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WHO SPELL CATASTROPHE FOR HIS
PRESIDENCY.
SOURCES SAY SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
KENNETH STARR HAS SUBPOENAED
SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY
ABOUT THE MONICA LEWINSKY
SCANDAL.
SECRET SERVICE AGENTS ON THE
STAND, IT IS SIMPLY UNHEARD OF.
LES TRENT NOW WITH THE STORY.
>> HE IS SURROUNDED BY THEM DAY
AND NIGHT.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE
PRESIDENT, THEY ARE BEST KNOWN
FOR KEEPING THEIR EYES OPENED
AND THEIR MOUTHS SHUT.
SECRET SERVICE AGENTS ARE THE
CLASSIC STRONG SILENT TYPES.
A REPUTATION THAT COULD CRUMBLE
IF THEY ARE CALLED TO TESTIFY IN
THE MONICA LEWINSKY SCANDAL.
FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT
RICHARD BOON-DORF SERVED UNDER
PRESIDENTS BUSH AND CLINTON AND
IS FIERCELY LOYAL TO THE CODE OF
SILENCE.
>> IT WOULD BE DISGUSTING FOR
THE AGENT AT THE THOUGHT OF
HAVING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT THEY HAVE OVERHEARD ON
THEIR -- DOING THEIR
PROFESSIONAL DUTIES.
>> IT IS THE ULTIMATE IRONY.
THE VERY MEN WHO PUT THEMSELVES
IN THE LINE OF FIRE FOR THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
SUDDENLY EXPECTED TO OPEN FIRE
VERBALLY AT THE NATION'S
COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
AND IRONICALLY, A SEARCH FOR
TRUTH COULD WEAKEN THE VERY
PURPOSE OF THE SECRET SERVICE.
>> IF AN AGENT IS FORCED TO
TESTIFY, ANYBODY THAT'S
RECEIVING OUR PROTECTION WILL
START TO QUESTION HOW CLOSE DO
THEY WANT THEM?
AND THAT'S GOING TO COMPROMISE
OUR SECURITY.
>> HOW SERIOUS IS THE SECRET
SERVICE ABOUT ITS CODE OF
SILENCE?
CONSIDER THIS -- FOR 35 YEARS
FORMER AGENT ANTHONY SHERMAN
KEPT QUIET ABOUT THE STEAMY
GOINGS ON HE WITNESSED AT THE
J.F.K. WHITE HOUSE BEFORE
FINALLY TELLING HIS STORY IN
THIS BOOK.
>> WE USED TO COME INTO THE
WHITE HOUSE, AND SAY WHERE'S THE
PRESIDENT?
PARTICULARLY IN THE MORNING.
HE'S UPSTAIRS.
AND WE WOULD LOOK AT EACH OTHER
AND SHRUG BECAUSE THAT MEANT
THAT HE WAS NOT ALONE.
>> IF SHE THOUGHT IT WAS
SAFE TO SPEAK OUT, HE WAS DEAD
WRONG.
HE WAS PROMPTLY REPRIMANDED BY
THE SECRET SERVICE ALONG WITH
OTHER AGENTS WHO SPOKE OUT.
>> I'M DUMBFOUNDED.
IT'S VERY DISTURBING.
PERSONALLY TO ME.
>> HE'LL GO NO SYMPATHY FROM
THIS FORMER AGENT THOUGH
BELIES THAT SECRET SERVICE
SILENCE WAS GOLDEN BACK THEN,
AND SHOULD NOT BE TARNISHED NOW.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD
REMAIN HIS@ PERSONAL LIFE, AND S
HE DOING HIS JOB?
MICHELE: HERE'S SOME INFORMATION
ON THE SECRET SERVICE.
IT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1865,
AND HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO PROTECT
THE PRESIDENT SINCE 1901, THAT
FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF
PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY.
CHARLES: IT'S AN INTERESTING
STORY.
BRINGS UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
TO WHT
CLINTON TODAY IN THE
TO WH MOMT
CLINTON TODAY IN THE AFRICAN
NATION OF GHANA. AN UNRULY CRO■
HUNDREDS OF THNDRNED
OUT AT A RALLY TO HONOR THE
PRESIDENT.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THE
PEOPLE WISH HIM ANY HARM, BUT
LIKE EXCITED CROWDS AT A ROCK
CONCERT, THEY DO SEEM CAPABLE
OF CAUSING GREAT HARM, AND THE
PRESIDENT LOOKS QUITE
UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF
CONCERN JUST THE FACT THAT THE
PEOPLE WERE BEING PRESSED UP
AGAINST THIDENT.
SOME OF THE BARRICADES HAD
GIVEN WAY, AND THAT'S WHY
THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE
PUSHED UP.
IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, STPS
A JUDGMENT CALL.
>> RICHARD BOONEDORFF IS A
FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGE
AGENT.
HE WATCHED THE TAPE OF THE
PRESIDENT AS HE MADE HIS WAY
THROUGH THE CROWD.
DESP THE CROWD, THE THRONGS
OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO
TO THE PRESIDENT, HE
DOESN'T THINK THE PRESIDENT
WAS IN ANY DANGER.
>> THERE'S CONTINGENCY PLANS
IN PLACEANDHE AGENTS ARE
SURROUNDING HIM IN A
PROTECTIVE CAPACITY, WHERE IF
THE CROWD STARTED TO PUSH TOO
MUCH FURTHER, I THINK THEY
WOULD HAVE ACTIVATED THEIR
NTINGENCY PLANS.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I FELT
LIKE THE PRESIDENT WAS
SURROUNDED WITH ENOUGH
SECURITY.
>> HE WOULDN'T TELL US WHAT
THOSE PLANS MIGHT BE, BUT HE
DID SAY THERE ARE MORE AGENTS
THERE THAN IT SEEMS.
SOME OF THE SECRET SERVICE
AGENTS DON'T FIT THE
STEREOTYPE OF THE SUIT AND SUN
GLASSES.
@@@E ARE PLACED SPECIFIC WILL
THIS NEWSCAST CAPTIONED BY ANDREA MATSON-DEKAY.
>> ARTRT THAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HEADED TO
DOWNTOWN AT ALL THIS WEEKEND.
TO KNOW IF YOU'RE HEADED TO
DOWNTOWN AT ALL THIS WEEKEND.
I'M ROBIN MEADE.
>> I'M MARK SUPPELSA.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, SECRET SERVICE AGENTS
ARE FORCED TO TESTIFY IN AN
INVESTIGATION ABOUT A
PRESIDENT.
TODAY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
STEPPED INTO THE SHOWDOWN
BETWEEN KENNETH STARR AND
AGENCY, AND THE SECRET SERVICE
LOST.
STEVE HANDELSMAN HAS THE
LATEST FROM WASHINGT ROARS
HERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE
TONIGHT, THEY CONTINUE TO
INSIST THIS IS A FIGHT MERELY
ABOUT PRINCIPLES, THAT NO
SECRET SERVICE EMPLOYEE HAS
SEEN OR HEARD ANYTHING THAT
COULD HURT PREST CLINTON.
MAYBE.
BUT NOW KEN STARR GETS TO BE
THE JUDGE OF THAT.
AT MID-AFTERNOON, LEAD AGENT
LARRY COCKELL WAS SET TO
BECOME THE FIRST SECRET
SERVICE EMPLOYEE IN HISTORY TO
TESTIFY AGAINST THE PRESIDENT
HE IS SWORN TO PROTECT.
>> HE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIAL, HE WILL TELL THE
TRUTd ND THERE IS NO
QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
>> Reporter: COCKELL CAME TO
THE COURTHOUSE THIS gRING,
NOT KNOWING IF THE SUPREME
COURT WOULD BLOCK THEIR
SUBPOENAS FROM KEN STARR.
AT NOON, WITH SEVERAL JUSTICES
OUT OF THE COUNTRY, REHNQUIST
RULED BY HIMSELF.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ARGUED
THAT IF AGENTS REVEAL WHAT
THEY OVERHEAR AT THE
PRESIDENT'S SIDE, HE WON'TLET
THEM SO CLOSE AND WILL BE MORE
AT RISK.
MR. CLINTON BACKED THAT VIEW
THIS MORNING.
>> THIS WAS A DECISION WHICH
CAME OUT OF THE SECRET SERVICE
ABOUT WHICH THEY FEEL VERY
STRONGLY.
THESE PEOPLE RI THEIR LIVES
TO PROTECT ME.
>> Reporter: BUT KENNETH STARR
HAD ALREADY COUNTERED WITH A
CLEVER PROMISE: NOT TO
QUESTION AGENTS ABOUT WHAT
THEY SEE OR HEAR FROM NOW ON
UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT RULES
ON THE WHOLE ISSUE.
"DISCLOSURE OF PAST EVENTS
WIOT AFFECT THE PRESIDENT
WITH HIS PROTECTORS IN THE
FUTURE."
STARR CALLED THREE SECRET
SERVICE EMPLOYEES BEFORE
ANOTHER GRAND JURY THAT
HAPPENED TO BE HANDY.
WHEN COCKELL HIMSELF IS CALLED,
A LIKELY QUESTION WILL BE WHAT
DID HE HEAR THE PRESIDENT SAY
TO HIS LAWYERS AND ADVISERS
LAST JANUARY ON THE WAY BACK
FROM THE DEPOSITION IN THE
PAULA JONES CASE WHERE
MR. CLINTON WAS BLINDSIDED
WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT MONICA
LEWINSKY.
>> HOW DID IT GO?
>> Reporter: COCKELL'S LAWYERS
SAY THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF
QUESTION THE LEAD AGENT MIGHT
TRY TO REFUS TO ANSWER, AND
HERE THE PRESIDENT'S PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT WHAT
KEN STARR IS TRYING TO DO IS
USE THE ET SERVICE TO
EASEDROP ON THE PRIVILEGED
CONVERSATIONS OF THE
PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE, FOR THAT
REPORT.
>> A FORMER SECRET SERVICE
AGENT LIVING IN CHICAGO HAS
STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.
HE SERVED DURING THE CLINTON
AND BUSH ADMINISTRATIONS
>> MY FEELING IS THAT ASKING
AN AGENT TO TESTIFY OVER AN
ISSUE THAT MOST OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC, I THINK,
FINDS NOT A RELATIVE ISSUE TO
NATIONAL SECURITY IS REALLY
PATHETIC.
I THINK THAT DEFINITELY
GOING TO HINDER SECURITY IN
THE FUTURE AS IT RELATES TO
THIS PRESIDENT, FUTURE
PRESIDENTS, FOREIGN HEADS@ OF
STATE THAT REQUIRE OUR
PROTECTION.
>> NOW THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED
THAT THERE ARE@ O BOUNDARIES
HERE, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE
ESTABLISHED THAT THE
BOUNDARIES ARE OF NATIONAL
SECURITY.
ISSUES AS WHETHER OR NOT MONEY
IS COMING THROUGH TO THE@
PRESIDENT FROM CHINA IS AN
ISSUE OF NATIONAL SECURITY.
IF AN AGENT HAD TO BE FORCED
TO TESTIFY ABOUT THA ROCK, TODA,
THE SECRET SEE HAD A
MAN IN HIS OLD
THE SECRET SERVICE HAD A
NEW MAN IN HIS OLDOB.
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
CALLED TO TESTIFY ARE ON
LEAVE.
TO BE TRUTHFUL WITHIRNG
KNOW, THEY ARE GOING TO
UNFORTUNATELY, THEREÑiS
COULD TAKE PLACE ON TH
FLOOR BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.
THERE IS S]CH A THING AS BEING
IN THE WRONG PLACE AONG
TIME, ESPECI IF THE SECRET
SERVICE ISEARB
STACEY SWEET TELLS US ABOUT ONE
YOUNG MAN WHO WAIT
>> IT'S COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT
EREVER THE PRESIDENT IS,
THE SECRUT SERVICE IS NOT TOO
FAR AWAY, AND OF COURSE,
THSAME HOLDS TRUE
FOR HIUGHTER CHE.
ANYTHING THAT LOOKS
SURE TO BE LOOKED INCKLY
ECTORS.FIRST FAMILY'
28-YEAR-OLD MTV WRITER TOM COHEN
IS OíE PERO LOOKED STRANGE
>> SUDDENLY I HAD A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THERET SERVICE.
RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN
FOR A DATE.ITING
TOM WAS WALKING AROUND
AND LOOKING FOR HEIDE THIS
]NIVER CAMPU'AYN PALO ALTO,
CALIFORNIA, WHEN T
UNYVTY7S MOST ]OUS
STUDENT, CHELSEA CLINTON,
WENT INSIDE.
>> I SORT OF LOOKED
XE THE(EYE WHEN SHE WALKED
THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
'S COOL.
TRONG PLACE AT THONG
TIME.
>> I HAD ABSNO IDEA THAT
E WOULD BE THERE.
>> BUT THE SECREE WASN
SO SURE.
TO THEM, TOM WAS A POTENTIAL
STALKER, ALONE, WAIT
AND NG AROUND IN FRONT
OF THE STORE
HERMHELS PS.
BUT FOR SOMEONE WHO S VE)W
UVEN SUEN THE SESRETCE,
TO] WETTING SUSPICIOUS.
>> IT OCCUEDME THAT MA3E
THEY'RE LOOKING QT ME.
THEN I THOUGHT THEY PROBABLY
ARE, THAT'S WHHEY DO.
BUT THEY NUVER CAME UP TO ME.
>> TOM GAVUP WAITING
FOR HIS DATE ANDA&)RTED WALKI
TOWARDS A DINER.
HE HEARD FOOTSTEPSIND HIM
WHEN SUDDENLY A SECRET SERVICE
T TOLD HIM TO BACK OFF>
MINUTES éATER, ANOTHER AGENT SAT
DOWN AND QUESTIONEM WHILE
HE WQS EATING.
>> THE SECRET SERVICACCOSTED
ME AíD INTERROGATED ME
AND WONDERED WXAT I WAS DOING
THERE AND WHY I WAS PACING
ñúOUND THE BOOKS)RE.
>> IN FRONOF THE BORDERS
BOORE IN0NEW YORK CITY,
TOM SHOWED ME EXACTLY WHAT
HE WQS DOING TXAT MADE
THE SECRMT SERVICE SYNTEED
IN HIM.
DO YOU THINK ANYTHING YOU DID
DOULD HAVE BEEN
CONSTRUED AS SUSPICIOUS?
I MEAN I DEFINITELY WAS
I WAS LOOKING AT MY WATCH.óRE.
T WHOU ARE IN ONE PLACER
FOR AN HOUR, I GUESS THAT'S
"SUSPICIOUS."
LUATE EVERY PLACEOTECT CHELSEA,
@ M FORVELS.
MONTGOMERY, SERVICE HAD A
M FOR
MONTGOMERY, F FOR FRED RIC
AND C FOR CAROL WHICH
MEANS -- MAKES ME THE ONLY
PERSON TO NEIL IN 4 COUNT
HE'S.
>> I FEEL VERY
RET
SERVICE DID NOT END
WITH A CONVERSATION IN A DINER.
THE SECRET SERVICE RAN
A BACKGROUND CHECK ON THE CAR
HE WAS DRIVING.
IT BELONGED TO HIS BROTHER DAVID
WHO TOM WAS VISITING.
THIS NOTE WAS PLACED
ON HIS BROTHER'S DOOR.
"WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
TO YOU REGARDING YOUR BROTHER'S
VISIT TO PALO ALTO."
>> MEMBER OF THE SECRET SERVICE
CALLED ME TO ASK ME WHY
MY BROTHER WAS HANGING OUT
AND LOOKING PECULIAR.
>> EMBARRASSINGLY ENOUGH,
THEY ALSO CALLED THE GIRL WHO
STOOD TOM UP.
>> IF IT MEANS BETTER SECURITY
FOR THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY,
THEN I CAN DEAL WITH A FEW DAYS
OF INCONVENIENCE.
>> TOM IS A PRETTY GOOD SPORT
AND SAYS HIS BRUSH WITH CHELSEA
CLINTON AND THE ENCOUNTER
WITH THE SECRET SERVICE WAS
THE HIGHLIGHT OF HIS TRIP.
>> I DON'T MIND BEING
INTERROGATED BY THE SECRET
SERVICE BUT DON'T STAND ME UP.
DEBORAH: DON'T WAIT AN HOUR
FOR HER TO SHOW UP.
WHEN WE ASKED TOM HOW THIS
AFFECTED HIM, HE SAID IT DIDN'T
REALLY MIND.