Reilly Of The White House

by Michael F. Reilly

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Genres: History, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael F. Reilly (1909 – 1973) was part of the Secret Service detail assigned to guard and protect President Roosevelt. He started in 1935.

There are many personal observations and anecdotes on the President, along with the special care required to protect and transport this man who was paralyzed from the waist down and unable to walk.

Reilly became the point man and travelled to Casablanca, Tehran and Yalta prior to Roosevelt’s arrival at the conferences there during World War II. He needed to check out the security arrangements and ensure that the President could be protected.

The Secret Services were always stuck in a quandary. They had to adhere to where and what the President wanted to do, but at the same time they “theoretically” could refuse to allow the President to travel or attend if they felt the security at the location to be inadequate or unsafe. Most of the time Roosevelt won these battles, sometimes with minor compromises.

The style of the book, published in 1947, has an “Aw, Shucks, Golly-Ge” feeling throughout – like one is watching a movie from the 1940s!

It's an honest and inside view of protecting and dealing with the President.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became interested in reading Reilly of the White House by Michael Reilly while reading The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. Mike Reilly's memoir gets cited often there, and as soon as I finished that book, I went about hunting down this one. I was amazed to find out that not only did the Brooklyn Public Library have Reilly of the White House, it had an original 1947 printing of it in storage, which they were all too happy to lend me. I treated this book as gently as possible, seeing as it's older than both of my parents, with pages brittle to the touch. I was too afraid to take it on the subway, lest it get ruined by a freak rain storm or smushed piece of fruit in my bag. So instead, I reserved reading this for quiet times when I could be alone with it and exist in the wartime White House that Reilly paints with his words.

I'd consider Reilly of the White House a must read for anyone. It's a fascinating look into the day to day life of one American's greatest presidents. Mike Reilly served as FDR's personal Secret Service agent. Besides being FDR's personal attendant, he was in charge of Roosevelt's travel: making sure ramps were in place for his boss's wheelchair, scouting out safe routes free of enemy sabetours and was one of the people most around Roosevelt during his time in office. Reilly writes in an easy to read everyman style, but is also so immersive with his words. This might be the best book I read this year.

[Evan Þ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aside from being very well written, it has lots of interesting stories, charming anecdotes, and fascinating details about the job of keeping President Roosevelt safe before and during the war - both in the White House and while traveling. And, it's a window into a surprisingly different era, when security wasn't yet institutionalized.

[Helen Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Typical of most of the books I have read about life in the white house.

[Russell G Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inside look at the White House during those tumultuous t

imes. Told as only an interested and loving friend of the president could. Exciting look at wartime history being made.

[Joanne Passman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I came across this book!

I can barely fathom the current political situation of our country (Covid pandemic, riots, storming the Capitol, election controversy) when I found this book. It really hit home! This author detailed duties of the Secret Service back in FDR’s time. Our current government could learn a thing or two! The author is not anyone I’m familiar with, but he is eloquent, warm, intelligent, and knows how to make correct decisions on the spot. We could use his judgment now! This was a real eye-opener.

[Jane Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presidential Story

Interesting book. I had never heard of the author, but he was in charge of the White House detail of the Secret Service when Roosevelt was president. He details what goes into protecting a president, even more difficult while at war. He has personal stories of the president and of Churchill. It brings Roosevelt into sharper focus.

[Laura Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to read this book in a follow up to Night of the Assassins. Understandably there’s considerable overlap, but the first hand account of being the president’s primary Secret Service agent during a time of huge conflict in the world was gripping. Again, am awed by what the general public doesn’t know at the time something huge is going on.

[Lillian P. Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a nicely written behind the scenes account of the protection of the president of the United States who at the time was Franklin D Roosevelt.
I I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Glenn Proven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this from Project Gutenberg.org. for free. I recommend all check out site to see what is in public domain. No sign-in either.