22-05-2014, 12:34 AM
Joseph McBride Wrote:The security was a bit lax after that 1962 Milwaukee dinner. I went up to
the podium to look at the lectern with the presidential
seal attached. Kennedy had left his speech notes on the lectern with
doodles on them, including drawings of sailboats. I wanted
to take the notes with me but didn't think I should. As I pondered
that question, a Secret Service agent came to remove the presidential seal. I asked
if I could have the notes, and he said no, because
"The President might have been making notes about
Berlin." I was disappointed, but shortly after the
agent left, I heard noise from behind the curtain. It
was then that I pulled it back and came face-to-face
with the President, five feet away. He seemed
relaxed and was cordial. He was trailed
quickly by his retinue.
But there are always
gaps in security, some much worse than others, as we
saw in Dallas. Seeing how vulnerable
Kennedy was up close during the 1960 campaign,
even in a large crowd, probably helped inspire me to
write my October 1961 short story about his
assassination, "The Plot Against a Country."
I found a May 21, 1964, letter in JFK's files thanking
Milwaukee Police Chief Howard O. Johnson:
"Mr. Gerald A. Behn, Special Agent in Charge of the
White House Detail, has informed me of the splendid
cooperation rendered by you and your organization
during my recent visit to Milwaukee.
"I am extremely grateful to you and I wish you would
extend my thanks to the other members
of your organization for their able assistance."
Wow! Now that' an experience I bet you'll never forget what a story to share with your grandchildren and family members of this new generation. I could sit and listen to people for hours. I just love this stuff.