RIDING WITH REAGAN: From the White House to the Ranch

In a worshipful portrait, Barletta, a retired Secret Service agent, describes his time as the head of Reagan's equestrian team. Barletta spent many hours on horseback at the ranch with the president and wife Nancy, and observed firsthand their strong, loving relationship. Ever loyal, Barletta describes Reagan as warm, optimistic, courteous and possessed of a great sense of humor, a down-to-earth man who saddled his own horse and embraced the cowboy ideals of the West, like a firm handshake and friendship. The author relates many moments of crisis when he stepped in as rescuer, for example, when Nancy Reagan was nearly forced off her saddle by brush or when her husband was thrown by a bolting horse. Although there are some interesting anecdotes about international figures like Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev, both of whom Barletta encountered during his tenure, this memoir's highly admiring tone targets it at Reagan fans. 32 color photos not seen by PW. (Feb. 6)