Assassination worry

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 14

Assassination worry

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) DALLAS (Texas), July 7. Fears of an assassination attempt against Vice-President Gerald Ford gripped Dallas briefly yesterday when a state policeman said he thought a sniper was firing at his car in the • presidential procession.

Secret Service officials later surmised that the window on the driver’s side of Jim Bryan’s police car shattered because of heat expansion.

But State police said they thought a rock tossed up by another car might have been the cause. A 30-minute search failed to reveal any bullet in the car or in the area. Mr Bryan’s radio report instantly recalled the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, although the Ford motorcade was far away from the spot where Mr Kennedy was shot to death. Mr Ford was en route from the airport to speak at the dedication on the Dallas World Trade Centre — part of the complex for which Mr Kennedy was headed when he was assassinated. “I am, of course, gratified to know that this was merely a case of a window shattered by heat expansion,” Mr Ford said

when he learned of the incident afterwards. In addition to the historic connection, there was a report of a man with several guns in the vicinity of the motorcade shortly before the window shattered. Secret Service agents converged on the disabled car, which was seven car-lengths behind Mr Ford’s car. The agents found the glass had exploded outwards — excluding the possibility of a sniper’s gunshot. A Secret Service agent and two police officers were in the car when the window cracked. In a speech at the new trade centre, said to be the largest wholesale trade centre in the world, Mr Ford urged the congress to pass a trade reform act now stalled in the senate. He said the act was essential to world trade during a very difficult time. At a news conference later, Mr Ford said that he thought the Watergate scandal had not hurt President Nixon on his peace mission to Europe, the Middle East and the Soviet Union. Mr Ford said that he had detected a more favourable sentiment towards the President during the last two months and believed the odds of Mr Nixon’s impeachment had been lessened. “The President’s political and physical health has definitely improved,” he said.

The vice-president said he believed Mr Nixon would comply with a Supreme Court order to produce certain tapes and added: “I think any citizen including the President, would comply with a Supreme Court order.” No person in litigation could be expected to omrnent on his future conduct until such an order was given.