Ronald Kessler

Ronald Kessler is an American investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author renowned for his in-depth exposés on U.S. intelligence agencies, the Secret Service , and the White House , having authored 21 non-fiction books based on interviews with current and former officials.

Kessler's career commenced in 1964 as a reporter for the Worcester Telegram , progressing to investigative roles at the Boston Herald , The Washington Post , and The Wall Street Journal , where he secured 16 journalism awards, including two George Polk Awards for national reporting and community service. His notable works include In the President's Secret Service (2009), which details protective operations and presidential indiscretions through agents' accounts; The Secrets of the FBI (2011), revealing internal agency dynamics; and Inside Congress (1997), cataloging scandals and abuses of power on Capitol Hill based on over 350 interviews.

While praised for unprecedented access and uncovering systemic issues often downplayed by official narratives, Kessler's reliance on anonymous sources has prompted criticism from certain media outlets, particularly those aligned with subjects of his scrutiny like the Clintons , though such critiques frequently emanate from organizations with documented partisan leanings.

Ronald Kessler was born Ronald Borek on December 31, 1943, in New York City , New York. He was the son of Ernest Borek, a biochemist , and Minuetta Kessler, a pianist .

Kessler grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts , a suburb northwest of Boston . His mother resided there until her death in 2002. Little is documented about specific events or influences from his early years, though the family's professional backgrounds in science and the arts may have shaped an environment conducive to intellectual pursuits.

Ronald Kessler attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts , from 1962 to 1964, where he did not complete a degree, dropping out after his sophomore year. During this period, he joined the university's student newspaper, The Scarlet , advancing from co-news editor to co-features editor and then co-associate editor.

In 1963, while serving as an editor at The Scarlet , Kessler conducted an investigation into racial discrimination in off-campus housing near Clark University, finding that 10 out of 26 landlords surveyed refused to rent to Black individuals. The resulting article, titled “N-word Discrimination in Housing Found to be Common Near Clark,” was published on October 5, 1963, in the Worcester Telegram , prompting an investigation by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. This exposé not only led to Kessler's reinstatement as co-features editor after a brief removal but also secured him a part-time position at the Worcester Telegram .

Kessler transitioned to full-time professional journalism in 1964 with the Worcester Telegram , marking the start of his career shortly after leaving Clark . He followed this with three years (approximately 1964–1967) as an investigative reporter and editorial writer at the Boston Herald . These early roles established his focus on investigative reporting, building on the skills and recognition gained from his university work.

During his time at Clark University , where he enrolled in 1962, Ronald Kessler served in multiple editorial roles on The Scarlet , the student newspaper, including co-news editor, co-features editor, and co-associate editor. In this capacity, he conducted early investigative reporting that focused on local social issues, demonstrating a commitment to uncovering empirical evidence of wrongdoing.

Kessler's most notable student investigation centered on racial discrimination in off-campus housing rentals near Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts.