially codenamed “energizer” by the agents.”

He says that in contrast to Hillary, the alleged mistress – who he describes as a “busty blonde” – has a reputation as treated the Secret Service agents very well and has even been known to bring them cookies.

Speaking about the current White House, he said his sources in the Secret Service are generally satisfied by the treatment they receive from the family. “The Secret Service does feel that President Obama and his wife treat them with respect and consideration. On the other hand, they’re dismayed to overhear Michelle urge her husband to be more aggressive in attacking Republicans, and to side with blacks in racial controversies,” Kessler said.

Addressing the practice of lax security measures by Secret Service agents who make exceptions for officials or celebrities, Kessler said this has already led to potentially disastrous situations. “The agents are generally brave and dedicated, but the management will bow to political pressures.”

As an example, he said when there’s a line outside for an event, the White House staff or campaign staff pressures the agents to let the people in without metal detection screening. “You could have five terrorists come in with grenades.”

In the case of Bradley Cooper attending the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, agents were told not to stop him or search his vehicle,” according to Kessler. “The order was, let him in, don’t screen him.”

“The Bradley Cooper thing was a favor between a high-ranking Secret Service official to his security staff apparently, to just let him and his SUV into a secure area in front of the Washington Hilton, when Obma was about to speak to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”

Speaking about the recent White House fence jumper, Kessler said the agents involved made two crucial mistakes during the incident – first not unleashing dogs on the man, as they are instructed to do – and second by not using lethal force to stop him from entering the White House.”

“In this case he could have had explosives, he could have had a WMD, you can’t wait until he blows up the White House to take him out.”