Posted on 08/20/2004 1:00:22 PM PDT by swampfox98
Secret Service Presidential Detail Opinions of Presidents
This is something not about missiles or planes, but interesting nonetheless. These comments are from Dick Sprowl, Wesleyan AF Chaplain and teacher of Tuesday morning Bible study in Sun City.
We had a neighbor when I lived in DC who was part of the Secret Service Presidential Detail for many years. His stories of Kennedy and Johnson were the same as those I heard from the guys who flew the presidents' plane--- [yes, Kennedy did have Marilyn Monroe flown in for secret "dates", and LBJ was a typical Texas "good 'ole boy" womanizer. Nixon, Bush 41, and Carter never cheated on their wives. Clinton cheated, but couldn't match Kennedy or LBJ in style or variety.]
The information below is accurate. Bush 41 and the current president Bush make it a point to thank and take care of the aircrews who fly them around [When the president flies, there are several planes that also go--one carries the armored limo, another the security detail, plus usually a press aircraft] and both Bush's made it a point to stay home on holidays, so these Air Force and security people could have a day with their families.
Secret Service Viewpoints (WHAT WAS, COULD HAVE BEEN, AND WHAT IS) WHAT WAS:
Hillary Clinton was arrogant and orally abusive to her security detail. She forbade her daughter, Chelsea, from exchanging pleasantries with them. Sometimes Chelsea, miffed at her mother's obvious conceit and mean spiritedness ignored her demands and exchanged pleasantries regardless, but never in her mother presence. Chelsea really was a nice, kindhearted, and lovely young lady. The consensus opinion was that Chelsea loved her mom but did not like her.
Hillary Clinton was continuously rude and abrasive to those who were charged to protect her life. Her security detail dutifully did its job, as professionals should, but they all "loathed" her and wanted to be on a different detail. She was hard work because she was so nasty and mean toward her detail. Hillary Clinton was uniformly despised by the Secret Service as a whole.
Former President Bill Clinton was much more amiable than his wife Hillary. Often the Secret Service would cringe at the verbal attack antics that Hillary would use against her husband, the then President. They were embarrassed for his sake by the manner and frequency in which she verbally insulted him, sometimes in the presence of the Secret Service, and sometimes behind closed doors. Even behind closed doors Hillary Clinton would scream and holler so loudly that everyone could hear what she was saying.
Many felt sorry for President Clinton and most wondered why he tolerated it instead of just divorcing his "attack dog" wife. It was crystal clear that the Clintons neither liked nor respected each other and this was true long before the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Theirs was genuinely a "marriage of convenience."
Chelsea was much closer to her father than her mother, even after the Lewinsky scandal which hurt her gravely. Bill Clinton did in fact have "charisma," and occasionally would smile at or shake hands with his security detail. Still, he always displayed an obvious air of superiority towards them. His security detail uniformly believed him to be disingenuous, false, and that he did nothing without a motive that in some way would enhance his image and political career. They did respect him, unlike his wife, but they did not particularly like him and nobody trusted him. He was polite, but not kind.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN:
Al Gore was the male version of Hillary Clinton. Al and Tipper Gore were friendlier toward each other than either of them was towards former President Clinton. They were not intimate, so please don't read that in.
They were very close in a political way. Tipper Gore was generally nice and pleasant. She initially liked Hillary but soon after the election she had her "pegged" and no longer liked her or associated with her except for events that were politically obligatory.
Al Gore was far more left wing and very hateful, not just politically opposed, to Republicans than Bill Clinton. Al Gore resented Bill Clinton and thought he was too "centrist." He despised all Republicans. His hatred was bitter and this was long before he announced for the Presidency. This bitter hatred was something that he and Hillary had very much in common. They often said as much, even in the presence of their security detail. Neither of them trusted Bill Clinton, and the Secret Service opined neither of them even liked Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton did have some good qualities where Al Gore and Hillary had none in the view of their security details.
Al Gore, like Hillary, was very rude and arrogant toward his security detail. He was extremely unappreciative and would not hesitate to scold them in the presence of their peers for minor details over which they had no control. Al Gore also looked down on them in disgust as they finally observed and learned with certainty on one occasion when Al Gore got angry at his offspring and loudly, in their presence, pointed at his security detail and said, "Do you want to grow up and be like them?"
Word of this insulting and demeaning verbiage by the former Vice President quickly spread and he became as despised and disliked by the Secret Service as Hillary. Most of them prayed that Al Gore would not be elected President and they really did have private small celebrations in a few of their homes after President Bush won. This was not necessarily to celebrate President Bush's election, but to celebrate Al Gore's defeat. He was much disliked. Al Gore was not a good and kind person. That he could have been our President may suggest that God was "answering prayers" and looking out for the country with Al Gore's defeat.
WHAT IS:
Everyone in the Secret Service wants to be on First Lady Laura Bush's detail. Without exception, they uniformly concede that she is perhaps the nicest, most kind, and genuinely good person they have ever had the privilege of serving. Where Hillary patently refused to allow her picture to be taken with her security detail, Laura Bush doesn't even have to be asked, she offers. She doesn't just shake their hand and say, "Thank you." Very often, she will give members of her detail a kind-hearted hug to express her appreciation. There is nothing false about her. This is her genuine nature. Laura Bush really is this kind of a person and her security detail considers her to be a "breath of fresh air." They actually love her as a human being. They joke that comparing Laura Bush with Hillary Clinton is like comparing "Mother Teresa" with the "Wicked Witch of the North."
Likewise, the Secret Service considers President Bush to be a gem of a man to work for. He always treats them with genuine respect and he always trusts and listens to their expert advice. They really like the Crawford, Texas detail. Every time the president goes to Crawford he has a Bar-B-Q for his security detail and he helps in serving them their meals. He eats with them, sits with them, and talks with them. He always asks about their family, the names of which he always remembers, and he of course, knows each of them by their first name, and calls them by their first name as a show of affection.
They believe that he actually loves his security detail and that he is deeply and genuinely appreciative of their service. They could not like, love, or respect anyone more than President Bush, and most of them did not know they would feel this way until they had an opportunity to work for him and learn that his manner was genuine and consistent. It has never changed in the three years that he has been President. He always treats them with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion.
{Please pass this on to everyone you know. It is important for every-day Americans to have a true inside understanding of their President, versus those who would be President. Finally, the Secret Service still is forming their opinion of John Kerry. They have nothing positive or negative to say that anyone is willing to share as yet. This notwithstanding, they already know what they have in President Bush and they don't want to lose a good thing.}
No surprises here!
Thanks for the picture. I will vote for Bush because he is the best man for the job. I don't like his lax immigration policy, but that is for another post. :-) As for his character, he stands head and shoulders above any DemonRat. I pray to God he wins, thens listens to me and my ideas about illegal immigration. I'm sure he will. :-)
What was the occasion of that photo?
What I feel most comfortable with is their accents.
Ok, so who's going to go over and post this in the dumpster? I can't afford to get tombstoned as I'm angling to become a moderator ....
You're very welcome. It struck me that way too, as I know how nasty and vile most of the Democrats are. I believe we are fortunate in having GW, (with his faults and warts too). His stand on abortion and marriage should make every Christian in the nation vote for him. But did you realize that 24 million "so called" Christians are not even registered? Shameful.
Edwards is right. There are two Americas. The ones that want to keep America great and those that want to tear it apart. This story proves it.
I have the pleasure of knowing some Marines who worked on HMX. They worked for Bush 41 and Clinton. They told stories of often playing basketball with Qualye in the hangar. They were often invited to barbecues with the President where they were treated like family. He loved playing horshoes with them. They said they felt the President and the 1st Lady just wanted to be around them, that they truly enjoyed their company. When Clinton took office, it was a 180.
I can substantiate that the Marines the protected Camp David despised the Clintons an Gores. Heard it from their mouths regularly while stationed at Marine Barracks, Wash. DC. The ones that were there during the Bush41 era had nothing but good things to say about the elder Bushs. In fact, they said that on several occasions Barbara Bush grabbed the cooks at Camp David and would bring heaping trays of fresh chocolate chip cookies over to the Marine house. Can' verify it happened. The were convincing, though.
LOL I thought the same thing. Just pretend this post doesn't exist - nor does swampfox98, that ornery old trouble maker.
I think it was taken during the Olympic Games in Utah as the WTC flag was raised. Anyone confirm?
. . . most of these insights are corroborated in Ronald Kessler's EXCELLENT new book, "A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W Bush."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1595230009/ref=pd_ts_b_20/103-5544354-3132660?v=glance&s=books&n=1000
A friend of mine has close relatives who are with the sherrif's dep. in Phoenix. They had the chance to talk to Kerry's security detail and they asked them what they thought of him. They CAN'T STAND the man. He is much like Hillary Clinton was, won't allow them to talk to him, or anything and he treats them like crap. That is what COULD BE!! (shudder) But of course, won't I hope!
Amazing, what a Life to be living.
BTTT!!!!!!
I grew up in Oklahoma and lived in Ft. Worth, Dallas and Houston over the years. Despite the football rivalrys between Ok and Texas, Texans are good people.
That picture was taken at last winter Olympics. A man of character!
ping
Just like the military can't speak ill about the CinC, I'm sure the SS presidential security detail has even higher standards.
I had a conversation once with someone who was neighbors with a member of AF1 flight crew under 41 & 42. They said 41 and Barbara were very kind, punctual, and did their best not to take advantage of them during holidays, etc, when they could be off with their own families. Total opposite with 42. Couldn't care less about being on time or whether or not the crew had a life.
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