Evening star., 1936-06-21
Watchdogs

Continued from First Page)
Harding-grim signal of the Presi-
dents passing.
"Dapper Dick" toured the country
with President Taft and accompanied
Mr.. Wilson on his two memorable
journeys to the Paris Peace Confer
ence. He went with Calvin Coolidge
during most OF his fishing expeditions
and was beside him in the little room
in Walter Reed Hospital, Washing
ton, when word was brought to him
that his son had died.
Jervis accompanied President
Hoover on his cruise to the West
Indies and other memorable journeys,
including the extended trip he made
during the campaign of 1882. In the
Summer of 1884 he accompanied
President Roosevelt on his voyage to
the West Indies and across the Pa
cific to the Hawaiian Islands.
While In Paris with President vii.
son Jervis was his frequent COM
panion during walks about the streets.
He also slept in Buckingham Palace
when the President visited there and
he was present at several historic
meetings between Wilson, Lloyd
George, Clemenceau of France and
Orlando. known as the big four" Of
the peace conference.
TERVIS' journeys with Presidents
included many trips aboard the
famed presidential yacht, Mayhower.
In appearance he suggests nothing
of an officer of the law. Now that
his hair has turned silvery white,
and his once athletic build is q trifle
portly, he looks like successful banker
or business executive. He is noted for
being very close-mouthed regarding
White House activities,
Part Of the regular job of the White
House watchdogs, Is to protect the
Presidents personal family. Ordi-
narily, Mrs. Roosevelt prefers to 60
about alone. But other Presidents
wives have accepted a regular detail
Of two men. Oftentimes the super
sleuths guard the children or grand
children.
Occasionally a Secret Service man
has to 60 ultra collegiate. For in
stance, during the latter part Of the
Coolidge administration, young Russell
Wood was assigned to guard John
Coolidge, the Presidents son, while
he was a student at Amherst. Young
Russ was a wiz" at his unusual Job.
Certainly he looked like a student As
handsome as a collar ad, he dressed
like Joe College" himself, attended
classes and acted more like friend
than sleuth. In fact, so well did he
deceive the students that it was many
months before anybody, accept maybe
two or three Of John Collidge's most
intimate friends, had the slightest
inkling as to his identity.
YOUNG Coolidge grew exceedingly
fond Of Russ" As who would
not? His personality would melt the
ice Of a Garbo. For his splendid work
at Amherst, Wood was rewarded with
regular job on the White House de-
tail.
During the Hoover administration,
he was one of two carefully picked
men assigned to guard Mrs. Herbert
Hoover. From the beginning of the
present administration up until q
couple of months ago he was assigned
to the home of James Roosevelt, the
Presidents oldest son, to protect his
small daughter. Today Wood is con-
sidered perhaps the best special" man
in the service. Which Is one way of
saying that he has conclusively proved
his ability to fit in anywhere. In
evening dress he looks like q society
clubman, dazzles the debutantes by
his wit at an exclusive ball, and can
out wise crack almost any news
paper man. Verify a versatile sleuthl
Again and again guardians Of Presi-
dents sit in on historic events. They
were on hand during the birth of the
peace treaty and the League Of Ma
tions under Woodrow Wilson. Fur
thermore, and this fact Is not gener-
ally known, they arrange all the Presi-
dents trips for him. In this connec-
ton Col. Starting is known as the
king of all the advance men," Such
has been his capacity on every presi-
Dental trip out of Washington since
the Wilson administration.
.NUTEST details of all trips are
arranged, whenever possible,
many weeks In advance. And for an
obvious reason. So busy is the Chief |
Executive with his important affairs |
Of the Nation that it must be pretty |
thoroughly determined exactly where |
he will be at any conceivable moment |
day or night.
Col. Startling has measured every
inch Of ground the last six Presidents |
have Travelled. Long before Mr.. Cool. |
Idge visited the Black Hills or went to |
mis- friends camp in the Adirondacks |
the lanky Kentuckian had the vaca- |
lion sojourns arranged almost to the
daily schedule. And he was Of con.
siderable help to Mr.. Hoover In laying |
'ut the latter's camp on the Rapidan
River, in virginia-although, as Is
we'll known, MIR. Hoover liked to work
,ut the greater part Of his own recrea-
ion plans without much outside help. |
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