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John R. Barletta
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Riding with Reagan: From the White House to the Ranch Kindle Edition

by John R. Barletta (Author), Rochelle Schweizer (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 821 ratings
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It is an image etched in the minds of a generation: Ronald Reagan perched atop his horse, riding through the dusty trails and canyons of his California ranch with his beloved wife, Nancy, at his side. But what most of us did not see was the man who always rode just a few steps away.

John Barletta was a Vietnam veteran and Secret Service agent who spent over a decade with the Reagans, poised to give his own life at any moment to save the 40th president of the United States. His superior riding skills made Barletta the perfect choice to protect Reagan during his frequent visits to the ranch. Over time, he got to know Reagan as few others did. But what did these two men talk about during their long solitary hours on horseback--and how did they become the unlikeliest of friends and confidants?

In Riding With Reagan, John Barletta shares his one-of-a-kind memories of the President, painting a picture of a relaxed Reagan at his very best. Through his eyes, we see a rugged man who thrived outdoors, deeply loved his wife and children, and was a prankster at heart. Barletta recalls watching Reagan take pleasure in clearing the brush from the grounds, spending quiet time with Nancy, and entertaining world figures like Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth, both of whom were surprised by the spare simplicity of the Reagan ranch.

Barletta also recalls the sad times: watching a once-robust Reagan fade into the dark shadows of Alzheimer's disease, and the painful moment when he had to tell the former president that his days of horseback riding had come to an end.

Poignant and candid, Riding With Reagan is an intimate portrait of the man who remains one of the most popular presidents in our nation's history. A stirring ode to friendship, brotherhood, and the great outdoors, it celebrates a true hero whose life and spirit are the embodiment of what it means to be an American.
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  1. Print length
    251 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Citadel Press
  5. Publication date
    February 1, 2005
  6. File size
    4938 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A unique perspective of President Reagan-both in and out of the saddle."

About the Author

John R. Barletta served his country as a member of the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Division before joining the Secret Service in 1974 as a special agent. He was transferred to the Presidential Protective Division at the White House in 1978, during the Carter Administration. After President Ronald Reagan took office, John Barletta was placed in charge of the equestrian team because of his love of horses and his mastery of riding. In 1987 he was assigned to the Western Protective Division, in charge of the ranch detail. When the Reagans left the White House, he was transferred to the Reagan Protective Division in Los Angeles as the assistant special agent in charge (ASAIC). He retired from the Secret Service in 1997. Originally from Somerville, Massachusetts, he lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Rochelle Schweizer is the author of She’s the Boss: The Dangerous Truth About Nancy Pelosi and (with her husband, Peter) of The Bushes: Portrait of a Dynasty and Disney: The Mouse Betrayed. She has appeared on CBS This Morning, MSNBC, Fox and Friends, and CNN. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01DHW8WSO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Citadel Press (February 1, 2005)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2005
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4938 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 251 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 821 ratings

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John R. Barletta

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
821 global ratings
A Magnificent Account of Loyalty, Leadership, and Love
5 Stars
A Magnificent Account of Loyalty, Leadership, and Love
Simply one of the best stories I've read about one of our finest leaders. John takes you along the trails with the President and every turn of his personal and political life through the lens of his protector and his friend. An amazing account of leadership, loyalty, and love told by a warrior-servant and veteran that knows the full meaning of the words service and sacrifice to our Nation.Major Scott A. Huesing | USMC (Ret)Bestselling Author | Echo in Ramadi
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Top reviews from the United States

Delores D. Brock
5.0 out of 5 stars Very touching and heart felt book.
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
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I loved this book, hard to put it down! You feel like you really got to know the Reagan’s reading this wonderful book.
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Paul Tolleson
5.0 out of 5 stars Me Too !
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
I was an Air Force Advance Officer for Air Force One serving Presidents Nixon,Ford,Cárter and Reagan.The best of all of them was President Reagan! Thank you John for telling his story in a very beautiful way. I joined you in crying several times during my reading. You made him come alive again.

My last trip with him was the one to San Francisco for the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1983. After the President boarded AF-1 , my wife and I were invited on board the plane to meet him. It was a great honor to meet him, shake his hand and, of course, get a photo.

Read this excellent book and learn what a great man President Reagan was!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I have ever read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2023
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This book had me captivated from beginning to end. I seriously rate this as the beat book I have ever read!! You will not want to put this down, you will laugh, you will cry, you will be inspired. I hope John Barletta sees the comments on his book, I really want him to know how much I loved his book!!
One person found this helpful
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patuzzolo@ec.rr.com
4.0 out of 5 stars A great personal insight into the character and life of Ronald Reagan and the dedicated secret services men that protected him.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved reading the many stories that depicted the character of Ronald Reagan and his closest secret serviceman, John Barletta. A great story that brings too light the mutual respect and admiration that the President and John Barletta had for such a long period of time.
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Carson
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is heart-warming and well-written. It's a very touching and intimate story of a life of service, which, at its best, becomes a friendship. I cried at the end.
One person found this helpful
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Gary R. Clough
5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
A good book on the presidency of Reagan's secret service person & his time spent at the his ranch in California.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed your book!!!! It opened my eyes to what a wonderful person Ronald Reagan was! Thank you for your service to the Reagan's and thank you especially for writing this book! I have already recommended it to my friends.
2 people found this helpful
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Karla B.
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite president too!
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
How I pray for another Reagan to rescue our country now!!!
I have a long and silly story: I had the privilege of meeting him when he was
inaugurated as California's Governor. While waiting for him to come in a little room, where about 20 of us awaited him, there was a table full of sweet rolls, etc. behind us. I was young and very hungry when I slyly reached behind me for a powdered sugar donut hole. As I turned back around, there stood Reagan right in front of me! Gasping, I blew powdered sugar all over him! My older sister wanted to kill me, but Reagan just threw his head back and burst out laughing! What a gracious man!
Thank you, John, for this endearing book!
He truly was a kind, compassionate, caring and indeed brilliant, tactful man!
Karla B.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

taiyo.ki
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and warm inside view of a great personality
Reviewed in Germany on May 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Barletta rendered an especially devoted and insightful view which shows us Ronald Reagan as a private man. His memoir depics an important and immediate part of Reagans personality, his love for nature, riding and a quite humble life and work in the wilderness of his beloved ranch.
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Timothy E Zub
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best jobs of the twentieth century
Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2018
Verified Purchase
John Barletta had one of the best jobs of the twentieth century. I wish to personally thank him for sharing this part of his life with me. Ronald Reagan's character and leadership is absolutely worthy of study by anyone who wishes to become a better and more effective person. The consistency of Reagan’s integrity in his private and public life revealed by John is almost unprecedented. This even made an impression on the arch opponent Brezhnev who reflected on Reagan as being “Authentic”. My affection for Ronald Reagan grows with everything I learn about him and John ‘s tales left me weeping many times throughout the book.
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