Riding With Reagan By John Barletta I n t r o d u c t i o n b y J a s o n B a r b o u r , Di r e c t o r o f D e v e l o p m e n t
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ew Americans knew of John Barletta before his book, Riding With Reagan, was published in 2005. Young America’s Foundation encouraged John to record his many stories about his time as President Reagan’s longest serving Secret Service agent. We knew the impact and importance of sharing John’s stories with a wider audience, and the release of Riding With Reagan has undoubtedly helped pass on Ronald Reagan’s lasting accomplishments to future generations.
One person in particular who said this was Mrs. Reagan. She called John and asked if he would meet with Young America’s Foundation’s staff when it was apparent that the Foundation would be preserving Rancho del Cielo. John was not familiar with Young America’s Foundation but was happy to meet with us at the First Lady’s request. John remembers his initial meeting with the Foundation team: “They impressed me so much, that at the end of their presentation, I asked, ‘What do you want me to do?’”
Young America’s Foundation’s relationship with John began when we saved the Reagan Ranch in 1998 (see page seven).
Seeking out John’s assistance and guidance was great advice. His first-hand experiences with and knowledge of President Reagan make him an invaluable asset to the Reagan Ranch and Young America’s Foundation’s efforts. After Reagan took office, Secret Service Agent John Barletta was placed in charge of the equestrian team because of his love of horses and his mastery of riding. In 1987, he was assigned to the Western Protective Division to oversee the Reagan Ranch detail.
President Reagan tends to his riding equipment in the Ranch’s tack barn.
The Foundation team spoke with Reagan associates to document and preserve Rancho del Cielo’s important history. In these meetings, we were frequently told, “You should talk to John Barletta.”
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Young America’s Foundation • Libertas
John traveled around the world with President and Mrs. Reagan, ensuring their protection and safety—from the White House to Camp David to Windsor Castle and even to Pope John Paul II’s summer residence near Rome. And, of course, he always rode alongside the President at Rancho del Cielo. John, throughout nearly two decades of service to Ronald Reagan, spent countless hours with