Mr. Rankin.

because of the security of the country, and if he would just suggest that, when he came to that point, and say specifically that it did involve the security of the country, then we would proceed to go off the record, if it was satisfactory to the Commission, and consider those questions off the record. And then return to the record as soon as we had completed those security matters.
Would that be satisfactory?

The Chairman.

I think that is an appropriate way to proceed.

Mr. Rankin.

Chief Rowley, will you state your name and address for the record, please?

Mr. Rowley.

James J. Rowley, 3501 Rittenhouse Street NW., Washington, D.C.

Mr. Rankin.

Do you have an official position with the Government?

Mr. Rowley.

I have, as Chief of the U.S. Secret Service.

Mr. Rankin.

How long have you occupied that position?

Mr. Rowley.

Since September 1, 1961.

Mr. Rankin.

What is the nature of the duties of that position?

Mr. Rowley.

The nature of the duties is the general overall supervision of the activities of the Secret Service.

Mr. Rankin.

And, in a general way, what is the official responsibility under the statutes of the United States of the Secret Service?

Mr. Rowley.

Well, we are responsible under title 18, section 3056, to investigate all violations that affect the currency, securities, and coinage of the United States. That involves Government bonds, Government checks, and such other functions and duties as are authorized by law, subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury.
In addition, we have the responsibility of the protection of the President, members of his immediate family, the Vice President, President-elect, Vice President-elect, and the former President for a reasonable period of time as he leaves office.

Mr. Rankin.

Will you please tell us what experikence you had with the Secret Service prior to the time that you became chief.

Mr. Rowley.

I was in charge of the White House detail from 1946 to 1961.

Mr. Rankin.

Now, will you tell us briefly the training that you had in regard to Government Service?

Mr. Rowley.

I first entered the Government as a member of the FBI in 1937, and spent a year with the FBI, after which I went back to New York for a period of 9 months. I entered the Secret Service on September 12, 1938. I spent time in criminal investigation in the New York City office, and the Utica office of Secret Service and in April of 1939, I was assigned to Washington, eventually to the White House detail.
( At this point, Mr. Dulles entered the hearing room.)

Mr. Rowley.

I served as a member of the White House detail, as an agent on a shift, as an assistant agent in charge, agent in charge of the shift, and advance man, in preparing for Presidential visits, both domestically and abroad.

Mr. Rankin.

What educational training did you have?

Mr. Rowley.

I had 2 years of college toward a B.S. then I was graduated from law school, and secured a master's degree in law.

Mr. Rankin.

Was one of the duties of your position as chief of the Service to have general supervision over the trip of President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson to Dallas around November 22, 1963?

Mr. Rowley.

Well, that would be part of my job--the general supervision of the trip. The actual direct supervision would have been under the jurisdiction of Mr. Behn, who was in charge of the White House detail.

Mr. Rankin.

Could you describe briefly the nature of Mr. Behn's responsibilities in that work?

Mr. Rowley.

Well, it would have been, as mine was in the period I was there, that he was responsible for developing all arrangements with the members of the White House staff, designating the members of the detail to develop advance work, assigning agents to the various shifts, directing their training as it applied to the White House detail, and participating in any event that he thought would be necessary in connection with his work at the White House.

Mr. Rankin.

Did you become familiar with what did happen on that trip, in your position as chief?