Huge fan of book

Dear Mr. Blaine,

I wanted to write you and say how much I enjoyed your book. Having
read through many books on the Kennedy Presidency and legacy, your
book lent a credibility that simply cannot be questioned. Thank you
for encouraging the guys to lend their recollections to what is sure
to become a definitive account of those tragic events.

If you ever make it back through Los Angeles, perhaps for the
paperback, I'll be sure to attend the signing.

I know you guys don't like the term hero. Fair enough. But you had a
heroic job, did heroic things, lived a crazy schedule barely balancing
your family life with your work life that only a hero could pull off;
so you'll forgive me when I say, you sir, are a hero.

Thank you for this book. Thank you for your service.

Fred Shahadi
playwright

From Simon and Schuster Forum

Dear Ms. Lisa McCubbin, dear Mr. Gerald Blaine,

thank you for writing this extraordinary book abot the Kennedy detail. Aging 43, I became interested in the JFK assassination for the first time in 1992, when I was watching Oliver Stone´s " JFK". Since then I read various books about various conspirarcy theories as described in your book.

Dear Mr. Gerald Blaine, I´d like to thank you for your personal story and those of your then fellow agents. Thank you for many funny anecdotes during the detail and last but not least the very precise and heartbraking description of the assassination and its aftermath.

I´d like to let you know that I have entirely changed from a conspiracy enthusiast in the first place in the 1990s to such of the Warren Commission result. I have read the Warren Commission report. In comparison to those books which describe various conspiracy theories, the results of Warren Commission report are the most convincing. There might be ( or not) failures of investigations in it. However, after nearly 50 years since the assassination in Dallas no such conspiracy could ever been proved and to be honest to continue those theories is, to me, must be a permanent punch into the face of the Kennedy family, in particular for the only surviving child, Caroline Kennedy.

I allow myself as a much younger person who has never witnessed the scene in Dallas to tell you that I cannot see any guilt or personal responsibility for the death of the 35th President of the US. Neither you nor your fellow agents ever had chance to avoid the shooting. I am not saying that I disrespect your own feelings or those of your fellow agents. I am trying to say that from a rational point of view, there was nothing you could have done at the scene, as it happened. You were expressing this in your book as well, I think. You simply did a great job!

I hope for you personally and for the rest of the remaining fellow agents who are still alive, that you may find your peace and that the endless conspiracy theories may come to an end soon. I hope many more are going to read " The Kennedy detail"

Thank you for your brilliant book again!

Kind regards

Christoph Maurenbrecher

Warm best wishes to Jerry Blaine

 
Dear Mr. Blaine:
 
I have just finished reading "The Kennedy Detail," and am moved to write you this note to thank you for taking the time to write it.
 
Over the years, I have been privileged to have gotten to know several SA's with the Secret Service, and am always impressed with their dedication to the job.  It is, at its essence, a very high form of patriotism.  No one I know has gotten wealthy from being in the Service; even those who have risen in the ranks to ATSAIC's, ASAC's and SAIC's.
 
The point that resonated with me from reading your book is the Herculean tasks you and your colleagues had in an era devoid of the technological advances that the Secret Service enjoys today.
 
Please pardon my intrusion on your time with this email, but I wanted you to know that your book was not only enjoyable; it was inspirational as well.  I hope you, Joyce and your family will enjoy happiness and good health for many years to come.
 
Cordially,
Mark
 
Mark S. Alper

A note from White House Photographer Bob Knudson' daughter

Hello Mr. Blaine



I am the daughter of WH photographer Bob Knudsen. I just finished your book. I absolutely loved it. Being that I was the youngest I probably spent the most time during my younger years with my dad. Your book really allowed me to better understand why dad was so quiet about his job and why he was gone all the time. I was born in April 1963.



One of my fondest memories was a 40th year birthday party for my dad at our house in Annandale. One of the USSS Agents came upstairs to console me because I was upset because I couldn't go downstairs with all the adults. I also remember the trips with Nixon when most families accompanied their fathers to Florida and Laguna Beach, California.



I read your book super fast because it was so informative. The style was awesome. I am grateful for all that you did during your service for the country. I am a Special Agent with the embattled ATF. I have been one for 12 years. I have been on a few task forces where I have had the privelege of working with USSS. It is still a great Agency and a joy to work with USSS Agents.





I would love have you sign my book and one for my brother and mother. I know Bob asked for one, but he may have put it off and it would be a great gift for all my siblings and Mom.



Look forward to hearing from you.



Yvonne Knudsen Becker

Bravo From a Fellow Secret Service Agent

Jerry:



My name is Tom Heuerman. I was an agent in Minneapolis and Chicago

from late 1968-1972.



I just finished "The Kennedy Detail" and want to say bravo, bravo, bravo.



You were definitely called to do this work, and I thank you for

following it. The world is better for your work.



I found the book deeply painful AND inspiring. It is really, I feel, a

book about all of our shared humanity in a world filled with villains

that the good people have to say "NO" to.



Clint Hill's story made me cry. I am a recovering alcoholic, (37

years), and don't know that he considers himself an alcoholic or not,

but I do relate to his suffering and isolation. I am so happy that he

dug himself out of his despair.



I am writing a review (as I fancy myself a writer too) and will post

it on Amazon, my blog, and my web site probably tomorrow.



By the way, in 2001 I lived on the side of a mountain between Ridgway

and Ouray, Colorado. I am in Plymouth, MN now.



My best wishes





Tom Heuerman

Thank You ...

Dear Mr. Blaine,



I just finished reading The Kennedy Detail, and I wanted to thank you and Mr. Hill and your other agent friends for setting the record straight. I was only 7 when the President died, but I still remember the day, and I've read and seen a lot of the theory stuff over the years.



You have done a great service to Mr. Kennedy's memory to provide many insights into the last few weeks of his presidency.

He always seemed like a very intelligent leader to me, but I always had a feeling he was also a great guy. You helped honor some of that side of him.



I have great admiration for the silence you kept for all these years, until all the brothers and Mrs. Kennedy had long passed. But you were right in deciding to share the truth about those days, and you and the other agents knew many things that should not be lost to history. I hope your book will stand as one of the main sources of reference for many years to come.



PS: My dad was an IBM salesman for 35 years and he's anxious to read the book now, too!



Best of luck,





Dave Jarvis

Oneida Castle, NY

Your Excellent Book ...

Dear Mr. Blaine,



I just finished reading The Kennedy Detail, and I wanted to thank you and Mr. Hill and your other agent friends for setting the record straight. I was only 7 when the President died, but I still remember the day, and I've read and seen a lot of the theory stuff over the years.



You have done a great service to Mr. Kennedy's memory to provide many insights into the last few weeks of his presidency. He always seemed like a very intelligent leader to me, but I always had a feeling he was also a great guy. You helped honor some of that side of him.



I have great admiration for the silence you kept for all these years, until all the brothers and Mrs. Kennedy had long passed. But you were right in deciding to share the truth about those days, and you and the other agents knew many things that should not be lost to history. I hope your book will stand as one of the main sources of reference for many years to come.



PS: My dad was an IBM salesman for 35 years and he's anxious to read the book now, too!



Best of luck,



Dave Jarvis

Oneida Castle, NY

Thanks from a Former Agent

Jerry:

My name is Tom Heuerman. I was an agent in Minneapolis and Chicago
from late 1968-1972.

I just finished "The Kennedy Detail" and want to say bravo, bravo, bravo.

You were definitely called to do this work, and I thank you for
following it. The world is better for your work.

I found the book deeply painful AND inspiring. It is really, I feel, a
book about all of our shared humanity in a world filled with villains
that the good people have to say "NO" to.

Clint Hill's story made me cry. I am a recovering alcoholic, (37
years), and don't know that he considers himself an alcoholic or not,
but I do relate to his suffering and isolation. I am so happy that he
dug himself out of his despair.

I am writing a review (as I fancy myself a writer too) and will post
it on Amazon, my blog, and my web site probably tomorrow.

By the way, in 2001 I lived on the side of a mountain between Ridgway
and Ouray, Colorado. I am in Plymouth, MN now.

My best wishes

--
Tom Heuerman

Thank you for your service to our nation!!

Mr. Blaine,

I am an Assistant United States Attorney in Pensacola, Florida. Today I was telling our local USSS agent, SA Kevin Clifton, how great your book was and he shared that very recently, he and a group of agents got to visit with the Kennedy Detail agents who were in Jacksonville doing a promotional on the book. I was spell-bound as he told me of his visit with you guys. There is not a finer, more dedicated, more professional group of agents that I have worked with in 33 years than those in the Secret Service. Thank you for your exemplary and sacrificial service to our nation and for sharing the history which you lived through this wonderful book!!

Len Register

AUSA - Pensacola

Thank you for writing the book ...

Dear Mr. Blaine:

Thank you so much for writing the book and sharing.

I was in Mrs. Smiths’, 4th grade classroom on the South Side of Pittsburgh. I remember the smell of the classroom, the sound of the rubber tip of the teacher’s pointer on the pull down map; I can still see tears running down the faces of my classmates and teachers, I remember the tightness in my chest and the inability to swallow. As I was reading your book, I recalled the voice of Walter Cronkite announcing the time of death of President Kennedy.

After school, we still drove to Youngstown, Ohio to spend the weekend with family. Seven of us remained glued to the TV for the next four days. None of us understood why we lost a president that day. No explanations were sufficient.

Thank you for writing the book and answering questions that have remained unanswered since 1963. I understand more now.

Thank you to all the Secret Service agents who have served our Presidents.


My best regards,



Michelle Z

With Respect

Dear Mr. Blaine,

I just finished reading “The Kennedy Detail”, and just so you know, I have never sent a letter like this before.

I became aware of your book after you and Mr. Hill appeared on the FOX 5 San Diego morning show. My daughter, Anna Belle, a writer on the show, had the honor of speaking with you both. If I may jog your memory a bit, in the course of conversation, she relayed that her grandpa was also named Gerald but with a hard “G”. You both signed a copy of the book for her. She called me on her way home in tears and began telling me about your conversation and the pride, sorrow, loss and love of Country she felt and how grateful she was in her heart to have been in the presence of true heroes and learn of their commitments and sacrifices.

I finished the book yesterday and found myself wiping away the tears for the same reasons my 26 year old daughter did. I was 3 1/2 years old on that fateful day and remember, as do most American’s, and the world, exactly where I was.

I want to thank you for finally dispelling all the myths and theories about the assassination, but mostly for giving young people a chance to feel what it means to completely commit yourself to a job, a lifestyle, a career, for the greater good and ask nothing in return. I think our young people today need to know that and I believe your book is a great start. The rest of us “old folk” surely will benefit too!!!!!

Thank you again for the kindness you showed my daughter. She will never forget you. Her Grandpa G.G. (Gerald Guy) is now in possession of the copy you signed for her and, to say the least, he is a proud Grandpa!


With greatest respect.

Betsy Guy Baumbaugh

Thank You

Special Agent Blaine,

Thank you for writing your book and setting the record straight. I
was only four years old at the time of the assassination and about
all I remember is that everyone was sad and Bugs Bunny was not on on
Saturday morning. Since then I have become an eighth grade history
teacher. Every November near the date of the assassination I tell the
story through pictures and news video clips. Thanks to your book I
can now include some background information and can without a doubt
refute the conspiracy theories that are mentioned every year.

Thank you as well for the work that you and your fellow agents did
and still do to provide protection for our President. I can not
imagine the pain and agony that you all must have suffered. Thank you
and your families for being willing to do that.

Again, thank you for the book. I found it difficult to put down once
I started reading. It will give a new perspective for me when I visit
the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum later this spring.

Sincerely,
Warren Kidder

Thank You for Your Service.

Mr. Blaine,

I am an Assistant United States Attorney in Pensacola, Florida. Today I was telling our local USSS agent, SA Kevin Clifton, how great your book was and he shared that very recently, he and a group of agents got to visit with the Kennedy Detail agents who were in Jacksonville doing a promotional on the book. I was spell-bound as he told me of his visit with you guys. There is not a finer, more dedicated, more professional group of agents that I have worked with in 33 years than those in the Secret Service. Thank you for your exemplary and sacrificial service to our nation and for sharing the history which you lived through this wonderful book!!

Len Register

AUSA - Pensacola

Mother and Daughter Send Thanks

Dear Mr. Blaine -

My daughter and I have just finished reading your book. I just wanted to let you know how we both enjoyed the attention to detail and the honesty that you put forth in reliving
the memories of that horrendous day.

I personally will always remember being in Senior year Algebra when we heard the news.
It was something that no one could have imagined. The trauma felt by the whole world
was only multiplied thousands of times for you and the other agents involved.

The book has helped to answer many questions that had been left unanswered. I have read
many books about the Kennedy family over the years. Jackie was a role model to those
of my age - from pill box hats to copies of her jewelry now on sale, we all wanted to
be part of Camelot.

I have known an agent who was on the Reagan detail and a childhood friend of our daughter is just now finishing his training in the Secret Service. I have a new respect for the
sacrifices you and the others have made day to day for our country and for your families
because they too have made sacrifices.

I thank you for writing the book. It is extremely well written and makes the reader feel
the emotion of the moments in those days following the assassination.

Thank you so much.

Kathy Fellin
St. Louis, Missouri

From A Fan

Dear Mr. Blaine,

My sincere thanks to your and your colleagues for sharing your story.

I just finished reading The Kennedy Detail and will read it again. I had my 15th birthday six days before the assassination and have been engrossed in both the man and the times ever since. Over the years I've amassed a small "Kennedy Library" of my own and your book was a gift from my son that I now cherish. After all these years, I still find it difficult to watch documentary footage of that tragic day but until now had no comprehension whatsoever of the loyalty, dedication, and sacrifice displayed by the men of your profession. Each and every one of you truly is a hero!

Thank you again for what must have been an incredibly difficult endeavor.

With admiration,
Fran Souza

With a Gaithersburg Book Festival Fan!

On Saturday, May 21, a book festival was held in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Two of the featured authors were Gerald Blaine and Clint Hill from the Kennedy Detail book. While this was a life-time moment for me, it was my chance to have my son to experience history. Even though Terrell may be too young to understand the significance of the moment, years later he will be able to say that he shook hands and met two people who are etched in American history.

BTW: Before I could [ask] Mr. Blaine & Hill can I take of picture of them with my son, they beat me to the punch...and here is the proof....

















With Clint Hill and 6 Year Old Terrell Pullen


Courtesy of Jeffrey D. Pullen

Thank You

Dear Mr. Blaine:

Thank you so much for writing the book and sharing.

I was in Mrs. Smiths’ 4th grade classroom on the South Side of Pittsburgh. I remember the smell of the classroom, the sound of the rubber tip of the teacher’s pointer on the pull down map; I can still see tears running down the faces of my classmates and teachers, I remember the tightness in my chest and the inability to swallow. As I was reading your book, I recalled the voice of Walter Cronkite announcing the time of death of President Kennedy.

After school, we still drove to Youngstown, Ohio to spend the weekend with family. Seven of us remained glued to the TV for the next four days. None of us understood why we lost a president that day. No explanations were sufficient.

Thank you for writing the book and answering questions that have remained unanswered since 1963. I understand more now.

Thank you to all the Secret Service agents who have served our Presidents.

My best regards,

Michelle Z

Thank You For Writing This Book

Dear Mr. Blaine,

I have never written or responded to authors of books or articles I have read. But, having just finished reading The Kennedy Detail I felt compelled to write to you to say THANK YOU. Thank you for having the courage to re-live those terrible memories in order for the world to finally learn the truth and the details of that horrific event.

I was not quite 6 years old when President Kennedy was assassinated so my memory of the events are limited. I can remember watching the coverage on TV and over the years have always read books written about the Kennedy's and the assassination. I must admit until reading your book I, like many others, was convinced there was a conspiracy that involved foreign governments. However, you and your fellow agents are so credible I don't know how anyone could dispute your account of history. Had this event taken place in the last 10 - 20 years it probably wouldn't be as difficult to believe that the assassination was carried out by one deranged person.

Prior to reading your book I never thought much about the Agents on the Kennedy Detail and how the events of that day altered their lives. I have such a profound respect for you and your former colleagues. I wish you well and again, thank you for writing this book.


Audrey Oswell

Reader's Letter of Appreciation

Mr. Blaine,

I just finished reading your book yesterday, three hours after I started it... it was amazing, and it included some information that I had heard previously, and lots of information that I didnt already know. I had previously, ( a year or two ago) read Abraham Boldons book about the event, and I found yours much more revealing, and yes, chilling and haunting by far. What effected me most, was the effect that the " six seconds" had on Clint Hill and how long it took him to finally deal with it.

Thank you for writing this book and bringing to light what the agents really knew had happened, and the devastation that it caused to them personally and professionally

Sincerely,


Laura Gary

Letter of Appreciation form MSU's Cynthia Kyle

Agents Blaine and Hill and Lisa….

My mind has written a number of notes to you in the aftermath of your visit, all equally eloquent (I’m sure) but not written.

They all said thank you for your profound visit, and for the talk that continues through the community about it, and for the stories swapped about your visit (can you believe that Clint Hill rode in my car????) and the stories that are continue beyond that. I had lunch today with an old friend who was at the morning lecture and the book signing. She was telling another friend about the events when she noticed that people around them had quieted. Then they asked if she would speak up a bit so they could hear her account of your visit.

There are no words to describe, to even think about, how memorable your visit to East Lansing was.

Let me share some other follow ups:

You might want to look at the IPPSR website about your visit. We’re learning hear to edit video and audio, so forgive first efforts, but people were asking for same: http://www.ippsr.msu.edu/KennedyDetail/index.html

A column on education references visit: http://domemagazine.com/weekly/wu042211

A local political online magazine’s story: http://domemagazine.com/features/cov0411

A local entertainment weekly: http://npaper-wehaa.com/citypulse/#2011/04/12/?article=1230966

I have been asked for the names of folks who attended various events. Rad Jones has been asked about agents in town for your visit from the MSU alumni magazine editor.

Schuler Books & Music sold 89 books during the signing, in addition to the 60 sold during the earlier events. They were wowed by the reaction.
Thank you again for inspiring, awe-inspiring visit.

All best,

Cindy Kyle