Abraham Bolden

Abraham Bolden - Abraham Bolden was the 1st African American Secret Service Agent on White House detail, handpicked by President Kennedy himself. Bolden was not on duty that fateful day in Dallas and that haunts him to this day. He fully  believes  that had he only been there, that somehow, someway, he would have found away to keep the president alive, even if that meant taking that fatal bullet himself. Bolden was subsequently set up by the Secret service to silence his whistle blowing damning accusations about drunk agents that day in Dallas, accusations that were validated shortly thereafter.

Synopsis: Tonight living history. Fate & destiny took its turn throughout this story, including where he first met and was introduced to JFK. Bolden, a “Negro” agent living in Chicago in 1962, was assigned the derogatory task of guarding the toilet; out of sight, out of mind. Too much coffee at breakfast brought JFK bounding down the stairs, entourage in tow, until he saw Bolden. He stopped mid-stride, spoke with Bolden for several minutes and then asked him if he would serve on his protective detail. Of course he would; “see you next week in Washington” was the response by the young president.

There are heart wrenching and riveting personal stories about how Bolden was willing to lay his life down not only for the president but for the first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and Caroline as he recounts a story when on duty protecting them. Bolden was highly liked by Kennedy who took a shining to him and introduced him to a who’s who of White House movers & shakers including his brother Bobby who offered him a job as an ambassador.

Appallingly, Bolden also witnessed fellow agents pick up women to have sex with while on duty, supposedly protecting the president. On many occasions, there were also agents on duty too drunk to walk, let alone be called upon in an emergency. Indeed his fears were realized when it was discovered the Secret Service agents on Kennedy’s trip to Dallas that fateful day were all found to have been boozing all night long at a strip club until 7 am, some never having been to bed at all. Bolden was also subjected to rampant racism from his fellow Secret Service agents who did not like the fact he was working alongside them. They put a noose above his desk, called him “Nigger” to his face, and set him up in an effort to silence Bolden’s whistle blowing, damning statements about the president’s lack of professional Secret Service protection and drunken agents.

To this day, Bolden is driven to tell the truth about those events that so devastated a nation and the truth about his own role to bring about justice to the President he so desperately tried to save and loyally served. The truth will set you free.

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Abraham Bolden- The true story of the first African American Secret Service Agent

From the first African American assigned to the presidential Secret Service detail comes a gripping and unforgettable true story of bravery and patriotism in the face of bitter hatred and unthinkable corruption. Abraham Bolden was a young African American Secret Service agent in Chicago when he was asked by John F. Kennedy himself to join the White House Secret Service detail. For Bolden, it was a dream come true-and an encouraging sign of the charismatic president's vision for a new America.

But the dream quickly turned sour when Bolden found himself regularly subjected to open hostility and blatant racism. He was taunted, mocked, and disparaged but remained strong, and he did not allow himself to become discouraged.More of a concern was the White House team's irresponsible approach to security. While on his tour of presidential duty, Bolden witnessed firsthand the White House agents' long-rumored lax approach to their job. Drinking on duty, abandoning key posts-this was not a team that appeared to take their responsibility to protect the life of the president particularly seriously. Both prior to and following JFK's assassination, Bolden sought to expose and address the inappropriate behavior and negligence of these agents, only to find himself the victim of a sinister conspiracy that resulted in his conviction and imprisonment on a trumped-up bribery charge.

A gripping memoir substantiated by recently declassified government documents, The Echo from Dealey Plaza is the story of the terrible price paid by one man for his commitment to truth and justice, as well as a shocking new perspective on the circumstances surrounding the death of a beloved president.

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