Nonfiction Book Award Status: SILVER
Synopsis
In 1998, for the first time in our nation’s history, the director of the United States Secret Service was asked to testify against a sitting president. Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr wanted to question Director Merletti, as well as agents on the president’s protective detail, about President Clinton’s relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Based on alleged inside information, Starr issued a motion to compel agents on the president’s detail to testify as to what they may have seen or heard regarding Clinton’s intimate liaisons with Lewinsky.
Merletti argued that if agents were permitted to testify about anything other than criminal acts, it would compromise the trust and confidence tenet critical to the mission of the Secret Service, and thus jeopardize the safety of the presidency and the country.
With the support of all living former directors, the upper echelon of the Department of Justice, and former president George H.W. Bush, Merletti battled the independent counsel for six months, taking his case all the way to the Supreme Court.
Lew was a trusted member of the Secret Service who believed in the values of duty, honor, courage, and commitment. Trust and Confidence is the story of how Lew defended those values from those who sought to undermine what he would never surrender – his integrity. – Leon E. Panetta, Former Chief of Staff
A well-researched, enthralling history of the fight between Kenneth Starr and the Secret Service. Lichtman’s story is a gripping political drama. – Kirkus Reviews
‘Trust and Confidence’ helps us see the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal from a new, important viewpoint: the battle between the Secret Service’s desire to uphold the trust and confidence that allows them to do their job; and the tactics used against them for political agendas. A worthwhile, eye-opening read. Fans of politics, history, and current events, will not be able to put this book down. – Maincrest Media Award Winner (First Place: “Political & Current Events”)
This well-researched, non-fiction book reads like a crime drama. There were times when we felt like John Grisham had written it. But it’s real! In an age in which the mainstream media seems to always be trying to spin stories to fit a political agenda, this book has no agenda. It’s just facts. – Outstanding Creator Award Winner (Placed First/categories: “Non-Fiction”; “Politics”; “Journalism”)
Author Bio
Jim Lichtman has been writing and speaking on ethics since 1995. Past clients include The Federal Dispute Resolution Conference, Society of Actuaries, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Hampton University Honors College, The Penn State Forum, American Bankers Association and U.S. Department of State.
Op-Eds: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Huffington Post, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and The New York Times.
Feature stories and appearances include USA Today, The Washington Post, Boston Herald, The Weekend Today Show (local, New York), National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition, NY-1, and CNN’s NewsNight with Aaron Brown.
