Mr. Kellerman.

man, is there anything unusual when we get here. That is a general question that I have given these people all the time.

Representative Ford.

In other words, once the assignment has been made that you handle this trip, and in this case there was first a stop at El Paso, then at Houston--

Mr. Kellerman.

San Antonio.

Representative Ford.

San Antonio; then Houston, Fort Worth. You stayed overnight at Fort Worth?

Mr. Kellerman.

Right.

Representative Ford.

Then you proceeded to Dallas on the 22d?

Mr. Kellerman.

Correct; yes, sir.

Representative Ford.

As I understand it, when you arrived at San Antonio, the man that is in charge there, you immediately contacted.

Mr. Kellerman.

Yes, indeed.

Representative Ford.

When you go to Houston, the same process?

Mr. Kellerman.

Yes, sir.

Representative Ford.

Fort Worth, the same?

Mr. Kellerman.

Fine.

Representative Ford.

And when you got to Dallas, when you arrived there, whom did you see first?

Mr. Kellerman.

Mr. Lawson.

Representative Ford.

And what did he tell you?

Mr. Kellerman.

He said, "Your program is all set. We have all the equipment and there should be no problem here." Fine.
Let me go back to Fort Worth again. On that night we had an overnight. The gentleman we had working that stop had an added thing thrown into him, which was the speech before breakfast. The President spoke to a crowd across the main street in front of the hotel. After the President retired that night, he and I went down to that parking lot. I said, show me where this man is going to be, where the platform is going to be, where are you going to have all these folks, and how close are they going to be; show me. He did.
You have got to keep abreast of these things, Mr. Congressman. Well, it is your job.

Representative Ford.

Were all of these men that had charge of these various operations in San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, men of experience?

Mr. Kellerman.

Very much; very much so. I want to give you a little information on how these people are selected for doing your advance work out of Washington. In the first place, when they are brought in, you instruct them on everything you do securitywise around the White House. You instruct them in rangework, followup car work, every little phase entailed. Then say you have a little movement in town--the President has a press conference, as an example. He doesn't do that. Send him with an older fellow. Even if he just walks around, learn it. Take him another place, a departure from an airport, or a theater. Give him four or five. Then give him one, give him a little departure at an airport, or a hotel. But have somebody with him. Then there is no mistake made.

Representative Ford.

Now, when these men are assigned to handle the responsibilities in a particular city, such as Lawson in Dallas, is Lawson on the staff here or is he a man from Dallas with the Secret Service?

Mr. Kellerman.

These are all people we have in the White House detail, sir.

Representative Ford.

In other words, Lawson was a White House detail man from Washington?

Mr. Kellerman.

Right, sir. He is one of the men off those three shifts.

Representative Ford.

Now, when was your assignment made as the man in charge of this particular operation?

Mr. Kellerman.

Oh, I am going to say a week ahead, for lack of a better time in fact, I knew that much of it.

Representative Ford.

November--

Mr. Kellerman.

Say the 17th, for a better day.

Representative Ford.

On or before November 17th you got this assignment.

Mr. Kellerman.

Surely. I knew that I was making a trip, and none of the other two gentlemen were.