Zero Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Secret Service

Zero Fail examines the United States Secret Service from its founding in 1865 to the present day. Through interviews and extensive research, Carol Leonnig chronicles the evolution of this organization from a small anti-counterfeiting unit into the agency tasked with protecting the President of the United States. The book details key moments in Secret Service history, including presidential assassinations, near-misses, and internal struggles within the agency. Leonnig presents accounts from agents, former directors, and other insiders who witnessed critical events and organizational changes firsthand. The narrative follows the Secret Service through multiple presidential administrations, documenting its successes, failures, and institutional challenges. The text covers training protocols, organizational culture, and the impact of increasing duties on the agency's effectiveness. This investigation raises questions about institutional accountability and the balance between security and transparency in American democracy. The book serves as both a history of a crucial government agency and an examination of how organizations adapt - or fail to adapt - to evolving threats and responsibilities.

Readers describe this as a detailed investigation into Secret Service failures, scandals, and systemic problems. Many note the thorough research and compelling narrative style. Readers appreciated: - Clear documentation of specific incidents and failures - Behind-the-scenes insights into agents' daily work - Historical context and evolution of the agency - Focus on both leadership issues and field-level problems Common criticisms: - Political bias, particularly in coverage of Trump administration - Too much focus on scandals versus successes - Repetitive examples and writing style - Lack of proposed solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.16/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (3,400+ ratings) Sample review quotes: "Eye-opening look at an agency in crisis" - Amazon reviewer "Important but depressing read about institutional decay" - Goodreads user "Well-researched but feels agenda-driven" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🔐 Author Carol Leonnig won a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage of security failures at the Secret Service while reporting for The Washington Post 🏛️ The book reveals that in 1981, after the assassination attempt on President Reagan, agents discovered the White House's security system was completely broken and hadn't functioned for an unknown period 👔 The code name "POTUS" (President of the United States) was created by the Secret Service in the 1950s and has since become standard terminology across government agencies 💰 In 2014, the Secret Service was so underfunded that agents were forced to work extensive overtime, leading to widespread burnout and staffing crises that compromised presidential protection 📱 The agency faced unprecedented challenges during the Trump administration, including having to process more than 100 threats a day against the president and his family - a massive increase from previous administrations