GUARDING A PRESIDENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 July 1931, Page 9

GUARDING A PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON PRECAUTIONS. Histories of 50,000 persons who might harm the President of the United States are kept at the White House i'agues’ galleiy in Washington. It is probably the least-known crime record in the world. This biographical and

pictorial collection ot undesirable characters is maintained for the benefit of the picked men of the United States Secret Service, whose duty is to guard President. Hoover, says the correspondent of the “Sunday Dispatch,” at Washington. Very few of those catalogued are aware of the fact That their full records, even in many instances their finget-prints, air known to the secret service. Who gets into

the White House rogues’ gallery? Well, cveiy Communist, anarchist, and fanatic who lias been beard to utter threats against the life of the President.

Hunreds of lettcis are received daily from citizens with grievances Most of these correspondents arc

calmed by a politely written reply on White House notepaper. But if anyone persists in pestering the President, then a secret service agent is quietly dispatched to the writer's heme town, and he does not return to Washington until he has the man's “history,” a sample of his handwriting, and if possible, his picture. It has taken thirty years to collect the

“cases.” for the rogues’ galelry. As the originals die their caids are thrown away. It is no more difficult to get intc the White House than into a country club. It is easy, at any rate, tc pass through the main entrance to the executive offices, but that is about all. While the I’icsident, ;i couple of

rooms away, may appear to be most caielessly guarded, not a soul can enter without being challenged before he has taken three steps.

Facing the door as you go into the cntiance to the main office is a large table, at which sits a policeman. That officer is. the only visible evidence that the President has any kind of a bodyguard. Everything seems delightfully informal. But while they are not in evidence to the uninitiated, sharpeyed. and fully-armed secret service men aic on the watch at the White House, inside and outside, night and day. That policeman at the table picks out u. stranger as soon as he pokes bis nose inside; the door. He jumps up from bis chair at once and asks him for his name and what business has brought him there. Should the visitor show the slightest sign of aggressive eccentricity he will be surprised at the magic-like appearance ot a coips of officer::. The secret sci vice has another duty—that of examining the suspicious-looking packages which are sent to the White House for the President. It is never fcigotten in Washington that three Presidents have died at the hands of assassins.