Blaine's Tampa Survey Report

                                                                                                                                                                  1-16-602.111

White House Detail                                Washington, D. C. 

December 4, 1963

FINAL SURVEY REPORT

Re: Visit of the President to Tampa, Florida, on November 18, 1963, where He Participated in Ceremonies for Strike Command, Florida Chamber of Commerce, and United Steel Workers.

Mr. James J. Rowley

Chief, U.S. Secret Service

Washington D.C. 

Sir:

INTRODUCTION

This survey was conducted by SAs Gerald S. Blaine and J. Frank Yeager, White House Detail, SAIC Rudolph E. McDavid, Jacksonville and RA Arnold E. Peppers Tampa, in and around Tampa, Florida, from November 11 through November 18, 1963.

It is estimated that approximately 20,000 people attended the speech at Al Lopez Stadium; 4,000 at Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory; and 2,000 at the International Inn.

ITINERARY

See Attachment #1 Revision:

2:30 p.m. The President arrived at Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory.

4:30 p.m. The President departed for Miami, Florida.

All other items remained the same.

ROUTES

See Attached #6

SECURITY

Motorcade Route

A parade motorcade with motorcycle escort was used on all movements in Tampa, with a pilot car used in advance of the motorcade. All intersections [page 2] along the route were controlled by uniform police officers and these men were reinforced by motorcycle escort intersection control. The sheriff’s offices secured the roofs of all major buildings in the downtown and suburban areas.

All underpasses were controlled by police and military units. The police department secured all rail traffic during the visit as the motorcade passed over rail arteries enroute.

Al Lopez Stadium

Members of the Tampa Police Sheriff’s offices, and Military Police secured the stadium, commencing at 8:00 p.m. on November 17, 1963. The playing field portion of the stadium was secured, except for 300 seats reserved for VIP’s. No one had access to the speaker’s stand. Members of the speaker’s stand were identified by name plates and a check list.

The field stands were secured until after landing of the helicopter, and they were filled. The route of departure from the stadium was secured by Military Police units from McDill Air Force Base.

Ft. Homer Hesterly Amory

This armory is a National Guard installation and members of the National Guard and Tampa Police were used to secure the grounds and interior of the armory.

The President entered through the rear of the armory, and the general public had access to the armory through the main entrance.

Speaker’s stand guests were identified by members of the Florida State Chamber of Commerce and an agent of this Service. Admission to the armory was by invitation for the seating on the main floor; seating in the balcony was open to the general public.

International Inn

The International Inn is a hotel located on West Shore Boulevard and Grand Central. The hotel was secured by members of a sheriff’s office and plain clothed detectives from Tampa, Florida. The ballroom used by the President was secured 24 hours prior to the arrival of the President, and was inspected by bomb squad of the Tampa, Florida, Police Department.

Admission to the International Inn was by invitation only.

Officer’s Club, McDill Air Force Base

The Officer’s Club at McDill Air Force Base was secured by members of the CSI and Military Police. RA Arnold Peppers conducted a back-ground check on all waiters used to serve at the luncheon.

[page 3]

POST ASSSIGNMENTS

See Attachment #2

INSTRUCTONS TO AGENTS

See Attachment #3

AUTOMOBILES

The President used a 1964 white Lincoln convertible at McDill Air Force Base, and the Secret Service used a black 1964 Lincoln hard-top for follow-up. The President’s automobile was driven by SA Greer, the follow-up was driven by SA Rybka.

On the downtown motorcade route, the presidential bubble-top Lincoln, driven by SA Greer, and the follow-up SS-678-X, driven by SA Kinney, were used.

The local Ford and Lincoln agencies, through contact Jim Golden Atlanta, Georgia, furnished all automobiles used in this movement. The Tampa Chamber of Commerce furnished the bus used by the press, and all other vehicles were furnished by the local police units or McDill Air Force Base.

PROTECTIVE RESEARCH

Mr. Cecil Taylor, Protective Research Section, was notified of this movement on November 9, 1963. He advised that two subjects were in the Tampa area. They were: Wayne I. Gainey, 00-2-33,815. Gainey was interviewed by Jacksonville agents and reminded in the custody of his parents during this movement. The other was John W. Warrington, 00-2-33-902. This subject was in jail in Tampa, Florida, for threatening the mayor of Tampa.

COMMUNICATIONS

Communications were conducted by William A. Elder, White House Communications Agency. The “Charlie” net radio communications was used, and a base station was maintained at McDill Air Force Base. Press filing locations were maintained in the Al Lopez Stadium, Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory, and McDill Air Force Base. A public telephone was used by this Service and a White House line was eventually connected.

Telephones were installed at all locations that the President visited.

PRESS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

The movements of the White House Press corps were supervised by Press Secretary Pierre Salinger and Assistant Press Secretary Malcomb Kilduff.

[ page 4 ]

The President’s entire visit to Tampa was telecast locally on a pool basis. Press and photographers were in controlled areas on all movements of the President.

CONCLUSION

The following persons participated in this survey:

Lt. Col. Ruffin W. Grey, Strike Command, McDill Air Force Base

Chief J.P. Mullins, Chief, Tampa Police Department

Lt. S. L. Clements, Florida Highway Patrol

Sheriff Ed Blackburn, County Sheriff, Hilllsbourough County, Florida

Jack Dempsey, Hillsbourough County Sheriff, Hillsbourogh County, Florida

Jack Dempsy, Hillsbourough County Sheriff’s Office

Capt. Robert A. Moon, 836^th Air Patrol Division

Capt. William T. Saxton, Strike Security Division

Jack C. Overstreet, CSI McDill Air Force Base

Capt. Jim Diamond, Tampa Police Dept.

Capt. T. J. Buchanan, Tampa Police Department

Capt. E. F. Bowen, Jr., Tampa Police Department

Archie Adair, Hillsbourough County Sheriff’s Office

Following are the personnel who participated in the security measures:

Tampa Uniform Police……………………………… ..   162

Tampa Motorcycle Escort………………………………   30

Tampa Detectives………………………………………    35

Florida State Patrol……………………………………..    15

Hillsbourough County Sheriff’s Office…………………   11

St. Petersburg Uniformed Police    ……………………..   20

Clearwater, Fla. Uniformed Police……………………..    30

CSI………………………………………………………   12

Military Police ………………………………………       100

Airmen, McDill Air Force Base ………………………    200

Constable’s Ofice, Tampa…………………………….         5

Tampa Fire Department……………………………….       25

White Houe Detail Agents ……………………………       17

Jacksonville Agents ……………………………………       2

Tampa Agents …………………………………………..      1

                                                                             TOTAL   665

[page 5]

The following are attached to this report:

Guest List – Speaker’s Platform, Al Lopez Stadium

Guest List – Speaker’s Platform, Ft. Homer Hesterly Army

Very truly yours,

Gerald S. Blaine

Special Agent

APPROVED:

Signature

Gerald A. Behn

Special Agent in charge

Attachments (6)

2        ccs Tampa

2          ccs Jacksonville

GSS:caw