Guns dog steps of Muldoons in U.S.

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 5

Guns dog steps of Muldoons in U.S.

NZPA staff correspondent Houston. “Quite unobtrusive, but damned good,” is how the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) describes the Federal Secret Service agents who have kept a close watch on him during his tour of the United States. The agents have dogged his footsteps night and day — as they do all foreign Government leaders or heads of State that are guests of the American Government. So far there has been nothing faintly resembling trouble, but whenever he moves, Mr Muldoon is guarded by half a dozen armed agents — always within a few feet of him, even at private functions. When Mr and Mrs Muldoon are in their hotel

room, an agent stands guard outside the door, and no-one gets in without clearance.

The agents work from a hotel room next to the Muldoons, using it as a headquarter and communication base. In some hotels this room has carried a sign saying “U.S. Secret Service Command Post.” Mr Muldoon has almost no protection in New Zealand, and in several speeches has emphasised to surpised Americans that it is not needed. He could have declined security for this visit, but said that if the Government Was prepared to take such elaborate measures it would have been unfair to turn them down. “If I had said no, and there had been some incident, it would create considerable embarrassment for everyone.”

The Secret Service people are suplemented at every step by local agents and state and city

protective forces and police. Agents are always on hand stationed in strategic positions when Mr Muldoon arrives for a function. They guard building entrances and exits, and ride with him on lifts.

Sometimes the security goes to seemingly unnecessary lengths: When Mr Muldoon spoke at a city office building in Atlanta last week, one agent was posted away up on the roof to watch the street below and surrounding buildings. The party’s bags go to each airport well ahead of departure time, and are searched — before being loaded in a special container in the aircraft hold.

A couple of agents fly first class, with the others sitting nearby in economy. When Mr Muldoon rides in his big, black, bulletproof limousine, the car and others in the motorcade are accompanied front and rear by police cars, often with sirens blaring and red lights flashing. Motor-cycle outriders roar up and down the convoy to close off cross street* and highway entrances.

The Secret Service rides in a station waggon behind the main car, rear window down. It carries an impressive arsenal, including shotguns and machine guns. Most of the agents wear tailored suits but one who regularly rides shotgun in thestation waggon, frequently sports a dark le a t h e r coat and sunglasses.

One agent is detailed to carry a folding aluminium stretcher and a resuscitator wherever Mr Muldoon goes.