Riding with Reagan: From the White House to the Ranch

John R. Barletta

Jul 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Christopher Grove

About this audiobook

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 fortieth 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. 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 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.

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. In 1987 he was assigned to the Western Protective Division. When the Reagans left the White House, he was transferred to the Reagan Protective Division as the assistant special agent in charge.

Christopher Grove is an award-winning, veteran actor and narrator based in Los Angeles. He guest-stars on top network TV shows and has performed at major theaters around the country, including the Mark Taper Forum and the Public Theater.

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.