University of Virginia Library

Secret Service Protects Vice President
With Elaborate Security Precautions

By CHRIS KOHAN

CD/Dan Grogan

Legal Forum President Charles Robb Introduces Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew

Elaborate security
procedures, including sweeps
for bomb detection and a
thorough surveillance of
individuals as they filed
through the University Hall
gates, were undertaken
Tuesday by a host of Secret
Service men, State 'and
University police to safeguard
Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew
in his visit to the University.

Mr. Agnew, who arrived in
Charlottesville Tuesday
afternoon, received strict
protection as he attended a
reception at Jefferson Hall and
a dinner at the Rotunda,
before his scheduled speech in
University Hall.

It was at University Hall,
where the majority of the
University community
experienced firsthand the
security precautions taken.
Two long lines extended from
the hall's front entrance, where
individuals were told to leave
all umbrellas and books.

File Through Gates

As people filed through the
gates, Secret Service men eyed
the people intently, calling
back any person not
surrendering prohibited
possessions at the door.

Once inside, the audience
of some 5,000 faced the daring
eyes of the many Secret
Service men who, with arms
folded, never stopped
surveying the crowd.

1,000 Turned Away

Secret Service men were
also stationed behind the stage
area, which could not be used
to seat additional people
because of the customary
procedure prohibiting anyone
to sit behind the President or
Vice-President during an
appearance. Consequently, it
was estimated that at least
1,000 people were turned away
because of the crowded
situation.

When Mr. Agnew was
questioned during his
appearance as to why such
precautions were taken, he
explained that "history has
shown" such measures to be
necessary.

University Hall was also
scanned for bombs before Mr.
Agnew's appearance.

During the Rotunda dinner,
Secret Service men lined the
Rotunda wall and half of the
Lawn. In effect, they formed a
box formation down both sides
of the Lawn and then lined
across the Lawn to face the
Rotunda.

The alley leading from the
Lawn to Jefferson Hall was
blocked, and sweeps for bombs
were made twice in the
Rotunda and pavilions.

As Mr. Agnew and Student
Legal Forum President Charles
S. Robb entered the Rotunda,
they were prohibited from
circulating among the guests
and stood in the middle of the
Rotunda in full view of the
Secret Service, where they
greeted visitors.

Security Police

Chief of Security Rea G.
Houchens said "the University
Police assisted in all
operations–we supplied about
20 men (approximately
two-thirds of the Security
force) to the Secret Service."
He said they were used mainly
for surveillance inside and
outside the Rotunda, Jefferson
Hall and University Hall.

Director of Security Wade
Bromwell commented that the
security precautions were
"nothing unusual for the
Vice-President–I would say it's
normal for him."