Crisis of Character Lib/E: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate

by Gary J. Byrne

Former Secret Service officer Gary Byrne exposes the truth behind Hillary, Bill, and their public facade.Posted directly outside President Clinton's Oval Office, former Secret Service uniformed officer Gary Byrne reveals what he observed of Hillary Clinton's character and the culture inside the White House while protecting the First Family. Now that a second Clinton administration threatens--their scheme from the very beginning--Byrne exposes what he saw of the real Hillary Clinton.While serving as a Secret Service Officer, Gary Byrne protected President Bill Clinton and the First Family in the White House and outside the Oval Office. There, he saw the political and personal machinations of Bill and Hillary Clinton and those who were fiercely loyal to them. In Crisis of Character Byrne provides a firsthand account of the scandals--known and unknown--and daily trials ranging from the minor to national in scale.Having witnessed the personal and political dysfunction of the Clinton White House--so consumed by scandal and destroying their enemies, real and imagined--Byrne came to understand that, to the Clintons, governing was an afterthought. He now tells this story--before voters go to the polls--in the hopes that Clinton supporters will understand the real Hillary Clinton.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

10 pages, Audio CD

First published June 28, 2016

Reviews

[Jim Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. If anyone thinks this is going to be a book tearing Hillary Clinton down, they are going be sadly disappointed. Yes, there are segments that do not put Hillary in the best of light but for that matter Bill Clinton comes across as a lovable fool. The book is MORE about the men and women tasked with protecting the President and his family and the politics that infiltrate that protection for some of the most childish of reasons. People ON THE LEFT will condemn the book solely because of the timing by releasing it just weeks before the two political conventions and the November election. To those people I would suggest to read it for what it is instead of trying to ascertain the writer's logic behind writing it. I found it fascinating and a very good read. I have been where Byrne has been when working for someone far less than honest and lacking integrity. it is a nightmare especially when you, like me, are locked into an enlistment contract that you cannot simply leave. What Byrne did on the job can be both admired AND criticized. It is a case of reading and then making up your mind rather than making up your mind and either not reading or reading it and making up your mind because you are a member of a particular political party. I found his story to be absolutely believable and shocking. Just how many scandals will it take for the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of American voters to deny another Clinton the White House? I am not the only person who considers them serial liars. I will believe Byrne long before I would ever believe anything that a Clinton will say or do.

[Cheryl Derijke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Crisis in Character is a rambling of events by a disgruntled federal law enforcement agent. The book centers around a theme of "poor me" during the agent's lackluster career. The mood is negative, and the author uses vulgarity with no purpose. Readers that have anticipated gaining a primary source insight on the true temperament of Bill and Hillary Clinton will be sorely disappointed.

[rita melvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too little!

I had hoped to read more about Hillary Clintons horrible, self-serving, and abusive behavior! More about all her lies, more about how she has used American politics to become RICH!!! It turns out this book is mostly about the author and his many different jobs and qualifications within the secret services. I found it boring. Only the last 2 pages even discussed his feelings about H. Clinton, and what a terrible mistake it would be for us to choose her to once again to occupy the White House. This is something I already knew.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every American should read this book! I appreciate Gary Byrne for his honorable character, courage, service, and for caring enough to protect us by coming forward with the truth.

[Mindy Kuplinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clintons First, America Last

Mr. Byrne did a very good job explaining the functions of the USSS. I was not aware of the hierarchy, and what each had to put up with. Just this part of the book alone held my interest. Ah, but the Clintons. The author goes over some of what we already know. He makes no attempt to play down his conservative views, but that does not matter. Mr Byrne is not out for revenge, I feel, but is sincerely warning Americans how much worse a second Clinton administration would be and why. Their greed, arrogance, and egotism has led them to believe they are above the law at the expense of others' lives, careers and national security.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall good read. Although this book is touted as an expose about the Clintons it is more of a personal memoir/autobiography of the author. The majority of the book (little over half) is about his time working around and dealing with the backlash from the Clintons. The rest of the book is more of an inside look into the world of a secret service uniformed department officer. The parts that did tell of his experiences with Bill, and especially Hillary, are very interesting to say the least. It is a very real reminder of just how exactly these people in power - the Clintons more than most, even - feel about average people, the country, and the rule of law as it applies to them.

To anyone that could possibly still be a Hillary supporter, this is just one more example from an encyclopedic list demonstrating her dispicable character, absolute disdain for other people, her narcisistic view of the world, and her relentless ambition which is coupled with her "the rules don't apply to me" attitude.

[George Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clintons: What a bunch of liars!

This book promised to expose the truth about Hillary Clinton. It did. She's a heartless, lying Bitch. She has two faces; the one she shows to the public and the one that only her staff sees. She's abusive, power hungry and blames those around her for her failures.

Bill Clinton wasn't spared either. Those of us who lived through it know he's an incurable womanizer. Monica Lewinsky has just the name attached to a long list of women he abused.

No wonder the Clinton White House was such a colossal failure. Bill was too busy trying to cover his tracks and Hillary was throwing Hissy Fits. Their staff was incompetent and when, almost by accident, someone competent at their job was found they soon ran s reaming from the White House.

Please read this book. If you're too young to remember Bill Clintons Impeachment Hearing, you've got to learn about it. If you remember the hearings, you only know half the story.

Liberals and Democrats are going to hate and attack this book. It lays bare the truth about the Clintons.

Try to convince your Liberal friends to read it. They deserve to know the truth of the deceit they're blindly following.

Read this book and promise yourself that you won't let this happen again.

[Tom L. Albertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

A waste of time.

Overly wordy. Author's focus is on himself rather than the Clintons. I suppose it's an ok, all be it not very interesting, summary of several branches of federal law enforcement. I thought it self aggrandizing with unnecessary profanity for color.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

(page 0 of 292)
I'm starting Crisis of Character: 82% done, Can't put it down, everyone should red this just blows your mind with what went in the WH during the Clinton years, He worked right outside the Oval office and this man stood behind his oath to be honorable and told the truth under terrible pressure to forget by his superiors , the grief, pain and turmoil they (Clintons) brought to the lives of those who worked so close around them alone not just the nation is just beyond words ! This man actually feared not only for his own life but that of his family and had made plans as to where they could disappear if need be. The Clinton's truly believe they are above the law!

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am no fan of the Clintons - in fact I very much think they are both terrible people, lacking in anything that qualifies a person as a good and decent human being. I have been seeing a lot of hype for this book in the media and relative to the amount of hype it has received, it delivers about as much as that Megyn Kelly/Trump interview.

The book sells itself in title as a rumination and examination of the corrupt methods of the Clintons. Seeing as this was written by an ex-Secret Service member, I assumed we'd be provided some new and revealing insights. This was not the case at all.

About 60% of the book is pure autobiography and political opinion which is fine if that's what the reader is looking for, but in this case, I'm guessing many will be disappointed. Byrne's story, though he does reveal a few humorous and shocking anecdotes, falls far short of spectacle or political intrigue.

In addition to this disappointment, the book isn't all that well written either. There are some strange non sequiturs that make some of the stories difficult to follow in addition to spelling and grammatical errors. If the author had managed to weave his stories with a captivating style, he would've made up for the lack of new information. Sadly this is not the case.

The reader doesn't even get to hear about Hillary Clinton and her assorted tackle box of scandals until the Afterword. It's not even in the main part of the book! As a reader, I can't help but feel a bit cheated by this book and I'm left with the feeling that Byrne put this out opportunistically to cash in on the current election cycle and make a quick buck. With that said though, it's not necessarily a bad read - I would only recommend it for those truly interested in the life of a secret service member, specifically during Bush 41 and Clinton's years in the White House.

[L.A. Starks · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with a political book, readers will feel strongly about the subject, so be forewarned.

This thoughtful book is from a man who agonized over correctly doing his job as a Secret Service agent protecting President Bill Clinton, while having the bad luck to be doing so during several of Monica Lewinsky's visits.

I like the detail and I sympathize with Byrne's conundrum. Parts of the book felt overlong, but of course, so was the impeachment hearing process. Readers will respect Byrne's dilemma as he is caught between absolute fidelity to his job, truth-telling, and concerns about his own family's safety.

[Heather V ~The Other Heather~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me start by saying, because I know how hissy the comments can get on reviews here, that I a) am not American and b) didn’t even vote for our own version of Democrats this last time around, so if you’re thinking my criticism of this book has anything to do with my own personal politics you’d be dead wrong. This book is a flaming dumpster of trouble all on its own. Most people seem to have liked or loved it. Yay for them. I did not. And I will spend far too much time explaining why, but for the most part I can let Byrne’s own words make the case for him never sitting in front of a keyboard again. God willing.




If you really, really hate the Clintons you’ll probably have an okay time reading CRISIS OF CHARACTER. I’ll warn you, though, that there’s actually shockingly little about Hillary after the first couple of chapters, so you may find yourself stripped of even that pleasure. I have zero doubt that the Clintons are Really Not Nice, because honestly, anyone who would run for office at that level, and for such relatively low pay, is suffering from various pathologies that I won’t bother defining here. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, isn’t that what they say? I suspect you could write a smear book about every single person who has sat behind that fancy desk in the Oval Office and it would probably be fairly true. At no point did I feel defensive of the Clintons while reading; I don’t think I would have felt any differently had this been about Obama or the Bushes or Andrew bloody Jackson.


It’s just not a good book. It's not well-written. It's not really about what it says it's about. And the author is such an obvious doucheweasel that it’s incredibly hard to focus on anything else.


Because I’ll be quoting quite liberally in this review, it may feel like you're about to face an insurmountable Wall o’ Text. Skim at will. There are no actual “spoilers” here, because who doesn’t know how this whole shitshow turned out??



I will use this gif whenever and wherever I can until the day I die because it is magnificent.



Gary Byrne is, if you trust his own words, a bitter and hypocritical man. I never knew anything about him before picking this up from the library, and now I feel like I know far too much. He’s a walking stereotype, the kind of guy who spends paragraphs bitching about women and minorities but then hurriedly follows it up with a “but my best friend is black!/gay!/female!/a Democrat!” by way of a get-out-of-jail-free card. My eyes rolled so much I feel like I could take on Angela Rye in a televised contest and stand a chance of at least tying her excellent record.



The hypocrisy gets going early, as our intrepid narrator uses the term “creeping liberal mindset” (pg 27) and variations on that theme throughout, but then turns around and snarks that “Mrs. Clinton coined her ‘vast right-wing conspiracy’ phrase a few years later” (pg 39) ...so I guess we’re not going to have any good-for-the-gander stuff between these covers. Furthermore, from a guy who I suppose has no choice but to vote Trump 2016, this quotation - At Clinton events, it was hard to separate fanatics from lunatics - really, what’s the difference? (pg 41) - feels a bit rich, no?


Let’s start with some pleasantries about Affirmative Action, shall we?

I got stuck with a new partner. She was obviously hired to fill a quota. That wasn't speculation; I was told so point blank. Political meddling had struck again and was going to get someone killed. I just hoped it wasn't me. [...] My new female partner and I, as part of Elite Gate Section, were watching over a hangar. We got the call, the one we trained for but never wanted to get. The runways had to be cleared and cordoned off. No one except necessary personnel was to go in or out. A 707 Boeing EC-135, a very large jet engine cargo plane, started blow-starting [...] to get the hell out of the way of the chief of staff’s incoming aircraft. My clueless partner sprinted past me to avoid the 707 but forgot her NBCR (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, and Radiological) gear bag. I turned. It lay on the runway in the way of the aircraft. I couldn't yell over the engines but if that small bag was sucked up into the 707 engine it would trigger a complete engine failure and a fire and a giant hazard. It would endanger the chief of staff's incoming aircraft and a missile launch. I ran back, threw my bag down next to hers, and flung my body atop both bags. [...] Her tool bag (different from the NBCR bag that I smothered), which she also forgot, had blown into the plane’s blast deflector, sending debris everywhere - and inflicting me with a concussion.
-pg 14

Heartwarming, amirite? But it’s okay! Because he’s got nice (?!) things to say about some other officer who was also a woman and wasn’t nearly that much of a moron! (“SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE WOMEN, MMKAY?!?”)

Also on duty was a UD officer whom I'll call Yolanda. We had incredibly different backgrounds. I grew up in Pennsylvania and Virginia. She was from the “real” DC, the ghetto, as she said. She was very crass and, like me, never had an advanced education. I wasn't sure what to make of her. Anyway, back to that guy at the metal detector. [...] Yolanda was great, a top draft pick for any partner. She read people like a human polygraph machine and wouldn't freeze up in the clutch.
- pg 43

I’m glad Byrne managed to fill up a decent portion of that bingo card in one anecdote.



Speaking of bingo! Despite the weird, stilted section in this book about some big brouhaha over blue gloves and gay rights advocates and memos referring to them as being HIV positive (they weren’t), we mustn’t think that he’s got a problem with The Gays, either.

[On his college roommate, when Byrne ran into him at a “dive bar far off base”] The Joint had a motorcycle thing but in a Village People sort of way. A gay bar! My roommate! I waved goodbye and speechlessly peeled out of there. This was before "don't ask, don't tell"; the act of homosexuality could result in a dishonorable discharge. Even the suspicion of homosexuality could destroy your career. Suddenly his awkwardness in the showers, why he never chased women, joked about porn, or made crude military talk made sense. He must have chewed his fingernails worrying whether I would spread the word for inform a superior. Gut-wrenching fear must have weighed on him from the start.
- pg 47

Hoooo, boy.




In all fairness, there’s no reason to believe Byrne is a ‘phobe. Context is key. But it’s just another example of “LA LA LA MY ROOMMATE WAS GAY SO I MUST BE THE MOST TOLERANT DUDE EVARRRR” happening. As you’ll see, we have not yet finished off our game of bingo.

Diversity initiatives drew mixed feelings within the UD. This affected me personally when I was told that a job for which I qualified had to go to a woman because of her gender. Under this administration the Diversity Club was created. The hypocrisy of the weekly meetings was that they were limited to nonwhite males. I informed my superiors that I was a minority and wanted in.

“Gary, c’mon,” he said flatly.

I asked him to find me another Irish Lebanese person of Arabic descent in the White House - just one. Just before I put my signature to an official grievance they allowed me to attend diversity club meetings.

When I walked in the door I felt the stares - no surprise there. Most of that meeting was ridiculous. One guy wanted to speak Spanish over the secure radio and thought it was discriminatory that he couldn't. Management squashed that one. Two black officers explained that someone had changed their work evaluation scores to obstruct their anticipated promotions and pay increases. They lacked proof. The Diversity Club leaders, the deputy chief of the White House and inspector, quashed that one too.

“Anything else? Anyone have anything else they want to bring up?” they said, trying to end the meeting.

I raised my hand.

“Yes, Gary. What can we do for you?” they asked dismissively, still bent on leaving.

I took a deep breath but didn't miss a beat. “I would just like to add that I believe these two officers are telling the truth - I saw a lieutenant change their scores.”

You could hear a pin drop.

- pg 118

Hail Gary Byrne, friend to all, enemy to none.


I actually had a lead-in to the above, an anecdote I noted as

NAACP gaffe (get quote) - pg 124

but in all honesty I just don’t want to go back and transcribe it. Suffice it to say that, to me, it read as just more of the same “I can’t be racist because” stuff. Besides, I think we’ve already determined what ol’ Gary thinks of this new-fangled “diversity” blather, don’t we?

[On being allowed to take an exam orally due to dyslexia] You know, that’s what real diversity is: a diversity of the mind, which is absolutely apolitical as opposed to the politically correct version of diversity.
- pg 192

...uh. Yeah.


So then we enter into one of Byrne’s obsessions: GUNS AND AMMO YAY. (Does that count as two obsessions?) It started to get a little weird to read about how much the dude thinks about guns. I get that it’s an occupational hazard and everything, but...

[On passing the exam] I wanted to dance in the street or fire automatic weapons into the air - but I settled for a firm handshake.
- pg 192

(I think that one might’ve been a bad joke at the expense of the Middle East, or maybe a cigar is just a cigar and he celebrates differently than my family does, who even knows at this point, I just know he’s not coming off as a likable guy whose memoir I want to be reading.)

[On the Oklahoma City bombing] Maybe I shouldn't say it, but the ugly bitter truth is that whenever a tragic horrific event happens, I feel vindicated.
- pg 91

Maybe you shouldn’t have said it, Gary.

“They f---ed us, Bill!” Hillary screamed.
I stifled a laugh.
- pg 60

Very professional! Five stars, would totally hire!



I noted another unpleasant bit as Blue gloves/HIV/gay advocate incident pg 60 but once again I’m just gonna glide on past that and see if I can dig up anything that’s dripping with slightly less venom…

[On Black Hawk Down] They ignored the Rwandan genocide and let the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina escalate. I guess Somalia seemed more marketable than the others - better for the Clinton brand.
- pg 51

Hrm. I guess not? Oh well! BACK TO THE GUNS.

My life was firearms, and what better way to fulfill my dream than by passing on my passion to others? Firearms clicked with who I was.
- pg 131

...uh.

[On being deposed] My plastic water bottle was my crinkly comfort blanket. I really wanted to feel the reassurance of my firearm against my hip, but that was not to be. They made me hand over my gun before my questioning commenced.
- pg 158

Well, cripes, Gary. It sounds like that was probably wise of them. Also, stop with the “life’s not fair” motif; NOBODY GETS TO KEEP THEIR GUN WHILE TESTIFYING.

I thought the incident highlighted many of the little awkward moments instructors have to worry about when teaching students of the opposite gender. We must ask ourselves five times a day: Am I about to be hit with a sexual harassment suit?
- pg 196

...I’ll just present that one without comment.


Now, have you noticed how little of this book has mentioned the Clintons? Granted, I’m not pulling heavily from the sections where Bill is lying on TV and making us all redefine what “sex” means, and as I said before there isn’t a whole lot of meat to the Hillary stuff, but considering how the book is being advertised I can see a lot of people picking it up and being really disappointed by the lack of juicy, unknown-until-now material there is to feast upon. Unless you live under a rock you almost certainly know everything Byrne tells us about Monica Lewinsky already. So this guy’s “Firsthand Experience With Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate” is not what makes up the bulk of the memoir at all. It’s more about Byrne’s multiple career paths, most of which are spent well away from the White House, and how pissed off at the world he is, and...oh, yeah, he (or his ghostwriter) spends an obnoxious amount of time and paper trying to humanize himself by hammering home the fact that he’s about to become a father.

And had I just jeopardized my entire career, my pension, my future, or even my kid’s future? Our first child was on the way!
- pg 116

And by the way, with a Byrne baby in the works, the incredible amount of overtime that came with the holidays was very welcome.
- pg 123

What about Genny and my unborn child?
- pg 133

...my entire career, my income for my family and our unborn child, were in jeopardy.
- pg 134

I spoke often with Genny. [...] She stuck with me. She was carrying our first child.
- pg 138

I just never wanted to disappoint her - or our expected baby.
- pg 138

Each morning I drove from the “shit-box,” what we affectionately called our rental home while our new home was being built for our growing family [...]
- pg 138

My unborn child was on the way and I needed to support that child, but I needed to be able one day to look my child in the eye and not only teach, but demonstrate real tough-in-the-clutch honesty.
- pg 140

Days later the bastards did it again. The same agent yelled in my face, “I will come to your house and arrest you in front of your pregnant wife!”
- pg 152

”Just go and don’t stop for anything if I tell you to go there,” I told her - something no LEO should have to tell their spouse, particularly a pregnant one.
- pg 155

HOLY SHIT GUYS I THINK HIS WIFE MIGHT BE PREGNANT WITH THEIR FIRST EXPECTED BABY-CHILD.



Ugh. I’m exhausted.


And I really have nothing else to say about this book, because you’ve seen enough to decide if it’s worth the slog for you. Clinton supporters won’t like it. Clinton haters will be left unsatisfied. If I could do it all over again I’d just re-read GAME CHANGE (seriously, you haven't read Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime?!?), because that was much more interesting and personal and just a little bit scandalous, right across the political spectrum. If my review has done nothing else, I hope it’s made you want to read that book instead/too.


SAVE YOURSELVES.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer, a former agent with the US Secret Service, educates us on the real nature of the Clintons, not that we hadn't already been aware.

Byrne starts the book with his time as a part of the Secret Service detail in the White House. He makes sure that we are all aware that Hillary is an odious individual and fills us in on the Bill and Monica scandal. In fact, he almost obsesses on it, and seems to have appointed himself Bill's personal c**k blocker, trying to thwart the trysts at every opportunity. Almost like he was jealous...hell, I'm jealous! Byrne then drifts off-topic into his post-Secret Service career and stays on this topic for almost the entire remaining part of the book.

Suddenly, in the last chapter, Byrne seems to remember that he had been writing about the Clintons and veered back on topic. It's almost like an afterthought, or maybe a publisher had told him to toss more dirt on H&B.

I found the chapters on WH protocol engaging. It's not a terrible book if you have an interest in that type of thing.

[Susan Waters · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Man Who Needs To Talk About Himself

I found this book to be a sad story of a man who saw himself as more than he was. I began sensing exaggeration early on, and it also appeared that he didn't get along with many of his peers. I find him to be not credible and when he really goes after the Clintons it is excessive and self-aggrandizing. There are interesting descriptions, but he then goes on to sit in judgment of every boss, most situations, and Bill and Hillary Clinton. I'll make up my own mind and it won't be based on much he has said.

[Daniel Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written 8 years ago about events during the Clinton White House. It’s written by the secret service agent stationed at the door of the Oval Office for several years. He describes his first hand observations of Bill and Hillary, their temperaments, and their businesslike relationship. And Monica’s efforts to manipulate her way into Bill’s office. It’s questionable because it was published before the 2016 election. He’s angered about the way the Clinton’s treated the people assigned to protect them. And he’s also angered that their immorality forced him and others into the spotlight during the Starr investigation.

[Doris Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this timely book written by the Secret Service officer who guarded Bill and Hillary during the time of Monica Lewinsky and the investigation by Ken Starr and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. The author-officer also gave his impressions of the relationship between the Clintons as he saw it in his daily routine at work when he was posted in the White House.

This book was easy to read and enlightening. It reminded me of the many awful forgotten scandals and strong suspicions of criminal conduct, including murders, by the Clintons. It recalled the Black Hawk fiasco (forerunner of Benghazi), Filegate, Travelgate, the betrayal of Leon Panetta, Whitewater fraud and many more disgraceful instances of at least unacceptable negligence and dishonesty.

There were many tidbits I had not known about, such as the persistence and inventiveness of Monica Lewinsky on her mission for a relationship with Bill and his eager manipulation to participate in this game. Monica got mad one evening when she came to visit, but Bill made Monica wait until he was finished with his sexual relations with Eleanor Mondale (daughter of Walter), who was also a girlfriend of Bill.

There were many interesting insights such as when Vince Foster was found dead, during the FBI's investigation Hillary's Chief of Staff Maggie Williams physically pushed her way past Officer Hank O'Neil who was posted outside of Foster's office and removed several boxes from the office which were never recovered. The forensics team could not get the supposed suicide gun to fire. There were carpet fibers on the suit coat on dead Vince Foster's body. Matching White House carpet. The author tells his story with names and specifics which chime the ring of truth.

I believe this is an honest recounting of the author's daily work at the White House. He also includes at the end his job as a Federal Air Marshal which was interesting and not what I had imagined.

[Debra Jeakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Condemn the author or condemn the subject of the author? That's been the question swirling around the country about CRISIS OF CHARACTER BY GARY J BYRNE. This book is part autobiography of the author himself, his years guarding the first families and as a federal marshall guarding American people and American aircraft from bad guys. Was I surprised but what was in the book? NO! Was I shocked? NO! Did I learn anything? Yes I did. I learned there are people who will take a bullet to protect the first families whether they like them or not. There are people out there who still believe no matter what that the President and their families as well as the VP are or about,they must take that bullet for them if needed. I also learned there are some really whacky people out there trying to get into the Oval Office to "talk" with the President and the Secret Service and Uniformed Division must do their job. I also learned a lot about the UD and their responsibilities. Like them or not these people are still out there protecting VIPS in our country. I gained a whole lot of respect for them and what they put up with on a daily basis.

I also learned some about Hillary Clinton and the "Jekyll & Hyde" personality she is said to have. If even half of what Mr. Byrne says is true, then I agree with him , we need to keep her as far away from the Oval Office as we can , as well as Bill. The author wanted to make a point and I think he did. For those of us who are not Hillary fans it wasnt necessary but for those who are still sitting on the fence (I have NO clue as to why they are) I think they need to know just how dangerous she really is. Most Hilary fans will send me nasty emails saying I hate my mother and Trump is more dangerous, & blah blah blah, but thank God we still have the First Amendment and Mr.Byrne can write this book & I can comment on it.

Those of you who want to condemn the author for making this out as a autobiography you should be thankful that there are men and women out there who can make the claim that they protect the President and would take that bullet for them. They deserve to be heard and thanked!

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of this book is hearsay, and the assertion early in the book after Byrne had enlisted in the Air Force and was sent to Turkey: "Arriving at Murtad, I learned that AFSP there had caught rogue Turkish officers trying to push an American F-104 Star Fighter with a loaded nuke onto the flight line so they could steal a nuke and bomb Greece." does not stand up well under even light scrutiny. Why not? Well Byrne would not have gotten to Turkey until 1982 or 1983 and the active duty US Air Force stopped flying 104s in 1969. So, at best he is recirculating some kind vague event from 13 or 14 years prior to his arrival. Ah, hearsay.

The book is also cliche ridden with things like this: "There’s nothing friendly about friendly fire." Byrne did not serve in the personal protection details that guarded the President or the First Lady. Instead he was a uniformed officer who was assigned to specific checkpoints in the White House and on the White House grounds.

Bryne does, however, have plenty to say about what went on in the White House and clearly he did see a fair amount of Monica Lewinsky. Basically his description of her was that she was conniving stalker who was obsessed with Bill Clinton. The most salacious little story was when Monica was put off at the gate and denied access to Bill Clinton because Bill was, ah, literally entangled with Eleanor Mondale on a table in the Oval Office. That Bill Clinton was a womanizer is hardly news. The depth of his womanizing continues to amaze.

The most interesting part of the book is perhaps the way Byrne was interrogated by the Ken Starr lawyers and by the Secret Service lawyers. He was thrown under the bus and saved only by the Monica dress. Had Bill Clinton not been backed into a corner he would probably still be denying any involvement with Monica. Bill and Hillary threw a lot of people under the bus.

This isn't a great book, but the parts about Byrne and Clinton's testimony under oath are interesting. If you are looking for any interesting revelations about Hillary Clinton, you will not find them here.

[Darrell Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is devastating to Hillary Clinton. No wonder her apologists are out in force against it. As the author sums in his conclusion, "We all remember— or should remember— what a Clinton White House was like. If we board that time machine for a return trip— it’s our fault."

Byrne, Gary J.. Crisis of Character: A White House Secret Service Officer Discloses His Firsthand Experience with Hillary, Bill, and How They Operate (p. 283). Center Street. Kindle Edition.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very good audio book. I am listening to 3 right now but this one just grabs your attention from beginning to end.
In general, I love the bio-memoirs from men/women who served and protect our country while this is my first book from a secret service perspective, it is jaw dropping of what goes on in the White House during the Clintons resided there.

[Barbara Landers · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this zero stars, I would. Do not waste your time.

[K B · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW~ this author has his head together and managed to maintain his integrity to his oath in the crap-hole of the Clinton White House! Reading this confirms ALL my suspicions about these corrupted criminals - the Bill and Hill show is rotten to the core. NO ONE in their right mind would cast their vote for them to return to any part of government. Neither is qualified to be a township dog-catcher! Read it and weep!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into the White House during the Clinton Years from a secret service officer. The book also details his career and continued frustration with the bureaucracy of law enforcement at the federal level. The most interesting parts to me were about the Clintons but there was quite a bit more about his career, which while interesting, was not touted as what the book was supposed to be about.

[K.J. Gillenwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book before it was released. Had no idea what to expect. In the end, it wasn't quite what I thought it would be, but was overall a satisfying read.

1) This book is mostly about Gary Byrne's experience with the Secret Service. It is not about the Clintons from beginning to end.

2) Only about 25% of this book deals with his behind-the-scenes experience with the White House duty he had, what he saw, and his involvement with the Monica Lewinsky scandal and impeachment hearings.

3) The second half of this book covers his career after his White House duty. It is interesting to read, but doesn't really relate to the Clintons and is more a diatribe about what is wrong with the Secret Services, Air Marshals, and bureaucracy.

4) The afterword definitely seemed to be an add-on to the book by the publisher to sell this as a "Clinton" book due to its timing (released during an election year). I appreciated Byrne's additional comments on the character of the Clintons (both Bill and Hillary), but it was very clear that the afterword was not the purpose in writing the book.

If you are interested in a behind-the-scenes read about a Secret Service career, this will be an informative read. Byrne writes in a very easy style, so nothing will go over your head. You learn about the different roles the secret service plays, the training they go through, the respect each officer has for the Presidency, and the sacrifices they make to keep our government officials safe.

If you are looking for a beat-down of Hillary, you will be disappointed. He does give his personal view of the Clintons (not positive), but he also is gracious to point out positive qualities of some of Clinton's staff in the 90s and Bill himself. Hillary doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities from what he provided in his book.

The comparison between the GHW Bush experience Byrne had and the Clinton experience is notable and should be considered this election season. But don't assume the book will give you much meat on the Clintons. There is much more I wish I could read on this topic, but hard to find people willing to divulge!

Enjoyable, easy read during my vacation.

[Darian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately Byrne will be dismissed or demonized for being a former shield and then telling, but his story and his case are compelling. This is not so much a deconstruction of HRC hatchet piece because all he does is repeat and in some cases with greater first hand knowledge - like his trying to save the Presidency from Monica - the Mole before she became the Blue Dress, as it is a why we deserve better from our leaders. There were some very telling moments about the honor to lead and what leaders must do - and she isn't it. I must admit in having never been a fan since she hit the national stage, even I had never captured the roadkill of good, great, innocent people, she/they have ruined, ran over, or used on their way to power. The Betty Currie stories and involvement made me cringe and reflect on leaders who put the people who believe and trust in them in the crosshairs of their wrecklessness. Do we really want 4 more years of scandal after scandal after scandal and after scandal? We know what we have always gotten at every opportunity so we know what we are going to get. One of the most powerful thoughts was his addition of William Saffire's comment from 1996, a piece of which I will include here.... Americans of all political persuasions are coming to the sad realization that our First Lady -- a woman of undoubted talents who was a role model for many in her generation -- is a congenital liar. She had good reasons to lie; she is in the longtime habit of lying; and she has never been called to account for lying herself or in suborning lying in her aides and friends. Is this what we want? Bryne is compelling and I believe absolutely correct. Class vs. Crass

[Deirdre K. Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Clintons House of Cards

As an independent who voted both times for Bill Clinton, I wanted to read this book. The more information released about how his lack of focus re: getting Osama bin Laden,the more I regret my vote. The president and his wife have a history of lying, narcissism and the attitude that the rules don't apply to them. They make Frank Underwood look like a reasonable and timid man. The author's observations of the Clintons abuse of power, lack of morals and not caring about who they hurt is visceral. Mr. Byrne is one of many victims of the Clinton regime. The author's emotions while understandable sometimes cloud the narrative. I recommend this book as a cautionary tale re: the second coming of the Clintons .

[Jane Oldenburg · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5*
Well - where do I start? First, I DESPISE Hillary Clinton, but the failings of this book didn't even make this fun for me to read! The writing is poor, the stories are hard to follow, and most of the book isn't even about the Clintons! A cheap opportunity to make some bank during an election year -- but truthfully, I don't blame this author. Sounds like he was underpaid -- and I know how that feels.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good to hear about the real Hillary Clinton, as if we didn't already know or at least suspect her failings of character. It's also interesting to note that Byrne was accused of making the story up because there is no way he could have been in a situation to have seen what he claims to have seen. If that were the case, we have to ask ourselves why Ken Starr subpoenaed him to testify about what he actually saw and heard

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I burned through this book in less than two days. There's a lot of new information here from a guy who worked very close to the Clintons—the secret service agent who testified at the Starr hearings. Keep an open mind, read this book. It might be the most important book you read this election year.

[Fireside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reminder

Congenital liar and rapist enabler.
Our political system is broken and giving this unindighted felon a free pass is an embarrassment to all citizens.
Obama made Carter look good, Killiary will make Obama....well, maybe not.