There are days that you will never forget, such as 9/11. The day that President Reagan was shot is one of those. The picture on the cover of the book speaks a 1,000 words. If it were not for the quick action of Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr our nations history and that of the world would be different. If President Reagan had died we might still have the Berlin Wall.
This book is a historical document that reads like a best selling novel of the highest caliber. Wilber has done his research well and gives a blow by blow account of that fateful day. There are so many heroes that it is hard to focus on just one. The book deals mainly with the medical trauma team that saves the Presidents life.
Little details come to light that shed even more evidence on the calm and thoughtful actions of the medical team. One point that seems minor yet speaks columned is that Dr. Aaron calmly decided to treat Reagan like any other patient and thus he had his usual team of surgeons scrub in, that included Dr. Adelberg, an intern. What's important is that a much more experienced doctor offered to scrub in, but Dr. Aaron turns him down because they have never worked an OR together. Dr. Aaron wants the team he knows and trusts. So, an intern is later holding the beating heart of the most powerful man in the world. Great drama, and true.
The medical side of this thriller will keep you reading. Once I started I couldn't stop. History was made and this account of several hours is fantastic.
Not everyone did well on that day and Wilber doesn't pull any punches. Alexander Haig is treated fairly in this book which means that we see his egotistical flaws completely. Assistant press secretaries also fared poorly without the leadership of their boss, Jim Brady, who was fighting for his own life after being shot in the head. So Wilber gives us the good, the bad and the ugly.
One person who doesn't get enough attention, because that wasn't the purpose of this book is Secret Service Agent Timothy McCarthy. I remember the video on television showing his reactions. He immediately upon hearingnthe gunshots turned toward the shooter and in front of the President and puffed himself up to be the biggest possible target. Fornhis efforts he was shot in the chest. His actions as much as anyone's saved the life of the president and displayed the training and dedication of Secrect Service Agents to the full.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. I think it should be a must read for high school students.
Enjoy!
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