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(Testimony of Winston G. , Accompanied By Fred B. Smith, Lawson)
Mr. Lawson.
I have assisted on five or six and had the major responsibility on seven or eight, I believe, and then have done what we call local advances here in the Washington area, i£ the President is going to a dinner or to a speech or to a function here in Washington.
Mr. Stern.
Do all members of the White House detail do advance work for Presidential trips?
Mr. Lawson.
Yes, sir; after they have been there a few months perhaps, or sometimes a little less, depending on the need of advances, they are assigned to go out and help on some advances, and then they will work regular shift work for a while and then they may be assigned other advances and then a little bit later have the responsibility of one.
Mr. Mccloy.
Mr. Ford, this is Mr. Lawson from the Secret Service. He is just giving us his qualifications and giving his experience up to the time that he was given responsibility in connection with making preparations, advance preparations, for Presidential trips.
Mr. Stern.
When you are not doing advance work, Mr. Lawson, what are your general responsibilities?
Mr. Lawson.
I am assigned to a regular shift, of which there are three on the White House detail, and we work 2 weeks 4 to 12, 2 weeks midnights, 2 weeks days. That is generally because if there is a Presidential movement here in Washington, usually if it is a daytime engagement the 4-to-12 shift will have to come in and work extra. If it is an evening engagement, why, the 8-to-4 shift will have to work extra. And then as the President takes trips, if we are assigned to work that day we would also go along as a regular working agent, accompanying him or going just ahead of him.
Mr. Stern.
When you do the advance work for a trip, do you file reports in connection with the work you have done?
Mr. Lawson.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Stern.
Do you typically file a report somewhere in the middle of the advance and then at the end, or how does it work? What are your responsibilities?
Mr. Lawson.
Until just prior to the Dallas trip we had a report which we tried to get out if it was at all possible and send back to Washington, the complete report at that time, and then write a supplemental after we returned to Washington, with any changes. The first advance and the advance that I had in Billings, Mont., and in Little Rock, Ark., I was able to do that. Those were in September and October of 1963. However, they changed the reporting system so that we send a preliminary report, and it was the first one of this type that I had had after the Dallas trip. So this one has a preliminary report and also a final survey report.
Mr. Dulles.
How much forenotice did you have of the Dallas trip; do you recall?
Mr. Lawson.
Yes, sir; I was notified of it on November 4, which is quite a bit of notice.
Mr. Dulles.
So you could start your preparations for it on November 4, approximately?
Mr. Lawson.
I was notified that there would be a trip, but that I would have more information on November 8; yes, sir; and I was given more information on November 8.
Mr. Dulles.
And when was it in that period that you were notified that Dallas was to be visited?
Mr. Lawson.
On November 4.
Mr. Dulles.
On November 4?
Mr. Lawson.
I was told that I would be going to Dallas, but they didn't know very many of the details yet and wouldn't until November 8.
Mr. Stern.
Mr. Lawson, I show you a document marked for identification Commission No. 767. Can you identify that?
Mr. Lawson.
Yes, sir; I can. It is my preliminary report for the Dallas trip.
Mr. Stern.
And that was prepared when?
Mr. Lawson.
That was prepared in Dallas, late afternoon or early evening Tuesday, November 19, and sent to Washington by airplane.
Mr. Stern.
Mr. Chairman, may this be admitted?
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