(Testimony of Winston G. , Accompanied By Fred B. Smith, Lawson)
Mr. Dulls.
press and so forth, but how many protective cars are in a motorcade? Does the Secret Service decide that or do the local police decide it to some extent or do you decide it in consultation?
Mr. Lawson.
We have our usual motorcade, and usually it is in consultation. They take our recommendations quite frankly.
Mr. Dulles.
Have you been giving any consideration to reviewing that procedure to see whether the existing procedure is the best from the protective angle?
Have you any suggestions to give us on that?
Mr. Lawson.
I believe that the chief's office is, but I am not in a position to say what they are going to do.
Mr. Dulles.
I think it would be interesting if that was being done. Maybe it should be done, just to have a good look at it. If you could advise us as to whether that is under consideration it might be helpful.
Representative Ford.
I think it was my understanding that the Treasury Department is making a review of this whole setup, are they not?
Mr. Smith.
Yes, I understand so. I understand that we have discussed with the Chief Justice an arrangement, sort of a question and answer thing to begin with on this because of the sensitive nature of this information, to see if adequate information for your purposes can be developed that way, and then at that point or at some point in the future it will be decided how this question of
the review and new procedures will be handled. That is my understanding of it.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Smith.
I am Fred B. Smith, Deputy General Counsel of the Treasury Department.
Representative Ford.
Will you stand and be sworn.
Do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Mr. Smith.
I do.
Mr. Dulles.
I wonder if the witness would just repeat.
(Discussion off the record.)
Mr. Stern.
On the record.
Representative Ford.
Would you repeat what you indicated a moment ago, Mr. Smith?
Mr. Smith.
Yes, sir; I have been informed that an arrangement was worked out with the Chief Justice with respect to the question of improving procedures for the protection of the President that certain information would be provided in the form of questions and answers, and that after that procedure had been fulfilled, consideration would be given as to such questions as the necessity of further testimony on such questions and appropriate security arrangements with respect to such information.
This is on hearsay. I haven't been involved in that myself. I would like to ask Mr. Stern if that is in-accordance with his understanding.
Mr. Stern.
It is my understanding.
Mr. Dulles.
If it is appropriate I suggest that maybe this question of the number of protective cars in a motorcade of this nature might be one of the questions you would be willing to consider, or whoever is considering this matter would be willing to include among the subjects of consideration.
Representative Ford.
Will you proceed, Mr. Stern.
Mr. Stern.
I would like to finish on this special New York practice with you, Mr. Lawson. If an incident were to occur during a motorcade in New York, is it your understanding that the responsibility of these New York officials, detectives, would be to investigate the incident or to stay with the motorcade as the Secret Service would?
Mr. Lawson.
I am afraid I couldn't answer that. I don't know.
Mr. Stern.
Is there something special about the New York circumstances that makes it desirable to have these additional detectives that you don't ordinarily have?
Mr. Lawson.
Again I don't know. I conceive myself personally--where we go through quite often I believe there are more people in the State of New York than there are in Billings, Mont., and you might have more of a chance
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