Son of the Secret Service

Clint McCown grew up among men who cast very long shadows. His father was a war hero who rose to become a command-level special agent in the US Secret Service. As a teenager, McCown worked as a yard boy on the Gettysburg farm of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who imparted lessons in both hunting and battle strategies. With such formidable role models, young McCown felt pressured to prove himself, which led to impulsive and reckless decisions as a teenager, such as jumping the fence into East Germany during the Cold War, right under the nose of a machine-gun tower. His daring eventually found purpose in investigative journalism, where his reporting helped thwart a Mafia plot to seize control of the Alabama state government—earning him an Associated Press Award after he survived an assassination attempt.

Son of the Secret Service: A Memoir is a collection of award-winning essays, three of which received Notable Essay citations in the Best American Essays series. From civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham to a nudist colony in New Mexico and even a small-town department store funeral, McCown recounts encounters with figures as varied as a Puerto Rican terrorist, a poisoned dog, well-known actors and politicians, and a giant shark.

Through masterful storytelling and vibrant prose, these personal essays capture a rich tapestry of life experiences, each rendered with striking beauty, clarity, and depth. In these poignant snapshots of an extraordinary existence, McCown examines the evolving nature of the world, highlighting the profound and valuable lessons woven into our defining moments.