Published January 1977 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Protecting America's Leaders Around the clock and around the world, a well-equipped and highly trained force of American security officers is working to protect the President and other government officials whose lives might be in danger because of their position. As members of the U.S. Secret Service, they act as bodyguards at a time when the world is becoming accustomed to blatant acts of political terrorism and blackmail. Organized in 1901 to protect Theodore Roosevelt after the assassination of President McKinley, the Secret Service has grown in number and duties over the years. Originally authorized to guard only the President, the Service now offers similar protection to his family, the Vice-President, the President-elect, Presidential candidates, certain Cabinet members, and visiting foreign dignitaries. As a branch of the Treasury Department, the Secret Service employs people of diverse technical and professional backgrounds and uses the most advanced communications and electronic equipment. Nevertheless, iron clad protection is not humanly possible; but the Service works to identify the individuals and those hazardous situations which could pose a threat. To accomplish this, the Service examines every detail of the President's or other official's schedule. Service agents walk through each area he will be in and look for potentially dangerous circumstances. The Service also screens a reported 200,000 items of information and interviews 4,000 suspects each year to identify those people who might attempt a hostile act. But guarding political and foreign officials is not the Service's sole responsibility; for example, its agents protected the priceless Mona Lisa when it came to this country as a gift from the government of France. Due to the nature of its work, much of what the Secret Service does is never reported. It's meticulous searching, interviewing, and investigating pay off only when nothing happens. The Service prefers it this way so that its methods and techniques are not compromised. Atrocious acts of terrorism have reached dangerous levels in recent years. Political officials, Olympic athletes, members of prominent families, and businessmen have been kidnapped and even murdered. Not to take action against this threat would be negligent and irresponsible. Unless the government offers protection, it is leaving to the deranged fanatic the opportunity of using terror and blackmail to disrupt the flow of history. January 5, 1977