Mr. DULLES. There is some pressure, I should think.
Mr. ROWLEY. There is no pressure, because we voluntarily entered into
an agreement with them, sir, for this arrangement, explaining that we
frequently don't get from the register the type of men that we want,
and that, therefore, we want the opportunity to recruit the men from
the universities or colleges. Once they have served on the White House
detail for a period of 2 years, then they would get this permanent
status. However, during the 2 years, they have an opportunity and they
are encouraged to take the civil service examination, so they get
career status. But there is no pressure from the Civil Service. It is a
convenience or agreement that they have arranged with us.
Mr. RANKIN. Maybe I can help, Chief. Schedule A is an exemption from
the regular civil service roster, is it not?
Mr. ROWLEY. That is correct.
Mr. RANKIN. And the register is a list of employees from which you have
to otherwise select Government employees if they are not exempt by
reason of their positions, is that correct?
Mr. ROWLEY. That is right.
Representative FORD. In other words, Civil Service Commission has set
up for the White House detail all inclusive----
Mr. ROWLEY. Not necessarily for the White House detail, Mr. Ford. For
the Secret Service--to allow us to get the type of individuals that we
want for both criminal investigation and protective work. Because if
you say exclusively for the White House detail, the fellow might not be
equipped for the White House detail.
Representative FORD. In other words, every person recruited by Secret
Service for any capacity is recruited in the first instance under
schedule A.
Mr. ROWLEY. Yes; if he hasn't--if he is not on the register for
civil service. We first go to the Civil Service, when we want to
select somebody, to see if there is anyone on there that meets our
qualifications. And then, if not, then we hire them under schedule A,
which is sort of a blanket exemption.
Representative FORD. But I gather from what you have said, or I think
you are intimating that most of your recruiting actually is from
colleges, and they are under schedule A.
Mr. ROWLEY. That is right; yes, sir. Most of them from your State,
sir--Michigan State University.
Representative FORD. It is a fine school.
Mr. ROWLEY. That is where it started, actually. They were the first
ones. Now we also recruit on the west coast, in California, they have
terrific schools out there.
Mr. RANKIN. Chief Rowley, I don't think you covered the Bolden matter
as to whether you had an investigation made. Did you?
Mr. ROWLEY. Yes; I did, sir.
Mr. RANKIN. Did you find out anything about the conduct of your agents?
Mr. ROWLEY. I found out there was no truth to the charges of
misconduct. There were 11 charges lodged against us.
One charge, the ninth charge, a part of it was true. The boys did
contribute for food. In other words, up there in Hyannis, when they are
up there for a week, or a weekend, they would be assigned to a house,
which economically was beneficial to them. One shift, and some of the
drivers would be in this house. This house was in a remote area from
the shopping area and so forth. So they agreed when they arrived there
to contribute, to buy food for breakfast, it being an 8 to 4 shift.
Eight to four meant they would have breakfast there and dinner.
Mr. RANKIN. What do you mean by that, Chief? Did they get a certain
house and were able to live together there to reduce their expenses?
Mr. ROWLEY. That is correct.
Mr. RANKIN. And then they each contributed to that common expense?
Mr. ROWLEY. That is correct.
Mr. RANKIN. And did someone cook for them?
Mr. ROWLEY. One of the agents who enjoyed it as a hobby cooked the
meals for them, while the others took care of the dishes.
Mr. RANKIN. They did contribute to supporting that?
Mr. ROWLEY. They contributed to supporting that, sir.
Mr. RANKIN. Was there criticism of that action?
Mr. ROWLEY. There was criticism of the action to this extent: That when
they went shopping they bought two or three cases of beer which they
had available in the icebox when the men came off duty in the evening.