Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-16

phalanx OF reporters and pho
tographers between the dig
nitary and the crowd but spe-
cial agents are glad TO have
| them.
Suppose Mr.. Khrushchev, en-
route from place TO place. ex-
presses q sudden desire to visit
q supermarket or have q ham-
burger at q drive-in? The po-
lice detailed to patrol every
expected stop are not around.
In the security trade. this Ia
known Is an impulse action
and doesn't alarm the agents
too much. They reason that
since nobody but the digni-
tary knew he was going Il
make the stop. no unfriendly
characters are lying in wait
Their only chores on such &C.
casions are to keep the curious
from crowding too close and
making sure the honored guest
doesn't trip over q market has
ket.
The team Of special agents
already picked for the assign
ment-has to be prepared fol
the unexpected and unpredict.
able. The agents have to d.
on the spot improvising nc
matter how carefully plans ere
made In advance.
Habits Screened
To provide against as many
contingencies as possible. the
ONCE Of Security is COM
piling an inventory Of Mr.,
Khrushchev's likes and dislikes
his food and drink preferences
his daily habits. II he Is ar
early riser. the hotels will be
notified In advance to be pre-
pared for early breakfast. II
he has o fixed time for going
to bed. the evening program
win be geared to At. If he en-
joys q morning stroll. the
agents will be there to accom-
pany him. Mrs. Khrushchev's
favorite flowers viii be ascer-
tanned so they win be there to
welcome her.
Unoficial reports about Mr.,
Khrushchev's habits as brought
back by visitors to Russia are
conflicting. Some call him q
hard drinker. Others say ne
might have been once. but he's
on the wagon. He has been
known to drink vodka. cham
payne. other wines and fruit
juices He Is said to like Man
goes, preferring the ones sent
him by Nehru Of India to those
from Nasser Of the United Arab
Republic. Last spring. he was
on meat on, doctors orders. He
does not play golf. although his
doctor has recommended it,
Among the security officers
behind-the-scenes chores is the
checking on all letters that
could be construed as threats.
The FIRST check is with the
Secret Services files where re-
portedly hundreds Of thousands
of records are kept Of the
cranks, crackpots and others
who write threatening letters.
If the letter Is anonymous. the
postal authorities are checked
to determine precisely when
and where the letter was
mailed. New names showing up
In threatening letters are
turned over to local police to be
checked out.
II any group IS planning q
protest, the Information filters
in from many sources -includ-
Ing from members of the group
who oppose a protest. If the
protesting group heads for
Washington from New York or
Chicago. the security Office gets
the word via the FBI. local
police, the State Departments
/ field Offices or individual tip
sters before members Of the
group leave their home town.
That's why. for instance. 400
Washington police were on
hand at the Statler Hotel when
Fidel Castro addressed the
American Society of News
paper Editors. They knew in
advance that at least three diff
ferent groups were going to
picket. They had to keep these
sets Of pickets from fighting
with each other as well as to
keep them separated from the
pro-Castro forces inside the
hotel.
With details Of the visit to
Washington still far from coms
plete-even such items as the
extent Of ceremonies marking
Mr.. Khruschev's arrival-the
Washington Police Department
has cancelled all but emergency
leaves from September IS to
September II.
Leaves have been cancelled
for State Department security
officers from September is to
September 80.
The State security ofiicets
will defer to the Secret Service
when the President or Vice
President is with the Russian
Premier.
And the armed forces. In as
surfing logistic support. may be
called upon to provide q parade
guard-if Mr.. Khrushchev's en-
trance to Washington assumes
parade proportions.
Security" commented Mr..
Boswell In a monumental
understatement, ''is q very
complex thing"
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