Who's Who in the Secret Service: History's Most Renowned Agents

by Vincent Palamara

Overview

America’s oldest law enforcement agency, the United States Secret Service, has never been exposed like this before. The Secret Service has made many headlines through the decades, especially in the last five years. This book presents a thorough look at more than 100 of the most famous, infamous, and interesting agents who have protected presidents from William McKinley to John F. Kennedy to President Trump and everyone in between. Students of history will find much to contemplate in this revealing, entertaining, and sometimes disturbing book. Readers will never look at the men who guard the president the same way ever again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781634241816
Publisher:	Trine Day
Publication date:	09/01/2018
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Vincent Michael Palamara is the leading civilian Secret Service authority. He is the author of Survivor’s Guilt: The Secret Service & the Failure to Protect the President, JFK: From Parkland to Bethesda, and The Not-So-Secret Service. Palamara has appeared in more than 100 other books, radio and television shows, newspapers, at national and international conferences, and many online resources.

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Stu Stout

Agent Stewart G. "Stu" Stout, who served from FDR to LBJ, looked so much like FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover that he would regularly be asked if he was the infamous head of the Bureau. "No, I work for another agency" he would respond. Stout, nicknamed "Slim" because he wasn't, previously served with the Pennsylvania State Troopers with fellow agents Floyd Boring and John Marshall. Stout was one of the heroes who protected President Truman from would-be assassins on November 1, 1950. Former agent Frank Stoner had this to say about Stout regarding his part in protecting President Truman at Blair House on 11/1/50: "SA Stewart "Stu" Stout was inside the Blair House when the shooting started. He grabbed a Thompson submachine gun and ran upstairs to where the President was taking a nap. The President was looking out of the window and SA Stout told him to get under his bed, and then he took up a post at the top of the stairs. SA Stout was a much-decorated Army veteran who served in WW II, as were some of the other agents in the USSS at that time." Former agent Darwin Horn wrote the author, "The Burke [pictured in his book] is Donald Burke who was Mrs. Eisenhower's second agent. Stu Stout was in charge." Horn later wrote, "Stu Stout was Mrs. Eisenhower's No. 1 agent. A no nonsense person who worked with [agent] Don Burke for many years with Mrs. Eisenhower." Former agent Sam Kinney told the author: "He [Stout] was Mamie Eisenhower's first man." From Rex W. Scouten, former Secret Service agent who served with Stout and later was the White House Usher: "Dear Vince, Stewart Stout, following his retirement from the Secret Service was hired (by me) as an assistant Usher at the White House. He had a heart disorder – suffered a heart attack at the White House and died within a few hours."

Former agent Winston Lawson wrote the author, "Stu Stout died in December 1974, a few years after retiring from USSS. He worked for a while after that in what is called the "usher office," which is adjacent to the large front foyer. He was a good friend and probably the nicest "gentleman" I ever knew. He went into real estate and then died suddenly in December 1974. He had been a state trooper in PA, joined the USSS during WWII, was drafted and came back to USSS. I was on his shift for a few years from probably 19611965. He was a wonderful man."

Ironically, Stout rode in the hearse containing JFK's body from Parkland Hospital to Love Field. Stout had also been with Vice President Nixon in Caracas, Venezuela, in 5/13/1958 when the Vice President was attacked by an angry mob. The agents were decorated for valor for successfully protecting Nixon from assassination. Stout was waiting for JFK at the Trade Mart when the assassination took place (Stout was one of three Shift Leaders at this time: designated ATSAIC).

Stu Stout jogged beside the JFK limousine the day before the assassination in San Antonio, TX:

As readers will know from my first and third books, agents did not ride on or near the rear of the limousine in Dallas on the day President Kennedy was killed, based on a totally fabricated "order" JFK never gave. In this regard, Stu Stout Junior wrote to myself on 11/1/10: "Vince. Thought I would mention that one of the influential people that attended the advance planning meetings for the Dallas trip was the Mayor of Dallas in 63 and I think it was Earle Cabell [Brother of Charles Cabell, the #2 man in the CIA fired by Kennedy for the Bay of Pigs disaster]. I distinctly remember during a conversation at the dinner table weeks following that surreal day, my father telling my mother that 'the Mayor thought agents riding on the back of the car (which was common protocol) would send a message and did not want his city to appear dangerous to the world through the media. He asked for subtle security exposure if and where possible.' On that day only two individuals would have been able to direct such an order and that would have been the President himself or Floyd Boring SAIC. In my opinion, and you know about opinions, if you find out who else was in that chain of command 'during that moment' you will be able to rationally determine why the agents jumped down for a portion of that politically motivated route through the city. Take care Vince and please don't give up."

Stout was later a charter member of the AFAUSSS, the Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service, in 1969.

Stout died without speaking to anyone: not the FBI, the Warren Commission, or the HSCA, which acknowledged his death in a memorandum released by the ARRB.

I have enjoyed much social media contact with Stout's son, Stu Stout III, as well as other surviving family members, many of whom are appreciative of the fact that I keep Stu Senior's name alive via numerous photos I have found, collected, and shared with them. As Stu Stout III wrote to myself on 5/1/2010: "I can't thank you enough for sharing these wonderful pictures of my father. The work you obviously put into the creation of Presidential History photos is remarkable. Taking the time to search for pictures that included my father and sending them to me is one of the kindest actions a stranger has ever done for myself and my family. I am inspired and truly thankful. Regards, Stew."

Stew Junior returned the favor with this remarkable photo of himself as a boy with his father, yet another image bearing a remarkable resemblance between his dad and Hoover:

CHAPTER 2

Michael Torina

Chief Inspector Michael Torina was about as important and influential an agent or official that the Secret Service could ever boast about, for it was he that actually wrote the Secret Service manual itself. Torina contributed significantly to a book about the Secret Service in 1962 which stated: "If the President is to appear in a parade, agents and policemen are assigned posts atop buildings and on the street along the parade route." I corresponded with Torina on 12/5/97 and 2/23/04, respectively, and the former agent/official confirmed the veracity of what was written in that book, although he took pains to not say too much more: "I am not in a position to comment on our concerns in dealing with Presidential security matters." That said, he did contribute significantly to the aforementioned book about the Secret Service written in 1962, in which it is plainly stated, "Agents of the White House Detail ride in the same car with the President. Others will walk or trot alongside, while still others ride in automobiles in front of and behind the Presidential car ... if exceptionally large crowds are expected ... the Secret Service may call upon the Armed Forces to station troops along the line of march." Torina also told author William Manchester in 1961 that wherever a Presidential motorcade must slow down for a turn, the entire intersection must be checked in advance. Needless to say, none of these security measures were used for the fateful Dallas trip of 11/22/63.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, he graduated from Woodlawn High School and Alverson Business College. He was employed as a court reporter with assignments in Federal, State and City Courts as well as regulatory agencies. In 1937, he was appointed Clerk-Stenographer in the Birmingham office of the Secret Service. Assignments in Columbia, SC, New York City, Chicago, and Washington, DC followed. He was promoted to Special Agent, Special Agent in Charge, Inspector and Chief Inspector. During the Roosevelt and Truman administrations, he was a member of the White House Secret Service detail. He retired after 30 years of service and was then appointed Director of Security with United States Banknote Corporation and held that position for six years. He was a charter member of the Association of Former Secret Service Agents (AFAUSSS) and was the organization's first elected president.

Torina's importance to history and the Secret Service is of legendary proportions. It was an honor to have corresponded with the gentleman. Torina passed away at the ripe old age of 96 on 8/21/2008.

CHAPTER 3

James K. Fox

You are probably familiar with PRS (Protective Research Section) agent James K. "Jack" Fox – at least some major item he is directly related to – and not even realize it. For it was the late researcher Mark Crouch who obtained several Kennedy autopsy photos from Fox (on, of all days, the day Reagan was shot on 3/30/81) and later made available to both director Oliver Stone for use in the movie JFK and to director Wolfgang Peterson for In The Line of Fire, among other projects, not to mention countless books that contain these disturbing images.

During interviews conducted on 1/28/92 and 9/23/92 respectively, I obtained startling new information from the late agent's sole confidante (Fox died in 1987). I learned from Crouch that Agent Fox stated that the story-reported widely by the news media – of the Secret Service agent who died on 11/22/63 was true! According to Crouch, Fox was working in the Executive Office Building, where the PRS was headquartered, on 11/22/63, when he was asked by SAIC of PRS Robert Bouck to ready a detail of four to six agents to assist in retrieving the body and casket of the unnamed Secret Service agent. Fox told Crouch, "We lost a man that day – our man," and qualified his remarks by stating that he was not referring to JFK. Author Harrison Livingstone reported in his 2000 online book, Stunning New Evidence, that Jim Pearsu of the Secret Service believed there was indeed a dead agent.

Fox had also photographed the Presidential limousine in the White House garage at 4:00 P.M. on 11/23/63 with fellow PRS employee Howard K. Norton. Author David Lifton wrote, "In 1981, I received a letter from Maryland radio journalist Mark Crouch saying he knew someone who had a set of the autopsy photographs, the same photographs that were at the National Archives. He subsequently introduced me to James K. "Jack" Fox, formerly a photographer with the Intelligence Division of the Secret Service. Documents from the House Assassinations Committee establish that Fox was one of a few officials who had access to the processing. On three occasions, he supervised their processing. According to Fox, shortly after the assassination, he was told by Secret Service Agent Roy Kellerman, 'Here, make a set of these for yourself. They'll be history someday.' Fox showed me the pictures he had, and later I was able to obtain a set."

Secret Service Assistant Director (and former Inspector) Thomas J. Kelley wrote to Harold Weisberg, "On or about November 27, 1963, Bouck gave the [autopsy] photographic film to Secret Service employee, James K. Fox, who took the film to the U.S. Navy Photographic Laboratory. The black and white film was processed, black and white negatives were developed, and colored positives were made from the colored film. The processing and development was done by Lieut. V. Madonia, U.S. Navy, at the laboratory. Fox remained with the film at the laboratory and all the photographic film was returned to Mr. Bouck the same day. The processed film was placed in a combination lock-safe file; the combination was known only to two persons. A few days later, black and white prints were made by Mr. Fox in the Secret Service photographic laboratory. On or about December 9, 1963, Mr. Fox took the colored positives back to the U.S. Navy Photographic Laboratory and observed while enlarged color prints were made. All the color positives and prints were returned by Fox at 6 p.m., the same evening and returned to the locked safe." Regarding the autopsy photographs, "Bouck said that James Fox was his photographer at the White House and believes that he processed the black and white prints ('little snapshots'). Bouck also said, 'I believe they had nothing to do with the big prints or the color ones.' Bouck said that James Fox processed one or two or several rolls of color film at another facility."

Fox was interviewed 8/7/78 by the HSCA's Andy Purdy. Purdy's notes on the call: "Who developed film? He did black and white at Secret Service lab. Color was done at Naval Processing Center – recalls Lt. Madonnia [sic] (He wrote [a] memo on it.) White House photographer [Robert L. Knudsen] was in drying room. He (Fox) checked and there was film on each side of color film holders. (Some black [and] white missing). Negatives put in files 4-5 days. Bouck then ordered him to have prints made. He and Knudsen did it. Two women in drying room passed out when [film] came through [most likely Saundra Kay Spencer and Carol Ann Bonito]." He did not help Knudsen put prints in holders. Recalls one or two sets of prints being turned over to Bouck. (It was four years after assassination that he was asked for statement.) Admiral George Burkley told Fox to have prints made up. He went to Bouck for okay. He said fine but would need special arrangement for color. Knudsen was not there when black and white done. No metal probes present; doctors were taking measurements, ruler and hands visible in autopsy photos."

Author Harrison Livingstone wrote, "Mark Crouch tells us that on the night of December 6 or 7, just two weeks after President Kennedy was murdered, Robert Bouck went through his safe in the presence of James K. Fox, another Secret Service agent, and burned much of the photographic and X-ray evidence in the assassination of President Kennedy. If true, this was a great crime, but Bouck denies that it ever happened."

James Fox reappeared in the media during the 51rst anniversary of the JFK assassination with a news story entitled "Betrayed! Secret Service Photographer Secretly Tried To Sell JFK Autopsy Pics." The article states: "The agent, Jim Fox, was desperate for money when he enlisted self-proclaimed JFK expert, Mark Crouch, to broker the black-and-white photos on his behalf, an audiotape has revealed. "They are quite gross and definitely of Kennedy. There's a bullet in his head," according to the audio recording of a reporter who was approached about buying the photos. The recording indicated that the pictures raised questions in the newsman's mind – deepening the mysteries surrounding the murder. The wound in the back of JFK's head was the size of an egg, according to accounts. But after seeing the pictures, the reporter noted, "It's more like the size of four eggs. Plus, there is an incision over the eye that raises questions."

Needless to say, James Fox will always be remembered for his connection to the JFK assassination and what he reported and what he later shared with the public.

CHAPTER 4

Jerry Parr

Jerry Parr was one of the true heroes of the Secret Service, protecting President Reagan by pushing him into the limousine on 3/30/81 as assassin John Hinckley took aim at the President (agents Ray Shaddick andTim McCarthy also deserve much credit for their valor and performance on this date, as well). Simply put, if Parr did not make the decision to take a wounded President Reagan to George Washington University Medical Center, Reagan would have perished. Washington Post reporter – and all around good guy – Del Wilber wrote the definitive book on the Reagan assassination attempt, Rawhide Down (I have spoken to and corresponded with Del many times). Parr himself, who I had the pleasure of speaking to in 1995, wrote a great book himself called In The Secret Service (written with the help of his wonderful wife Carolyn, whom I had the pleasure of having some social media contact with). Sadly, Jerry passed away on 10/9/2015.

Parr's interest in joining the Secret Service originated as a boy after watching Code of the Secret Service (1939) starring Ronald Reagan as agent "Brass" Bancroft. After joining the service, from 1962 to 1968, Parr conducted 15 foreign and 65 domestic protective surveys for various Presidents and Vice Presidents, and worked with security, intelligence and law enforcement professionals in all 50 states and in 37 countries. From 1969 to 1978, he worked for the Foreign Dignitary Division as a mid-level supervisor on Humphrey, Agnew and Ford details. As Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Foreign Dignitary Division, he directed security for 56 foreign heads of state. From 1978-1979, he was Special Agent in Charge of the Vice Presidential Protective Division, where he directed security for Vice President Mondale. In 1979, Parr moved to the Presidential Protective Division, where he was Special Agent in Charge and Head of the White House Detail. There, he directed security for Presidents Carter and Reagan.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Who's Who in the Secret Service"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Vincent Michael Palamara.
Excerpted by permission of Trine Day LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Stu Stout 3

Michael Torina 6

James K. Fox 8

Jerry Parr 12

James Rowley 14

Gerald Behn 16

Floyd Boring 18

Emory Roberts 21

Clint Hill 23

Bill Greer 25

Paul Paterni 28

Gerald Blaine 31

Rufus Youngblood 40

Winston Lawson 42

Abraham Bolden 45

Arthur Godfrey 49

Roy Kellerman 51

Don Lawton 54

Vince Mroz 56

Dan Emmett 57

Dan Bongino 59

Joe Clancy 60

Robert Deprospero 65

Edmund Starling 68

Glen Bennett 70

Mike Reilly 73

Forrest Sorrels 75

Stu Knight 77

David Grant 79

Paul Landis 82

U.e Baughman 83

James Mastrovito 85

Bob Newbrand 88

Tom Shipman 90

Lem Johns 93

Dick Keiser 95

David Carpenter 98

Larry Cockell 99

Ron Pontius 101

Robert Taylor 103

Wade Rodham 105

Jack Ready 107

Howard K Norton 109

George Hickey 111

Henry Rybka 113

Elmer Moore 115

Harvey Henderson 118

Charlie Gittens 121

Harry Neal 123

Tim McCarthy 125

Ray Shaddick 127

John Barletta 129

Carmine Motto 131

Dennis McCarthy 132

Joe Petro 134

Marty Venker 135

Frank Wilson 137

George Drescher 139

Robert Bouck 142

Roger Warner 145

Larry Buendorf 148

Tim Mcintyre/Larry Newman/Tony Sherman/Joe Paolella 149

Sam Kinney 157

Jerry Kivett 164

Andy Berger 166

Sam Sulliman 169

John "Muggsy" O'Leary 171

Thomas Kelley 173

William Craig 176

Gerald O'Rourke 178

Gary Byrne 182

Ken Giannoules 184

Robert Faison 186

Frank Yeager 188

Robert Burke 191

Walt Coughlin 193

Jerry Dolan 197

Frank Slocum 200

Charles Kunkel/Mike Howard 202

Lynn Meredith 209

Robert Lilley 212

John Campion 215

Robert Jamison 219

Warren "Woody" Taylor 222

Leslie Coffelt 224

John Marshall 225

Jack Warner 227

Hamilton Brown 229

Jim Johnson 232

Bill Duncan 235

Ed Z. Tucker 237

Brooks Keller 240

Bob Foster 242

Julia Pierson 245

Tom Wells 247

Bill Livingood 249

Rex Scouten 252

Danny Spriggs 254

Brian Stafford 255

Lewis Merletti 257

Appendix I The CIA & the Secret Service 259

Appendix Ii Oswald and Zboril 272

Appendix Iii According To Agent Floyd Boring: Oswald in D.C. 9/27/63 276

Appendix Iv The Secret Service failed President Kennedy 281

Index 297