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!
This has been posted and reposted, but never substantiated.
Another wonderful story of The President PING!
More of these stories keep coming out - how truly nice the Bushes are, and how loathsome the Socialists were.
But the anecdotes about Chelsea Clinton were a surprise, to me at least.
I had the privilege of meeting Laura Bush in 2000 and spoke with her for about 5-10 minutes. She is the most gracious, serene, lovely woman I've ever met.
I was with our Senator and Mayor and they are more used to meeting people in her position than I am and they were overwhelmed by her presence.
Knowing that a younger George W. Bush chose her when he was a young man made me think more of HIM. Good judgement.
This is the first I've read this, B. But all the anecdotal evidence I've heard, corroborates this one.
Like I said, the Chelsea angle was news to me.
A great deal of my respect and support for President Bush stems from his obvious pleasant nature and respect for others. You can see he really likes to meet people, especially those he knows. I like his politics more than Clinton, Gore or Kerry but what I really like is the man himself. I'm glad he's president.
The name of the man who made the talk was Dick Sprowl. He is a live human being, and if this was a lie I would think he would follow up with a disclaimer. It sounds too much like the individuals involved to be false. Also, I remember hearing many of these things when Clinton was President.
I have an association with someone who has an association with the White House. He has told me the same thing about Laura Bush and the President.
He says Laura Bush is the nicest lady he has ever met. He says everyone adores her. And, he has the greatest respect and liking for the President. He thinks of the President as a decent, kind man with loads of character.
Several years ago my ship was visiting the Bush family home in Maine; we hosted them onboard the ship one evening. They really all like this. I personally met all of them except W. His wife and daughters were on board as his father and mother. I have my picture with his father, which carries an offical White House photo number on it.
Most likely, people would lose their jobs if it were substantiated.
"Just because I love this picture"
I would title this picture, "Resolute."
He chose her?
Usually the other way around.
And, there's some truth to the story that a good woman will make a man better than he could ever hope to be on his own.
A woman can be a blessing to a man, if she is the right type of person. Definitely Laura is the right person for GW, and you can be sure they love each other dearly. With someone like Laura in your life you would try to be the best you could be.
Poor Bill Clinton! He got a horses patootie for a wife, didn't he?
Exactly! LOL
Thanks for posting this. I was okay until I started reading the comments about Mrs. Bush and the President. I'm now wiping tears from my eyes. Okay...call me a wuss, but I found it very touching. I'm allowed anyway...I'm an old lady.
Great read Sarge, thanks. There's that pride thing again!
OMG - haven't seen this picture since those terrible first few days after 9/11. It still brings me to tears, but thank you for posting it - we must never forget.
An ex shipmate of mine had the honor of transfering to the whitehouse to work Reagans communications.
When he rotated back to our outfit he told us that Ronald Reagan was a genuinely nice and pleasant fellow who always went out of his way to chat with the regular folks, always remembered names and asked obout wives and kids.
We were all impressed and glad to be serving under such a man
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