Clint McCown grew up among men who cast very long shadows. His father was a war hero who rose to become a command-level special agent in the US Secret Service. As a teenager, McCown worked as a yard boy on the Gettysburg farm of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who imparted lessons in both hunting and battle strategies. With such formidable role models, young McCown felt pressured to prove himself, which led to impulsive and reckless decisions as a teenager, such as jumping the fence into East Germany during the Cold War, right under the nose of a machine-gun tower. Eventually, however, McCown's risky exploits found purpose: he became a journalist, and his investigations into corrupt politicians played a crucial role in thwarting a Mafia takeover of the Alabama state government. This work earned him the Associated Press Award for Documentary Excellence, but not before a failed assassination attempt on his life.

Son of the Secret Service: A Memoir is a collection of award-winning essays, three of which received Notable Essay citations in the Best American Essays series. McCown brings a unique perspective to his story—as the son of a Secret Service agent, a member of the generation that came of age in the 1960s and 1970s, and a veteran of the arts. Across a diverse range of settings—including the streets of Birmingham during civil rights demonstrations, a nudist colony in New Mexico, a New York theater company, and even a small-town department store hosting a funeral—McCown shares his encounters with a Puerto Rican terrorist, a poisoned dog, a parade of famous actors, politicians, and athletes, and a giant shark in the Baltic Sea.

Through masterful storytelling and vibrant prose, these personal essays capture a rich tapestry of life experiences, each rendered with striking beauty, clarity, and depth. In these poignant snapshots of an extraordinary existence, McCown examines the evolving nature of the world, highlighting the profound and valuable lessons woven into our defining moments.