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Several members of JFK’s White House Secret Service detail upon arrival at Ft Worth, Texas on November 21, 1963 which was near midnight abandoned JFK at the Hotel Texas for the night, leaving the guarding of the President to locally recruited fireman while they went out to drink. They drank alcoholic beverages at two places, at the Ft. Worth Press Club and at The Cellar. William Manchester writes that nine agents of the White House detail “were out on the town. They started with beer and mixed drnks at the Fort Worth Press Club with Malcolm Kilduff.” Manchester notes that one Secret Service agent was out until 5:00 a.m.! But, he does not identify him. Manchester writes that this unnamed agent was “one of the most agile members of the detail.”
Manchester does not identify this agent, but Vince Palamara does. Guess who it is? It’s Paul Landis. ( Survivor’s Guilt, Chapter 6, page 16, which cites Col George J. McNally, A Million Miles of Presidents p.204 )
Manchester also writes that three agents of the “12 to 8:00 a.m. shift - who were offically on duty, assigned to guard the President’s bedroom door ,” were part of this drinking party.
Vince Palamara writes in Survivor’s Guilt, “The owner of the Cellar, Pat Kirkwood, said: “About 3:30 in the morning, these Secret Service men were sitting around giggling about how the firemen were guarding the president over at the Hotel Texas...those guys were bombed. They were drinking pure Everclear [alcohol.]
Everclear is 190 proof. That's almost 100% pure alcohol.
It is currently illegal to buy it in 17 states.
This is what was in the Salty Dick drink.
This is how the Warren Commission dealt with this:
Testimony of Secret Service Chief James J Rowley begins in WCH 5 p. 449. The relevant section detailing the agents who drank alcohol on November 22, 1963 shortly after midnight in Ft. Worth begins on p. 451.
The Chairman - The President's Commission met at 9 a.m., on June 18, 1964, at 200 Maryland Avenue NE., Washington, D.C.
Present were Chief Justice Earl Warren, Chairman; Senator John Sherman Cooper, Representative Hale Boggs, Representative Gerald R. Ford, and Allen W. Dulles, members.
Also present were J. Lee Rankin, general counsel; and Samuel A. Stern, assistant counsel.
James J. Rowley
TESTIMONY OF JAMES J. ROWLEY
Mr. Rankin - Did you learn in connection with the trip when the assassination occurred that certain of the Secret Service agents had been in the press club and what is called the Cellar, at Fort Worth, the night before?
Mr. Rowley - Well, that came to my attention through a broadcast that Mr. Pearson made, that the agents were inebriated the night before at the Fort Worth Press Club. I immediately dispatched Inspector McCann to Fort Worth to investigate the report, and to interview the agents.
Mr. Rankin - What did you learn?
Mr. Rowley - I learned that there were nine agents involved at the Press Club. And I might say this--the agents on duty throughout that day had no opportunity to eat. When they arrived at Fort Worth, they were informed that there was a buffet to be served at the Fort Worth Club. This is what I ascertained in personal interviews. Upon going over there, they leaned there was no buffet, and some of them stayed for a drink. Three, I think, had one scotch, and others had two or three beers. They were in and out--from the time they arrived, I would say roughly around 12:30, until the place closed at 2 o'clock.
Now, after that some of them went to the Cellar. This is a place that does not serve alcoholic beverages. They went there primarily, I think, out of curiosity, because this was some kind of a beatnik place where someone gets up and recites, or plays the guitar.
Mr. Rankin - Did you learn whether or not there were any violations of the regulations of the Secret Service by these men?
Mr. Rowley - Yes; there was a violation. At that time there was a section in our manual in effect that said that during----
Mr. Rankin - Will you give us first the number?
Mr. Rowley - Section 10.
Mr. Rankin - Is that chapter 1, page 7?
Mr. Rowley - Chapter 1, page 7; yes, sir.
Mr. Rankin - Now, will you tell the Commission about what the regulation was?
Mr. Rowley - "The use of liquor. Employees are strictly enjoined to refrain from the use of intoxicating liquor during the hours they are officially employed at their post of duty or when they may reasonably expect that they may be called upon to perform an official duty."
The one that applies here--"However, all members of the White House detail and special agents cooperating with them on presidential and similar protective assignments are considered to be subject to call for official duty at any time while in travel status. Therefore, the use of intoxicating liquor of any kind, including beer and wine, by members of the White House detail and special agents cooperating with them or by special agents on similar assignments, while they are in a travel status, is prohibited."
Mr. Rankin - Can you tell the Commission how many men were involved in these trips to the Press Club and the Cellar, where these things were done?
Mr. Rowley - There were 9 men involved at the Press Club, and there were 10 men involved at the Cellar.
Mr. Rankin - Now, how many men, of those 10 men, were in the Presidential motorcade on the day of the assassination?
Mr. Rowley - Four--four men were in the followup car.
The Chairman - Who were they?
Mr. Rankin - Do you know their names?
Mr. Rowley - Yes; Landis, Hill, Ready, and Bennett. (emphasis added)
p. 452
Mr. Rankin - Now, what positions did the four men that you referred to that were involved in the press club and the Cellar matter occupy on the day of the assassination?
Mr. Rowley - Well, Mr. Ready occupied the right front, Mr. Landis to his rear----
Mr. Rankin - What do you mean by right front?
Mr. Rowley - Right front running board position of the followup car. It was his responsibility or duty to jump off in crowds and to take the position at the right rear of the President's car.Mr. Landis, if necessary, to jump off if the occasion demanded and take the right front of the President's car. Mr. Hill was on the left front running board of the followup car, and his responsibility was at the rear of the President's car. His position was assigned there because he was in charge of the First Lady's detail, and she was seated on the left side.
And Mr. McIntyre was to his rear on the left running board. So his assignment would have been up to the left front of the President's car. Mr. Bennett was in the rear seat of the followup car.
So to clarify the four Secret Service agents on the running board were:
(On the Right side - Mr. Ready and behind him Mr. Landis
On the Left side - Mr. Hill and behind him Mr. McIntyre)
THREE OF THESE FOUR WERE DRINKING
Page 453 Chief Rowley tells the Warren Commission members the responsibilities of these four Secret Service agents riding on the running board of the follow up car immediately behind the presidential limousine when he is interpted by a question from Mr. Rankin:
(The word “his” refers to Mr. Ready.)
Mr. Rowley - Well, Mr. Ready occupied the right front, Mr. Landis to his rear----
Mr. Rankin - What do you mean by right front?
Mr. Rowley - Right front running board position of the followup car. It was his responsibility or duty to jump off in crowds and to take the position at the right rear of the President's car.
Mr. Landis, if necessary, to jump off if the occasion demanded and take the right front of the President's car.
Mr. Hill was on the left front running board of the followup car, and his responsibility was at the rear of the President's car. His position was assigned there because he was in charge of the First Lady's detail, and she was seated on the left side.
And Mr. McIntyre was to his rear on the left running board. So his assignment would have been up to the left front of the President's car. Mr. Bennett was in the rear seat of the followup car.
Were they disciplined at all? No. Any punishment at all? None.
Mr. Rankin - Have you done anything to discipline these men for violation of the regulations of the Secret Service?
Mr. Rowley - Well, I did consider what type of punishment would be provided. Then I also considered the fact that these men in no way had--their conduct had no bearing on the assassination. And, therefore, I thought that in the light of history, to place a stigma on them by punishing them at that time, from which inevitably the public would conclude that they were responsible for the assassination of the President--I didn't think this was fair, and that they did not deserve that, with their family and children.
(At this point, Representative Ford entered the hearing room.)
[One is left to wondering if Mr. Ford did this quietly.]
According to Secret Service regulations they should have been fired.
Rankin asks about this:
Mr. Rankin - Chief Rowley, how do you construe subparagraph (c) of your regulation 10 regarding the use of alcoholic liquors?
The Chairman - Will you read it for the record?
Mr. Rankin - Will you kindly read it?
Mr. Rowley - "Violation or slight disregard of the above paragraphs excessive or improper use of intoxicating liquor at anytime will be cause for removal from the service. In interpreting the words excessive and improper, slight evidence tending to indicate unusual or questionable conduct will be considered proof that the use of liquor has been improper or excessive. Association with others who drink to excess will be considered as an indication of using more than a moderate amount of liquor. The excuse that liquor was used for medicinal purposes will not be accepted."
Mr. Rankin - How do you construe and apply that?
Mr. Rowley Well, in this instance, it was wrong.
Mr. Rankin - Now, were these men under this regulation considered to be on travel status, so that they should not be using intoxicating liquor?
Mr. Rowley - Yes, sir.
Mr. Rankin - And there is no question about that in your mind?
Mr. Rowley - No, sir.
Mr. Rankin - Has anything been done to reprimand and cause them to realize that this is a violation of your regulations?
Mr. Rowley -They were interviewed by the inspector at the time. The seriousness of the matter was impressed upon them. And I think they recognize the seriousness of their acts.
The men we recruit are men that are college graduates and mature, and screen them very carefully, particularly before we assign them to the White House detail. They know and we know that they are in a fishbowl 24 hours day, and that, therefore, their conduct is always subject to scrutiny, and so forth, and that they are responsible individuals. Their records have that they have been performing in a high degree. They have worked end hours of overtime. They are dedicated. And if they were not, they would not be on the detail.
They realize the seriousness of the violation, and I went over it with my special agent in charge. He understands it. And I am quite sure that they all. understand it at this time.
Mr. Rankin - I would like to have you examine Commission Exhibit No. 1018, Chief Rowley and see if that is the regulation of the Secret Service that you have been referring to.
Mr. Rowley - Yes; that is what I have been reading here, sir.
Mr. Rankin - Mr. Chief Justice, I would like to offer as a part of the record the regulation, Commission Exhibit No. 1018.
The Chairman - It may be admitted.
(The document was marked for identification as Commission Exhibit No. 1018, and received in evidence.)
At the Fort Worth Press Club, which is in The Blackstone Hotel:
Rufus Youngblood - 2 beers
Andrew Berger - 2 beers
David B. Grant - a scotch and soda, left at 1:45 a.m.
Clint Hill arrived between 1:15 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. had a scotch and soda.
Richard E Johnson - “two beers.”
Paul Landis - arrived at 1:15 a.m. a Scoth and soda.
Donald J. Lawton - arrived at 12:30 (earliest recorded arrival) 3 beers
Earnest E Olsson, Jr. - “directed to” the Ft. Worth Press Club by White House and Local press. - one and one half mixed drink.
John D. Ready - 2 cans of beer, left between 1:15 and 1:30
Also at the Ft. Worth Press Club were an unknown number of White House and local press including:
Ft. Worth Press Club President Cal Sutton - CE 1020 p. 696, his own report at 18H699 - “a person who was not introduced to me and stated that he was with the White House party and wondered if I could cash a check for him for $189.40.” Apparently, this was to pay for some or all of the drinks for those at the Ft. Worth Press Club. Sutton went to the Hotel Texas, they gave him the money for the check.
James W. Mangan - CE1020 p. 696
Phil J. Record, part-time police reporter - CE 1020 p. 697
Barbara Faye Richardson - a reporter with the Ft. Worth Morning Star Telegram.
Bob Scheiffer
At The Cellar - which was at 10th and Main and located underneath a liquor store
Rufus Youngblood - his own report. 18H 682. Accordng to Youngblood, Agent Donald Lawton phone his room at about 12:10 a.m. and informed him that the press and the agents were invited to the Fort Worth Press Club which was three blocks from the Hotel Texas. Youngblood and Lawton joined other agents at a table who were already there. Youngblood does not state if he went to the Fort Worth Press Club b y car or if he walked. Youngblood said he had “two beers.” He left the Fort Worth Press Club with two other agents that he does not identify. He and these two agents leave at about 1:30 a.m. They then go to The Cellar. Youngblood says he had “two grapefruit drinks.” Youngblood, alone, leaves The Cellar at 3:00 a.m.
Andrew Berger - “two grape fruit drinks.” Leaves at 2:15 a.m.
Paul A. Burns - arrives at 3:15 a.m., claims to to have had any drinks, yet he knows that “coffee,” at The Cellar was 60 cents per cup. His own report 18H684.
David B Grant - arrived around 2 a.m., stayed for 45 minutes, claims not to have had anything to drink while there.
Clint Hill - arrived about 1:50 a.m. Reveals that the “grape fruit drink” had another name, “Salty Dick.” Left at 2:45 a.m.
Paul Landis - 2 Salty Dick drinks.
Donald J Lawton - 2 Salty Dick drinks, left at 3 a.m.
Gerald W. O’Rourke - “directed by the officers of the Fort Worth Police Department,” to The Cellar. Claims he did not drink anything while there due to “high prices.” States he was only there for about 15 minutes.
John D. Ready - 2 and a half Salty Dicks.
Also present an unknown number of press and Ft. Worth police. - source O’Rourke.
Phil J. Record and Bob Scheiffer arrive after 4:00 a.m.
Barbara Faye Richardson places Malcolm Kilduff at The Cellar
People are allowed to bring their own liquor to The Cellar which does not have a license to sell alcoholic drinks. So, the idea that no alcohol was served or could be consumed there is ludicrous, as ludicrous as the notion that they were there to drink grape fruit juice and hear "beatnik poetry."
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