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11-24-2013, 12:45 PM,
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Presidential security
After reading so much about how Lincoln had to practically be begged to let guards protect him, I was under the impression that no prior presidents utilized guards to any great extent. However, in reading the excellent book "The President's House" by Seale (which I highly recommend), I read this may not have been the case.
To wit, in the chapter on Mornroe, Seale notes that Monroe, "In response to the assassinations of political figures taking place across Europe" did the following to protect himself:
- hired guards in civilian dress for ALL public events. Monroe said that he would have used uniformed soldiers except that this was seen as "un-republican" at the time;
- a guard was posted at the front door of the White House day and night "with ready access to arms" in order to protect the President;
- on public days where the White House was opened to the public (July 4th, New Years Day) the number of civilian guards was greatly increased (but hidden among the grounds so as not to be visible) and sharpshooters were placed on the White House roof, hidden behind the roof balustrade.
I realize this was protection at the White House, and Seale doesn't mention protection that traveled with Monroe (although he mentions that Monroe was the most traveled acting President by far of the time, so the omission may not mean there was no protection.) still, it surprises me the level of protection afforded the President some 47 years before Lincoln was assassinated.
Does anyone have more information on presidential security during this time?
Heath
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11-25-2013, 02:13 PM,
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RE: Presidential security
I thought Booth presented the card to Forbes, not Parker?
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11-25-2013, 03:05 PM,
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L Verge
Hero Member
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Posts: 9,092
Threads: 493
Joined: Jul 2012
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RE: Presidential security
You beat me to that point, Mr. Petersen. It was Forbes who let Booth pass into the presidential box. The question of Parker's duties was never really explored, I don't believe, until sometime in the late 1990s when Mike Kauffman first advanced his theory on a Surratt Booth Tour - Parker was assigned as an escort (point man actually), not as a bodyguard. I remember that there was quite an exchange of opinions between Mike, Hall, Maione, and others.
The Superintendent of Police at the time was A.C. Richards, who had been in his job less than six months. He later claimed that he had been in Ford's Theatre at the time of the assassination and had gone after Booth. Most historians think that is a fabrication. There is a book written about twenty years ago about Richards. The title is The Lincoln Assassination's Forgotten Investigator, authored by Gary Planck. It is hard to find.
John Parker was brought up on charges before a police board, and so far as we know there were records of that hearing until sometime in the mid-20th century when some housekeeping was done at the police headquarters and the records ended up in the trash. I have been told by a former police historian that the papers were retrieved by a policeman and that he or his family probably still have them. No one has come forward so far after my plea to at least look at them.
About thirty years ago, a family friend found one page in her late-husband's papers that appeared to be a photocopy of one of the pages. I had it in my desk at work for years until it suddenly disappeared...
In any case, Parker was apparently cleared by the first board and survived the police force for another three years before being dismissed on other charges.
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11-25-2013, 08:38 PM,
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L Verge
Hero Member
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Posts: 9,092
Threads: 493
Joined: Jul 2012
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RE: Presidential security
It was a handwritten page that really gave no information on the trial before the police board, but did make reference to John Parker. Without other papers, it made no real sense - but it must have to someone, and only a few people knew I had it in the desk. I have my suspicions, but that's all.
My gut reaction is that the transcripts are still out there in private hands -- unless some unknowing family member threw them out. As of about five years ago, the owner was believed to still be alive. The police historian that I was dealing with, however, was young and was doing double-duty by working on the archives. I don't think that he wanted to push too many buttons on the old guys because of his youth. I even made a copy of the A.C. Richards biography to try to win him over when I found out that the department did not know about the book, but it didn't work.
Rich Smyth can correct me on this, but I don't believe that Parker left any descendants.
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11-25-2013, 10:05 PM,
(This post was last modified: 11-25-2013, 10:14 PM by Anita.)
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Anita
Legendary Member
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Posts: 1,616
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Joined: Jul 2013
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RE: Presidential security
(11-25-2013, 08:40 PM)Gene C Wrote: Speaking of A C Richards, his letters to Weichmann continue to be offered on Ebay for the low, low price of only.......
http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-of-The-Best-...2a2f54a828
It's only 20K- a bargain! Great prize for a forum trivia question winner.
Not the letter but a chance to bid!
(11-25-2013, 08:38 PM)L Verge Wrote: It was a handwritten page that really gave no information on the trial before the police board, but did make reference to John Parker. Without other papers, it made no real sense - but it must have to someone, and only a few people knew I had it in the desk. I have my suspicions, but that's all.
My gut reaction is that the transcripts are still out there in private hands -- unless some unknowing family member threw them out. As of about five years ago, the owner was believed to still be alive. The police historian that I was dealing with, however, was young and was doing double-duty by working on the archives. I don't think that he wanted to push too many buttons on the old guys because of his youth. I even made a copy of the A.C. Richards biography to try to win him over when I found out that the department did not know about the book, but it didn't work.
Rich Smyth can correct me on this, but I don't believe that Parker left any descendants.
Interesting info Laurie. There's a lot more to be revealed here. Do you know the names of the five members of the D.C. Police Board that dismissed the charges against Parker ? I've searched but can't find their names.
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