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Frank C. Carlucci III was a storied diplomat who plied his wares under seven presidents across party affiliations. He discharged his responsibilities in the military and foreign service in addition to serving as national security advisor and secretary of defense. Get Me Carlucci is a compilation of reminisces about her father by Kristin Carlucci Weed. Drawing on anecdotes from Carlucci’s superiors, subordinates and peers, empirical evidence from Carlucci’s own notes and conversations with Carlucci himself, the book is dwells on some of Carlucci’s momentous experiences and has a fair share of unexpected thrills and spills.
Speaking six foreign languages, Carlucci found himself stationed in some of the most volatile places on earth, experiencing some of the most extraordinary situations over the course of his political career. Posted to Congo immediately after the country obtained independence – there were only 16 Congolese graduates in the entire nation – Carlucci got drawn into a cauldron of political churn. He got stabbed by an irate mob when the car in which he was traveling hit a cyclist who’s unfortunately succumbed to his wounds. Carlucci was even accused of murdering Congo’s first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, an allegation that solely belonged to the realm of fantasy.
Carlucci distinguished himself so admirably in Portugal in the role of Ambassador that the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Lisbon is now named Casa Carlucci in his honor. But as the book states, the one achievement that Carlucci was most proud of related to his rehabilitation efforts to aid his home state of Pennsylvania after the State was battered by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. When the hurricane wreaked havoc, there was no government agency for handling disaster relief. Carlucci stepped in taking on the role of “flood czar,” and oversaw billions of dollars in federal aid on the ground. When the dust finally settled, the force of nature had caused 118 fatalities and lead to $3.5 billion in property damage. Carlucci also mooted the creation of a nodal relief agency for managing future disasters, which ultimately led to the creation of [the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The utility of Carlucci as a resourceful administrator is epitomised by the title of the book. In 1981 a 1981 Washington Post article titled “Get Me Carlucci is the summons for the quintessential Survivor” was published following the departure of Carlucci from the CIA under Carter where he undertook wholesale reforms in embellishing a tarnished image of the CIA, courtesy a slew of scandals.
After decades of government service, Carlucci tried his hand at business and was a spectacular success there as well. Joining the Private Equity firm Carlyle as Chairman, he used his extensive networks to position Carlyle as the then number one Private Equity firm. He also assumed Directorships in a clutch of companies which created a bit of controversy.
Get Me Carlucci is an absorbing recollection of a daughter about her father who despite being in a sphere of noteworthy influence thought the least about blowing his own trumpet.