Get Me Carlucci: A Daughter Recounts Her Father’s Legacy of Service

by Kristin Carlucci Weed, Frank Charles Carlucci III

“Frank Carlucci is living proof to all of us and to the world that ‘only in America’ is more than just an easy cliché: it’s a great ringing truth.” —President Ronald Reagan

Once called “Washington’s ultimate survivor” by The Washington Post, Frank C. Carlucci III served six presidents, traveled the world on behalf of his country, and ultimately rose to prominence as Secretary of Defense. Through every chapter of his extraordinary and varied career, American leaders had a common “Get me Carlucci!”

Get Me Carlucci combines Carlucci’s own words with interviews from his contemporaries and context from his daughter, Kristin Carlucci Weed, who completes her late father’s story while keeping his “characteristic deadpan humor and tell-it-like-it-is sensibility, no frills and no fuss.”

While Carlucci did not seek the spotlight, his work shaped the world. As a young Foreign Service Officer, he weathered the turmoil and excitement of the Congo Crisis of the 1960s, and as Ambassador to Portugal in the 1970s, he played a crucial role in the country’s transition to democracy. With a dynamic mind and a knack for building relationships, Carlucci then returned to the U.S. to serve in Washington. As Deputy Director of the CIA, National Security Advisor, and eventually Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan, he defined American Cold War policy.

Starting with Carlucci’s childhood and early military days, Get Me Carlucci is a unique look at the wide-ranging career of one of the twentieth century’s most important behind-the-scenes actors. “The President thought the world of him,” said Carlucci’s friend and mentee Colin Powell. “I thought the world of him.”

Carlucci’s story is one of service, hard work, and true statesmanship as the grandson of an Italian stonecutter becomes an indispensable voice at the highest levels of American government.

280 pages, Hardcover

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

Kristin Carlucci Weed grew up in McLean, Virginia, as the daughter of former Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci. Carlucci Weed attended Duke University and Johns Hopkins University, focusing on international affairs and public policy. After working in policy research in the U.S. and in Europe, she returned to the leafy suburbs of Washington, DC, where she settled with her US Air Force husband in 2020. When she is not driving one of her three children to their activities, she can be found on the tennis court or planning her next globetrotting adventure.

Get Me Carlucci is her first book.

Reviews

[Chad Manske · Rating 5 out of 5]

As time passes and the political winds seem ever more afoul with a polarizing scent, one can look back to a time in recent US history when both sides of the aisle cooperated and compromised for the benefit of all Americans more fully. The James Baker and Leon Panetta era seem foreign and forgotten to many who closely watch domestic policy machinations play out today in social media and the 24-hour news cycle. Rare was it to find trust and the bond that one could be taken at their word. Yet, one of those rare public servants was Frank Carlucci III. Not really a politician, but one who understood politics, Carlucci made a name for himself on both sides of the aisle in an unassuming, hardworking way he learned from his father. Holding rare roles during his public service career as Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, US Ambassador to Portugal as a junior foreign service officer who is still today hailed as a country hero, to his role as the Deputy Director of the CIA, to his time spent as President Reagan's National Security Advisor, to his final appointment as the Secretary of Defense, he worked for both Democrats and Republicans despite his Republican Party affiliation. Carlucci played a significant role during the tenuous Cold War in helping keep Portugal aligned to the West, and was sought out for his advice, and soft-spoken temperament, which is why he was so well-loved.

His daughter, Kristin Weed Carlucci, has captured these stories and some of the personal anecdotes and highlights of Carlucci's career in this readable and authoritative short biography. Frank Carlucci, to his credit, kept a journal of sorts and even began a memoir of his career yet it was never finished or published as the onset of his late Parkinson's Disease diagnosis kept him focused more on his family. Kristin took his writings, interviewed a number of the most important people in Carlucci's professional life, and interspersed her own recollections as his daughter in this credible work.

I first met Frank myself while a military officer commanding a US Air Force base in England. His son-in-law, Joshua Weed (Kristin's husband), and I worked together in my front office, yet it would be until the end of our working relationship prior to their military move to Germany did I know Josh was Frank's son-in-law. When Josh and Kristin were expecting their first child, Marcia and Frank were going to come to England and stay with them for a bit shortly after the baby was born. Josh knew I had written a historical book while a graduate student at Harvard on the history and historical antecedents of the National Security Council. Part of my research graded each of the National Security Advisors who had served the president up until its time of publication in 2008. Frank Carlucci was one of them and my treatment of him was complimentary...phew! Josh arranged for me to meet Frank when they came to England in the summer of 2010, and before I knew it we were sipping Chardonnay on the edge of the River Cam in Cambridge while he waxed eloquent on his career in the government and White House! I gave Frank a copy of my book and, by god, did he not only read it, he sent me back a typed letter denoting the pros and cons of my conclusions and recommendations, generally agreeing with the bottom line. I treasure this letter today! But this would be the end of my time seeing Frank. More on that later...

"Get Me Carlucci," the book's title, results from that often-sought-after persona I referred earlier. Working for Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford and Reagan, Kristin details her father's no-nonsense approach to his work, which was backed up in these pages by the likes of those he worked closely, including Colin Powell (who eulogized him after his passing in 2018 and who worked with him in numerous capacities), Donald Rumsfeld, Henry Kissinger, and others--you must read about it! Carlucci was a family man, too, despite his busy agenda, and although his government salary didn't often pay all the bills, he never eschewed the call to public service. Even though his father's wish had been for him to be a businessman, something he didn't pursue in full until after his public service career was done, and for which he became wildly successful, he gave back by serving on boards and addressing various groups about the benefits of government service.

One of the boards he served on happened to bring me and Carlucci together again after our initial meeting in 2010. During that conversation, Frank asked me what I was interested in pursuing after my command tour was completed in 2011. I told him I was interested in becoming the US Air Force's senior fellow on the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. Frank sported a broad grin at my mention of this and told me he chairs that selection board and that he would see me if I was nominated by the US Air Force Chief of Staff. Sure enough, the next year I was selected and traveled to New York City for the interview. As I opened the doors to the interview room Frank stood up and greeted me warmly by name, much to the surprise of the former military Service chiefs who made up the rest of the panel, such as Generals John Jumper, Gordon Sullivan, and former Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen! I have to say I felt 10 feet tall at that moment before the grilling began! I got the fellowship by the way and have enjoyed my lifetime membership with the Council.

In conclusion, "Get Me Carlucci" is sure to be as sought after a national security reference about one of the most sought after national security professionals whose work ethic and principles are not likely to be seen any time soon, unfortunately. His rare ability to develop coalitions of support and hard work set a standard for government that all national security professionals should aspire, and I know that all who pick this book up will be inspired by that bottom-line message.

[Venky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank C. Carlucci III was a storied diplomat who plied his wares under seven presidents across party affiliations. He discharged his responsibilities in the military and foreign service in addition to serving as national security advisor and secretary of defense. Get Me Carlucci is a compilation of reminisces about her father by Kristin Carlucci Weed. Drawing on anecdotes from Carlucci’s superiors, subordinates and peers, empirical evidence from Carlucci’s own notes and conversations with Carlucci himself, the book is dwells on some of Carlucci’s momentous experiences and has a fair share of unexpected thrills and spills.

Speaking six foreign languages, Carlucci found himself stationed in some of the most volatile places on earth, experiencing some of the most extraordinary situations over the course of his political career. Posted to Congo immediately after the country obtained independence – there were only 16 Congolese graduates in the entire nation – Carlucci got drawn into a cauldron of political churn. He got stabbed by an irate mob when the car in which he was traveling hit a cyclist who’s unfortunately succumbed to his wounds. Carlucci was even accused of murdering Congo’s first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, an allegation that solely belonged to the realm of fantasy.

Carlucci distinguished himself so admirably in Portugal in the role of Ambassador that the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Lisbon is now named Casa Carlucci in his honor. But as the book states, the one achievement that Carlucci was most proud of related to his rehabilitation efforts to aid his home state of Pennsylvania after the State was battered by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. When the hurricane wreaked havoc, there was no government agency for handling disaster relief. Carlucci stepped in taking on the role of “flood czar,” and oversaw billions of dollars in federal aid on the ground. When the dust finally settled, the force of nature had caused 118 fatalities and lead to $3.5 billion in property damage. Carlucci also mooted the creation of a nodal relief agency for managing future disasters, which ultimately led to the creation of [the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The utility of Carlucci as a resourceful administrator is epitomised by the title of the book. In 1981 a 1981 Washington Post article titled “Get Me Carlucci is the summons for the quintessential Survivor” was published following the departure of Carlucci from the CIA under Carter where he undertook wholesale reforms in embellishing a tarnished image of the CIA, courtesy a slew of scandals.

After decades of government service, Carlucci tried his hand at business and was a spectacular success there as well. Joining the Private Equity firm Carlyle as Chairman, he used his extensive networks to position Carlyle as the then number one Private Equity firm. He also assumed Directorships in a clutch of companies which created a bit of controversy.

Get Me Carlucci is an absorbing recollection of a daughter about her father who despite being in a sphere of noteworthy influence thought the least about blowing his own trumpet.

[Tim Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating sketch of a momentous life, uniquely told. Kristin Carlucci Weed, mixing her own words and memories with those of her father, Frank Carlucci, tells the story of a true, old-style public servant.

Carlucci, the son of a Scranton, PA insurance salesman, did not—immediately—follow his father into business. Rather, he opted for a diplomatic life joining the US Foreign Service after a short stint in the Navy. Ms. Weed follows his career in Africa, where in South Africa, then the Congo, he established himself as somewhat of a maverick—doing the work according to his own design, which was out among the people, even with governments were collapsing or armies rebelling. The author’s descriptor of his interactions with Nelson Mandela and Patrice Lumumba were particularly interesting.

After a short stay back in Washington DC, Carlucci was posted out to another African crisis spot—Zanzibar—where he ran into some political difficulty and sent home “persona non grata”, then shuffled off to a long, anonymous wait in Brazil. As with all interesting lives, even his years in “exile” shaped his future: there he escorted Richard Nixon on a country visit, and there he learned Portuguese. Both would significantly affect his future.

Returning from Brazil in 1969, Carlucci stopped by to see an old Princeton friend, Donald Rumsfeld, who borrowed him from the State Department to help out in Rumsfeld’s Office of Economic Opportunity. This began a trip through the DC bureaucracy—to the Office of Management and Budget, then Health, Education and Welfare. After several years in the DC bureaucracy Nixon and Henry Kissinger tapped Carlucci to go to Portugal, then immersed in a struggle to determine whether the nation would lean to the west, or become communist. This story, and the love and respect the Portuguese still hold for the man was a strength of the book.

After three years on Portugal, President Carter’s CIA head, Standsfield Turner, asked Carlucci to come be his deputy at the agency. He served there until Regan became President and appointed Carlucci Deputy Secretary of Defense under Casper Weinberger, where he first met General Colin Powell—the pair’s lives would be entwined for much of the rest of Carlucci’s professional career. From Defense, he was called to the White House and National Security Advisor in the aftermath of the Iran-Contra Affair, then, late in the Regan era, he became Secretary of Defense.

Carlucci left government work after the Regan administration but the author tells the story of his founding of the successful Carlyle Group, then his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease and the twilight years before his death in 2018.

It is a magnificent story, and Ms. Weed’s frequent breaks in her narrative to allow her father to speak from his own memory was very effective in helping the reader to know the man better. It was the story of the government I served at the same time (though in far lesser roles) but brought back fond memories of the time and those who led, and led well. We yearn for more like him. Highly recommended.

[Stasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Get Me Carlucci" is a great read, and I highly recommend it! I was lucky to read an early release copy. Although I've reviewed many books on Goodreads, I haven't had the pleasure of reviewing such an intriguing one.

The title "Get Me Carlucci" originates from an incident early in Carlucci's career when the Prime Minister of the Congo visited the White House and repeatedly asked, "Where is Carlucci?" In exasperation, President Kennedy kept asking, "Who is Carlucci." Finally, Kennedy demanded, "Get me Carlucci," and thus began Frank Carlucci's meteoric rise. The statement "Get Me Carlucci" would be echoed by five additional presidents.

The story is conveyed as a collaboration between Carlucci and his daughter, Kristin Carlucci Weed. Ms. Weed meticulously expands upon Carlucci's memoir, integrating the larger historical context with interviews of his contemporaries, such as Colin Powell, and her accounts. Ms. Weed skillfully weaves her father's words, actions, and humanity, shedding much-deserved light on a distinguished career.

In today's divisive political climate, it was a delight to read about the distinguished career of a man who served under six presidents from both parties with the singular goal of serving the nation. Carlucci exemplified the long-lost Washingtonian ideal of "the desire of service before self and party." Ms. Weed consistently underscores this theme across Carlucci's career.

Carlucci's journey from being the grandson of an Italian stone-cutter to Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Under Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, National Security Advisor, Deputy Director of the CIA, Secretary of Defense, Ambassador to Portugal, and later as Chairman of the Carlyle Group, embodies the American dream and inspires hope that individuals can genuinely make a meaningful impact on our country.

While Ms. Weed illustrates many fascinating anecdotes from her father's impressive career, one that history has often overlooked is his response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Agnes. In 1972, President Nixon appointed Carlucci to take charge of providing a federal response. Carlucci was on the ground, offering support to the community when there was no designated government relief office. Thanks to his efforts, Carlucci later earned the moniker "Father of FEMA."

President Reagan said, "Frank Carlucci is living proof to all of us and to the world that 'only in America' is more than just an easy cliché; it's a great ringing truth." Ms. Weed artfully demonstrates that even though Carlucci remained behind the scenes, his influence on America was substantial and continues to have a lasting impact today. By completing and expanding her father's memoir, Ms. Weed has provided us with the opportunity to commemorate and honor his legacy.

[S Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Get Me Carlucci” is an exceptional read that offers an intimate and detailed account of Frank Carlucci's remarkable career. The author masterfully intertwines personal anecdotes with meticulous research, presenting a vivid portrait of a man who navigated the complex world of international diplomacy with grace, humility, intelligence, and unyielding dedication. Indeed, his was a life of purpose and achievement.

Frank Carlucci's career is nothing short of inspiring. His ability to manage crises, forge alliances, and steer the United States through turbulent times is a testament to his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to public service. "Get Me Carlucci" not only chronicles his achievements but also serves as a source of inspiration for anyone interested in the fields of diplomacy, defense, and leadership.

[Ashlee Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing read about politics and service to country. Right now it’s hard to find anyone in the political arena that is truly admired across the aisles. While Frank Carlucci wasn’t a politician, he dedicated his life to advancing the public good. He served with- and was admired by- leaders with vastly diverse political ideations and agendas. I loved reading about his work that was lined with genuine respect for all people in our country. And truly the most remarkable part of this book - and what sets it apart and gives it true HEART- is his daughter’s insight throughout. Brilliant read. Highly recommend!

[Holland Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! I was thrilled to get an advance copy and have not been able to put it down. The first hand accounts are magnificent - and Kristin does a fabulous job of adding historical context and other details so the reader knows exactly what was going on. Put this on your list to read in 2024, you won’t be disappointed!

[MagicallyMermaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written inside look from a man who worked under 6 presidents. This inside look from not only himself, but also his daughter was a great glimpse into someone who played such a pivotal role in democracy over the years. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves american history or political history!

[Virginia S. Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided with an advanced copy of this book and really enjoyed reading it! What a fascinating look at a life well lived. It nicely balances the history of the time with his first-hand accounts of events

[David Eskew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an intriguing account of a great American! Kristin gives the reader insight into her father’s many years of service to our country and our country’s leaders. It’s a book that makes you want to turn the page and continue reading until the end.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written memoir about a highly respected true American statesman and political leader. Highly recommended!

[Jim Dykstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book about an extraordinary public servant and loving father. It provides insights and great stories only a daughter could offer. I recommend it highly.

[Msellen88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating biography of a great American, largely based on personal notes, interviews and correspondence of Frank Carlucci.