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White House Police (New Uniforms)
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White House Police (New Uniforms)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1969
Office of the Press Secretary
to Mrs. Nixon
THE WHITE HOUSE
White House police officers will wear new uniforms beginning
Friday, September 26.
Changes in the uniforms include gold stripes on the trousers and
on the sleeves. A small gold bar will be worn above the sleeve stripe
to indicate each five years of service.
Blouses will be individually tailored, and guns will be worn out-
side the blouses on a garrison belt. The belts have a gold buckle bearing
the Presidential coat of arms.
The gold badges, which were redesigned last spring, will be
altered slightly to highlight the words "White House Police" against a
blue background.
Gold Aiguillettes will be worn on the right shoulder.
Shoulder patches will be changed from white to gold on a black
background. The changes in the badges and the shoulder patches have
not been completed and the new ones will not be worn immediately.
The hats will remain the same.
The original uniforms for White House police were designed by
Mrs. Warren Harding. They were tailored from the same fabric and
designed after the uniforms worn at that time by the Cadet Corps at the
Naval Academy.
During the ensuing years, the uniform was not significantly altered,
and today it retains much of the original design.
Until 1940, the weapons carried by the White House Police were
concealed beneath the blouses. In December 1940, Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau instituted the practice of wearing revolvers on the outside
of blouses with Sam Browne belts. In 1946, a decision was made to
conceal the revolvers and the Sam Browne belt was eliminated.
A major addition to the White House Police uniform came on
April 16, 1958, when President Eisenhower approved the suggestion that
the Presidential coat of arms be worn as a shoulder patch on the uniform.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1969
Office of the Press Secretary
to Mrs. Nixon
THE WHITE HOUSE
White House police officers will wear new uniforms beginning
Friday, September 26.
Changes in the uniforms include gold stripes on the trousers and
on the sleeves. A small gold bar will be worn above the sleeve stripe
to indicate each five years of service.
Blouses will be individually tailored, and guns will be worn out-
side the blouses on a garrison belt. The belts have a gold buckle bearing
the Presidential coat of arms.
The gold badges, which were redesigned last spring, will be
altered slightly to highlight the words "White House Police" against a
blue background.
Gold Aiguillettes will be worn on the right shoulder.
Shoulder patches will be changed from white to gold on a black
background. The changes in the badges and the shoulder patches have
not been completed and the new ones will not be worn immediately.
The hats will remain the same.
The original uniforms for White House police were designed by
Mrs. Warren Harding. They were tailored from the same fabric and
designed after the uniforms worn at that time by the Cadet Corps at the
Naval Academy.
During the ensuing years, the uniform was not significantly altered,
and today it retains much of the original design.
Until 1940, the weapons carried by the White House Police were
concealed beneath the blouses. In December 1940, Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau instituted the practice of wearing revolvers on the outside
of blouses with Sam Browne belts. In 1946, a decision was made to
conceal the revolvers and the Sam Browne belt was eliminated.
A major addition to the White House Police uniform came on
April 16, 1958, when President Eisenhower approved the suggestion that
the Presidential coat of arms be worn as a shoulder patch on the uniform.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1969
Office of the Press Secretary
to Mrs. Nixon
THE WHITE HOUSE
White House police officers will wear new uniforms beginning
Friday, September 26.
Changes in the uniforms include gold stripes on the trousers and
on the sleeves. A small gold bar will be worn above the sleeve stripe
to indicate each five years of service.
Blouses will be individually tailored, and guns will be worn out-
side the blouses on a garrison belt. The belts have a gold buckle bearing
the Presidential coat of arms.
The gold badges, which were redesigned last spring, will be
altered slightly to highlight the words "White House Police" against a
blue background.
Gold Aiguillettes will be worn on the right shoulder.
Shoulder patches will be changed from white to gold on a black
background. The changes in the badges and the shoulder patches have
not been completed and the new ones will not be worn immediately.
The hats will remain the same.
The original uniforms for White House police were designed by
Mrs. Warren Harding. They were tailored from the same fabric and
designed after the uniforms worn at that time by the Cadet Corps at the
Naval Academy.
During the ensuing years, the uniform was not significantly altered,
and today it retains much of the original design.
Until 1940, the weapons carried by the White House Police were
concealed beneath the blouses. In December 1940, Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau instituted the practice of wearing revolvers on the outside
of blouses with Sam Browne belts. In 1946, a decision was made to
conceal the revolvers and the Sam Browne belt was eliminated.
A major addition to the White House Police uniform came on
April 16, 1958, when President Eisenhower approved the suggestion that
the Presidential coat of arms be worn as a shoulder patch on the uniform.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
THE WHITE House
WASHINGTON
White House Police Uniforms
"N ifty¹¹
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
WITH WILSON-NIXON
WASHINGTON (AP)--THE WHITE HOUSE POLICE FORCE INAUGURATED NEW
CEREMONIAL UNIFORMS TODAY TO WELCOME THE YEAR'S FIRST WHITE HOUSE
VISIT OF A CHIEF OF STATE, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON.
PRESS SECRETARY RONALD L. ZIEGLER SAID PRESIDENT NIXON SUGGESTED
THE NEW UNIFORMS AFTER SEEING THE CEREMONIAL POLICE DRESS DURING
HIS EUROPEAN VISIT LAST YEAR.
THE UNIFORMS HAVE A CREAM-WHITE TUNIC WITH BRASS BUTTONS AND
BRAID, BLACK TROUSERS WITH GOLD STRIPES, A BLACK LEATHER gun BELT
AND A BAND LEADER-STYLE HAT TRIMMED WITH BRASS.
THE WHITE HOUSE SAID THEY WERE DESIGNED JOINTLY BY THE SECRET
SERVICE AND SEVERAL UNIDENTIFIED NEW YORK DESIGNERS.
JA1224. PES 1/27
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
UNI-133
WHITE HOUSE)
WAHINGTON--THE WHITE HOUSE POLICE HAVE A NIFTY NEW LOOK FOR STATE
OCCASIONS, THANKS TO PRESIDENT NIXON.
NIXON, WHO WAS DAZZLED BY THE POMP AND COLORFUL UNIFORMS OF THE
FOREIGN GUARDSMEN DURING HIS EUROPEAN TOUR LAST FEBRUARY, CAME HOME AND
GAVE ORDERS FOR DRESSY NEW UNIFORMS FOR HIS POLICE PROTECTORS.
THEY WERE DESIGNED BY THE SECRET SERVICE WITH THE HELP OF WASHINGTON
TAILOR JIMMIE MUSCATELLO, FORMERLY FROM THE COAL FIELDS OF GARY, W.VA.
THE POLICEMEN WORE THEIR GLITTERING DRESS UNIFORMS FOR
THE FIRST TIME TODAY WHEN BRITISH PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON WAS
WELCOMED CEREMONIALLY ON THE SOUTH LAWN.
THE UNIFORMS INCLUDE A CREAM-WHITE TUNIC TRIMMED WITH GOLD BRAD AND
GOLD BUTTONS, CREATING A DOUBLE-BREASTED EFFECT. THE TUNIC HAS A HIGH
COLLAR AND THE PRESIDENTIAL EMBLEM ON THE SLEEVE.
THE TUNIC IS WORN WITH THE BLACK PANTS AND GOLD SIDE STRIPE OF
THE WHITE HOUSE POLICEMAN'S REGULAR UNIFORM. ALSO SHOWING IS A
BLACK GUN BELT AND GUN IN A BLACK-COVERED HOLSTER.
MOST STARTLING IS THE CAP WITH A VISOR, CALLED A SHAK9, WHICH IS
MADE OF STIFF PLASTIC AND TRIMMED WITH GOLD.
1/27--EC255PES
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
THE WHITE House
WASHINGTON
Ziegler and the uniforms
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
UPI-210
CWHITE HOUSE)
WASHINGTON WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY RONALD ZIEGLER APPEARED A
BIT MIFFED, BUT RESPONDED ONCE AGAIN TODAY TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
NEW WHITE HOUSE CEREMONIAL UNIFORMS: "SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IVY
LEAGUE SUITS."
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE NEW UNIFORMS WORN BY WHITE HOUSE
POLICEMEN FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS. ADVERSE REACTIONS HAVE COME FROM
SEVERAL QUARTERS, INCLUDING CONGRESS, PRIVATE CITIZENS AND EVEN THE
GUARDS THEMSELVES.
ZIEGLER SAID "THERE HAS BEEN SOME REACTIN. IN FECT, TR
ZIEGLER SAID "THERE HAS BEEN SOME REACTION." IN FACT, THERE HAS
BEEN MUCH MORE ATTENTION THAN THEN WHITE HOUSE PROBABLY WANTED WHEN IT
BROUGHT A LITTLE BIT OF OLD EUROPE FASHION TO 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVE.
1/29--DP607P
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
THE WHITE House
WASHINGTON
Interesting quotes about new
uniforms.
From Iowa, New York and
London
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
UPI-171
(WHITE HOUSE)
WASHINGTON--"THAT'S ONE MORE FOREIGN IMPORT WE DON'T NEED,"
REP. H.R. GROSS, R-IOWA, SAID TODAY OF PRESIDENT NIXON'S RESPLENDENT
NEW UNIFORMS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE POLICE. "WILL THEY BE GOOSE-STEPPING,
OR WHAT?"
"I"D HAVE SURE SAID IT IF LYNDON JOHNSON HAD DONE IT, AND I DON'T
SEE WHY I SHOULD KEEP QUIET JUST BECAUSE IT'S NIXON," THE IRASCIBLE
IOWAN TOLD A REPORTER.
1/28--DP617P
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
101
1
WHITE HOUSE GARD
london (AP)-THE NEW CEREMONIAL GARD OF THE WHITE HOUSE POLICE
EVOKED THOUGHTS OF RURITANIA IN LONDON TODAY.
UNDER A PICTURE CAPTIONED "ENTER THE CHORUS, ⑉ THE EVENING
NEWS SAID: "RUBITANIA NOW HAS AN OVERSEAS OUTPOST IN WASHINGTON,
D.C. THE WHITE HOUSE GUARDS TURNED OUT LAST NIGHT IN THESE
UNIFORMS, WHICH HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED BECAUSE PRESIDENT NIXON
WANTED SOMETHING AS EYE-CATCHING AS HE HAS SEEN ON PALACE GUARDS
AEROAD. IVOR NOVELLO WOULD HAVE DEEN HAPPY TO SEE THEN--EVEN
IF HIS CHARACTERS VERE NEVERCOSTUMED BY SMITH AND WESSON."
NOVELLO WAS A PLAYRIGHT-ACTOR-COMPOSER OF POPULAR MUSICALS.
SMITH AND VESSON ARE BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR REVOLVERS. RURITANIA
WAS AN IMAGINARY KINGDOM IN ANTHONY HOPE'S "PRISONER OF ZENDA."
JC236PES JAN 28
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
THOSE UNIFORMS
BY ANN HENCKEN
NEW YORK (AP)-THE FLASHY NEW UNIFORMS BESTOWED ON WHITE HOUSE POLICE
HAVEN'T MADE A HIT WITH SOME AMERICAN DESIGNERS.
THE WHITE DOUBLE-BREASTED TUNIC JACKETS, TRIMMED IN GOLD BRAIN, AND
THE STIFF SHAKOS (HATS) WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL CREST WERE ORDERED BY
PRESIDENT NIXON, DESIGNED BY WASHINGTON TAILOR JIMMIE MUSCATELLO AND
NODIFIED BY THE SECRET SERVICE. THE COST FOR THE JACKETS AND HATS WAS
$16, 000, NOT COUNTING THE GUN BELTS AND TROUSERS.
THE UNIFORMS WERE FIRST WORN TUEESDAY AS THE POLICE FORCE SALUTED
PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON OF GREAT BRITAIN.
"THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR GILBERT AND SULLIVAN AT THE WHITE HOUSE,"
SAID MEN'S FASHION DESIGNER JOHN WEITZ. "IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF GIVING
AN AMERICAN IMAGE WHICH IS CONSTRUCTIVE, I DON'T CONSIDER POMPOUS UNI-
FORMS TO BE WITHIN THE INTEREST OF THE A AMERICAN IMAGE.
"WOULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN ^ GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR AMERICAN
DESIGNERS SUBMIT IDEAS? THERE ARE THREE OR FOUR MEN WHO ARE KNOWN ALL
OVER THE WORLD AS PRODUCERS OF AMERICAN FASHION. NOW WE HAVE MR. MUSCA-
TELLO.' SAID WEITZ.
WHEN STAN HERMAN FOR MR. MORT SAW A PIACTURE OF THE UNIFORMS, HE FIRST
THOUGHT THEY WERE "GERMAN BUNDESTAG" on "NEW UNIFORMS FOR THE BRITISH
GUARD."
"THEY LOOK POMPOUS 19TH CENTURY RATHER THAN FUNCTIONAL 20TH CENTURY,"
HE SAID, DESCRIBING THEM AS "A THROWBACK TO THE FIRST NAUGHTY MARIETTA.'
CR708P 28
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
NIXON SEES NEED
White House gets first lady police
Seven District policewome n have been
we had some on our police force," the spokes-
picked to join the White House police force -
man said, "There are some places where only
the first women to be selected for the 48-year-
women can go."
old force.
The women will begin service in two or
The announcement coincided with Women's
three weeks, he said.
Liberation Day today. A spokesman for the
Secret Service said the hiring of the women
was approved by President Nixon.
The women will work primarily with "juve-
Index
niles and women that come to the attention of
the executive protection service. But in the
Berliner
52
Letters
29
long range, their mission has not been totally
Bridge
36
Maclean
70
resolved, it will take a few months to work
Business
60-61
Mayfield
37
that out," a Secret Service official said.
Clare Crawford 40
Mockridge
31
"The women are all in their 20s, and most
Classified 72-81
Movie Guide
56
have college degrees in police science,' he
Columnists
31
Night Clubs
51
said, but added that their names could not be
Comics 66, 68, 70
Obituaries
72
given out because background checks on the
Crossword
66
Prewett
29
women have not been completed.
EDITORIALS 30
Pruzzle
77
The women will go thru the same training as
Fashions
33-37
Saltz
61
men, and will receive the same salary and
Gardner, Ev
88
Schools
58-60
benefits as the male policemen. Their uni-
Haggerty
29
Sports
82-90
forms are still being designed, and the Secret
Horoscope
66
Theaters
52-56
Service would not comment on what they
Investor
61
Trivia
29
would look like.
I. Q.
31
TV, Radio
62-63
"Women have been assisting us from police
Jumble
70
Women's
33-42
departments in the past, and we felt it is time
Preservation Copy
th
at
a
di-
Gold Braid War
or
is
White House Uniforms Stir
a
ti-
Ruritanian Retaliation
go
th
By Art Buchwald
ar
rn
PRESIDENT Nixon's deci-
"I have no choice. If Nixon
ti-
d
d sion to dress up the White
tries to destroy our tourist
n-
House police force in Ruri-
business, he must suffer the
at-
a- tanian dress uniforms with
consequences. I have to ring
CAPITAL
se-
n gold braid, black leather
off now, the Captain of the
GUIDE
By
to
e belts and black vinyl hats
Vatican guards is calling."
ct
II
e trimmed with gold, has
Prince Rainier pushed a
d,
a d
it shocked every minor power
button. "Yes, Captain, I was
re
to
in the world.
expecting your call."
Is
arr
y
The Captain said, "The
tor
When Prince Rainier heard
Vatican is for peace, but I
asy
a- about it, he said to his lovely
i-
Th
m wife, Princess Grace, "This
think we must act at once."
ne
"What precautions have
ma
er means war."
to
VO
ho Princess Grace said,
you taken?" Rainier said.
D-
in
if, "Surely the President of the
"We've put white mink
ty
e United States would not be
trimming on our vests, lapels
r,
is foolhardy enough to start
and helmets. We've also dou-
e-
a something with us, knowing
bled the silk in our capes."
ch
e the size and design of the
"Good show, Captain. How
ly
ge palace uniforms we have
are you fixed for patent
SO
stockpiled in the cellar."
leather boots?"
ds
"Look at these photographs
"We're low. The French
ch-
of the White House guards.
sold all their patent leather
m-
Do you think I'm going to
to Libya."
pm
stand by and let him make a
fool of me?"
"I'LL SEE that you get
use
Before Princess Grace
some," Rainier said.
1er
could answer the question,
Princess Grace was beside
"No, ma'am. I am not a doorman, a movie usher,
n.
the Prince of Liechtenstein
herself.
Dis
nor with the circus. I am (ahem!) a White House
telephoned and said, "You've
"Rainier, there must be a
ate
policeman
No, ma'm. Spiro Agnew did not
seen them?"
better way than this. Can't
na,
design our uniforms."
you get on the hot line to
of
"OF COURSE I've seen
President Nixon's valet and
to
them," Prince Rainier ex-
warn him of what you're
ploded.
spo
going to do?"
"Are you ready to retal-
"It's too late," Prince Rain-
S
late?"
ier said. "Luxembourg has
say
"We've just had a meeting
fired up its sewing machines
He
of the joint chiefs of tailors
and will soon have blue pip-
caus
nd they have recommended
ing on everything. San Mar-
spon
hat unless the President
ino is obligated to go to Lux-
wan
vithdraws his uniforms in 48
embourg's aid and provide
on
lours, we're going to use
her with brass buttons. An-
wea
olid gold striping on our
dorra has escalated the peaks
will
clue velvet pants."
on its caps by three inches,
sys
"My God," said Prince
and the Swiss custom inspec-
F
Rainier, "isn't that against
tors have switched from al-
tall
the Geneva Convention?"
pine green to Nelson Eddy-
pre
"Geneva Convention be
red tunics."
Vier
damned."
Princess Grace ran to the
1
The Prince of Liechten-
window. "Rainier, look out-
197
stein said, "When the Presi-
side."
arn
dent put Balkan braid on his
"That's our doomsday uni-
and
White House gatekeepers, the
form," Rainier chuckled as
Am
articles of war went out the
he waved to his guards. "It
to
window. All I want to know
was developed by a top secret.
1
is, are you with me?"
defector who was formerly
"Yes I am," Prince Rainier
S
the head doorman at the
said. "As a matter of fact we
m-
Loew's State Theater in New
have been working on a top
Ka-
York City."
secret uniform which glows
ea-
© 1970, The Washington Post Co.
at night."
to
ds
"GOOD GRIEF, Rainier,
you're not going to use that
Custom Tailoring
to retaliate with?"
For Men or Women with
Your Fabric or Ours
Fabrics Sold by the Yard
Fine Alteration Service
den
7836 Wisconsin Ave.
(Opposite Safeway)
IRV BRAUNSTEIN, PROP.
OL. 6-2077
"nd thus should
Bethesda Custom Taliors
complaint,
'y
told
rs. Bow-
IT'S HERE TODA
easily
- A NEW IDEA FC
the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
W. H. Pobic suret Service
designed uniforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1969
Office of the Press Secretary
to Mrs. Nixon
THE WHITE HOUSE
White House police officers will wear new uniforms beginning
Friday, September 26.
Changes in the uniforms include gold stripes on the trousers and
on the sleeves. A small gold bar will be worn above the sleeve stripe
to indicate each five years of service.
Blouses will be individually tailored, and guns will be worn out-
side the blouses on a garrison belt. The belts have a gold buckle bearing
the Presidential coat of arms.
The gold badges, which were redesigned last spring, will be
altered slightly to highlight the words "White House Police" against a
blue background.
Gold Aiguillettes will be worn on the right shoulder.
Shoulder patches will be changed from white to gold on a black
background. The changes in the badges and the shoulder patches have
not been completed and the new ones will not be worn immediately.
The hats will remain the same.
The original uniforms for White House police were designed by
Mrs. Warren Harding. They were tailored from the same fabric and
designed after the uniforms worn at that time by the Cadet Corps at the
Naval Academy.
During the ensuing years, the uniform was not significantly altered,
and today it retains much of the original design.
Until 1940, the weapons carried by the White House Police were
concealed beneath the blouses. In December 1940, Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau instituted the practice of wearing revolvers on the outside
of blouses with Sam Browne belts. In 1946, a decision was made to
conceal the revolvers and the Sam Browne belt was eliminated.
A major addition to the White House Police uniform came on
April 16, 1958, when President Eisenhower approved the suggestion that
the Presidential coat of arms be worn as a shoulder patch on the uniform.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10
MAY 1962 EDITION
this
GSA FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.6
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
you
Memorandum
leB
WHITE HOUSE POLICE
Lilburn E. Boggs, Assistant Director for
TO
:
Protective Forces
DATE: September 19, 1969
Via :
Vincent P. Mroz, DAD
FROM :
Glenard E. Lanier, Major
White House Police
SUBJECT:
History of the White House Police Uniform
The following is the information you requested concerning the
history of the White House Police uniform:
In 1922 Mrs. Harding arrived at the White House with definite
ideas to reorganize the police detail, including a distinctive
uniform.
Mrs. Harding designed and patterned the White House Police uniform
after the Naval Academy uniform of that day, with gold badges and
cap plates. The new uniforms were handsomely tailored from the
same fabric used to make the uniforms of the Cadet Corps at the
Naval Academy.
During the ensuing years, the uniform was not significantly altered,
and today it retains much of the original design.
Until 1940 the weapons carried by the White House Police were con-
cealed beneath the blouses. In December 1940, Treasury Secretary
Morgenthau instituted the practice of wearing revolvers on the out-
side of blouses with Sam Browne belts. In 1946 a decision was
made to conceal the revolvers and the Sam Browne belt was eliminated.
A major addition to the White House Police uniform came on April 16,
1958, when President Eisenhower approved the suggestion that the
Presidential Coat-of-Arms be worn as a shoulder patch on the uniform.
Since the inception of the Force, the design of the breast badge
has been changed in 1940; May 13, 1952; April 29, 1963; and February
18, 1969.
Glenard E. Lanier
Major
Commanding Officer
White House Police
GEL:CWH:pjj:per
Modified uniform
Buy U Reproduced Librayrall Savings Plan
5010-108
DRAFT NOTICE TO THE PRESS
At the direction of the President, the uniform of the
Some
White House police has been modernized. The changes will
be apparent Friday, September 26.
The most notable change in the uniform will be the presence
of a gold stripe in the trousers. A gold stripe has also been
each
added to the sleeve. Blouses will be individually tailored, and
guns will be worn outside the blouses, on a new garrison belt.
The belts
have a gold buckle bearing the Presidential coat of
arms. Guns have not been displayed since 1946.
The gold badges, which were reclasigned introduced last spring, will be
altered slightly to highlight the words White House Police against
a blue background. Gold aiguillettes will be worn on the right
shoulder. The shoulder patch will also be changed from white to
gold, on a black background. The patch, bearing the Presidential
coat of arms was first introduced in 1958.
The headwear and footwear have not been changed.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Preservation Copy
After nearly a week. a
White House Policewomen
By Marie Smith
of state as well as at diplo-
force of the city in which
matic missions in Washing-
members of the First Family
Seven policewomen have
ton. They will also assist in
were visiting.
been hired by the recently
interviewing juveniles and
The seven women hired
established Executive Pro-
women who come to the at-
are part of the 600-member
tection Service for security
tention of the Secret Serv-
increase authorized in the
duty with what was for-
ice, and will supervise their
EPS to bring it up to the
merly called the White
custody.
850-member strength needed
House police force.
It is the first time that po-
for expanded duties of pro-
Their duties will include
licewomen have been a per-
tecting foreign missions and
protection of the White
manent part of the White
their resident dignitaries as
House, women members of
House protection service, an
well as the White House.
the President's immediate
EPS spokesman said yester-
Women hired must meet
family and their women
day.
the same Civil Service re-
guests, and women in the of-
In the past policewomen
quirements as women on the
ficial party of visiting heads
have been borrowed tempo-
metropolitan police force,
rarily for such duty from
and their starting salary is
the Metropolitan Police De-
$8,500, the same as the met-
GRAPHIC SHOW
partment or from the police
ropolitan police.
-Associated Press
White House guards in their flashy new uniforms.
WHITE HOUSE FASHION
Reaction to Uniform Mixed
By DAVID HOLMBERG
they're appropriate."
phere than just the plain old
Star Staff Writer
"A bit showy," said Bill
blue uniform."
The Rev. Channing Phillips
Blass.
A captain in the Capitol po-
is not one of those persons
Pauline Trigere was more in
lice who said he'd seen the
who wants to keep his feelings
favor of the new uniforms. "I
outfit in the designing stages,
about the new White House
think they're rather dashing,
and liked it, had a practical
police uniform under his hat.
don't you?" she said.
concern.
"A very poor move," he said
"Maybe, for Ceremony"
"It's going to get dirty," he
yesterday of the elaborate
Some area policemen also
said.
white uniforms with the gold
were hedging on the new uni-
Out in Prince Georges Coun-
buttons and epaulettes and
spokesmen declined to com-
ty, a police major who wasn't
high vinyl hats. "It will be
ment on it, others hadn't seen
aware the uniform is designed
very distracting for a police-
it, and a secretary at the D.C.
only for ceremonial occasions
man to have to keep telling
Council on the Arts said,
was upset about the costume's
tourists that he is not the good
"Gosh, it looks kind of Fascist,
visibility "if you have a riot or
humor man."
doesn't it? This administra-
a revolt."
Rep. H. R. Gross, R-Iowa,
form, although a number of
"I daresay you'd be the first
offered this criticism:
men in the traditional blue
man shot if you were wearing
"That's one more foreign
said they liked it. "Well, may-
that," he said. He said it was
import we don't need. Will
be it's appropriate for ceremo-
"okay as a parade-type uni-
they be goose-stepping, or
ny," a Park Police officer
form."
what? I'd have sure said it if
said. "Maybe you could use it
Little Reaction
Lyndon Johnson had done it
for that, but not for anything
and I don't see why I should
else."
At Metropolitan police head-
keep quiet just because it's
But the White House stood
quarters, observers reported
Nixon."
firmly behind the new uni-
little reaction to the new uni-
One of the city's prominent
forms. Ronald Ziegler, the
form, and the FBI wasn't com-
architectural critics and cul-
President's press secretary,
menting on "another agency's
tural bigwigs was a bit more
said at a news conference to-
uniforms." But a spokesman
circumspect about his reaction
day that the President likes
for the International Associa-
to the new uniform that was
them and feels they will "add
tion of Police Chiefs seemed to
unveiled Tuesday after Presi-
to the dignity of the occasion"
sum up the polarization on the
dent Nixon took a fancy to
in receptions for visiting heads
issue:
similar uniforms in Europe.
of state.
"Some of us here love it,"
"My god, it's weird," he
Along with Phillips, peren-
he said, "and some of us don't
said, "No, don't quote me, for
nial critic Julius Hobson was
think much of it at all."
heaven's sake. Call someone
one of the few persons around
who's been fired. I work for
town who would let his name
that guy (the President)."
be linked with anti-uniform
Thimbles Down
sentiments.
Most New York fashion de-
Youth Shot
"I think it's typical of the
signers also turned thimbles
down, the Associated Press re-
Fascist mentality of this ad-
ported.
ministration to emphasize
In Stakeout
The cost for the jackets and
physical power and pageantry.
Nixon thinks he's some
hats was $16,000.
"This Is not the time for
kind of king. And what kind of
At Grocery
Gilbert and Sullivan at the
men would want to wear a
A 17-year-old suspect in th
White House," said men's
uniform like this? Being a po-
attempted holdup of a Safewa
fashion designer John Weitz.
liceman in this country is an
Store at 2011 S St. NW yeste.
When Stan Herman for Mr.
honorable profession. Why
day was shot and critical'
Mort saw a picture of the uni-
should they want to stand
wounded by one of two poli
forms, he first thought they
around looking like a goddamn
men staked out in the store
were "German Bundestag" or
monkey?"
lice reported.
"new uniforms for the British
Approval
The youth, identified a
guard."
A sergeant in the Fairfax
ren Gregory Gilliam of t
Norman Norell didn't mind
block of Brightseat Ro
the hats or the white jackets,
City Police Department didn't
think the uniform would taint
Arden, Md., was f
but "They'd look more Ameri-
George Washington T
the professionalism of his
can if they didn't have the
Hospital.
gold braid."
White House colleagues.
"I think it's very distin-
A second suspe
Geoffrey Beene said, "The
guished and good-looking," he
Lake, 18, of th
uniforms were a little hard, a
Street SF
said. "It's about time they did
little Prussian, a little Storm
charc
something nice for them. It
Trooper
L
I don't think
gives a little better atmos
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
"Well, Let's Run It Up Pennsylvania Avenue
And See If Anybody Salutes"
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Dricks, TOCKS and pomes at ponce onicers WD
NIXON'S CEREMONIAL GUARDS
ABANDON PRUSSIAN-TYPE HAT
President Nixon's ceremonial guard unit has
criticism will its unit Prussian-style The be permanently look White and like ridicule House a hats, stored said from but today will as persons a keep concession the who the black white said to vinyl they jackets. abandoned helmets made
will gold the The continue braid, guard, buttons to made wear and palace up the badges. of dress guard men uniform of But of the toy White soldiers. with House white widespread police, tunic,
Attenshun
the old-style rest of regular blue caps with a white they cover will wear to their
Pompidou the uniform when French President Georges match
White house unit
vists the White House on Tuesday.
well not to " be "drop to the bottom of 10 the 10
He hinr., D-N.C
drops fancy hats
said
ably willmondme
President Nixon's new ceremonia
15
guard unit has abandoned its Prussiar
style hats, but will keep the fancy whit
jackets.
The White House said today the blac
vinyl helmets will be permanently store
as a concession to widespread criticis
and ridicule from persons who said the
made the unit look like a palace guard
toy soldiers.
The guard, made up of men of t
White House police, will continue
wear the dress uniform with white tun
gold braid, buttons and badges. But th
will wear their old style regular bl
to match t
Preservation Copy
RIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1970
White House Police Losing 'Palace-Guard' Headgear
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19
(UPI) - Those Prussian-style
helmets that helped give
White House policemen a
new "palace guard" look
have been scrapped.
The White House said to-
day that the policemen com-
plained the hats were too
tight and uncomfortable. Pri-
vately, some of the guards
indicated that their discom-
fort also came from the
snickers that greeted the un-
veiling of their new cere-
monial uniforms late last
month.
The high-peaked, black
vinyl helmets, which cost $10
apiece for the 100 policemen
wearing them, will be re-
placed by regulation blue
caps with white slipcovers
when the new uniforms are
Associated Press
worn for the second time
White House policemen wear regular duty cap and, at right,
next Tuesday, for the visit of
the ceremonial headwear that is to be dropped from use.
President Pompidou of France.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Mone 10-year-oid Live Derger HIS sport prepared address
W.H.
MM
The Washington Post
On With the Old and Off With the New
White House policeman (left) wears regu-
visit of British Prime Minister Harold
lar-issue cap with white dress cover which
Wilson. Tunics were unchanged. Honor
has replaced the more exotic but widely
guard was on hand yesterday for the
criticized black vinyl helmet worn for the
arrival of French President Pompidou.
of 2
Preservation Copy
Letters to The Editor
The New Uniforms at the White House
The new uniforms of the Royal Ruritanian
Foot Grenadiers, alias the White House Po-
lice, are a pretty direct crib from those of
the gvardeiskaia pekhota of His (late) Impe-
rial Majesty Nikolai Aleksandrovich, Em-
peror of Russia. So does one now address
the head of the White House Police as
"Vashe vysokoblagorodie" (your high well-
Whatever else may be said of the Graus-
bornness) or "Vashe prevoskhoditel'stvo"
tarkian costumes newly imposed on the
(your excellency)? There's an important dif-
White House's palace guard, they are clearly
ference there, and it is incumbent upon us
inflationary.
groundlings to learn how to deal with all the
It is not merely the first cost that threat-
Hofleute we seem to be accumulating. I
ens the nation's precarious budget, already
mean, after all, you can't expect a mere
terribly burdened by health, education and
Kammerjunker to be dealt with on the
welfare. Now every one of the 32 Republican
same footing as a Herr Geheimrat.
governors will have to follow their coura-
Would it not be better to remember the
geous leader's example. Every statehouse
words of James Buchanan, then Minister to
will flower, each with its own colors and
England, who reported his compliance with
special flourishes. As for the city halls
Secretary of State Marcy's orders to give up
watch Sam Yorty.
diplomatic fancy dress by writing, "I have
Eggshell white may do for the present,
never felt prouder, as a citizen of my coun-
but we shall progress inexorably, step by
try, than when I stood amidst the brilliant
step, to imperial purple-as in Rome after
circle of foreign ministers and other court
the republic had been cast down. Will the
dignitaries in the simple dress of an Ameri-
trappings of monarchy be enough, or shall
can citizen." Of course, that was 1854, an aw-
we move toward the substance? Gradually,
fully long time ago.
of course. As a beginning, the presidency
could be handed down not from father to
ROBERT V. ALLEN.
son, but from father-in-law to son-in-law. Ah
Washington.
well, times do change.
ON
VIRGINIA M. WORMALD.
What a masterpiece of timing! The same
Washington.
day he sends the HEW bill back to Congress
ON
with his veto he unveils the new uniforms of
the "palace guards." Inflation-ha.
The substantially archaic thrust of the
Nixon administration is now on record in
ROBERT S. WILLIAMS JR.
many areas. So the archaic pattern of, the
Chevy Chase
new White House police uniform is sad, but
IN
not surprising.
That the President would have taken time
It is common knowledge that our Number
out from his massive and important sched-
One Sports Fan would rather have made
ule to consider even momentarily these
All-American than be President. But we
"dress up" uniforms for the White House po-
didn't know he had a yen to be Rupert of
licemen is most unfortunate. They have
Hentzau. An evening at the White House
nothing to do with the 20th century, with
should be enchanting with 100 Student
the White House or with America. They will
Princes banging mugs as they sing the stir-
be endless comic reminders of old Shubert
ring Stein Song.
productions of "The Chocolate Soldier."
Actually it's all rather fun in this troubled
They will be endless sad reminders of Hitler
world, except that $9,500 would buy many
and Count Ciano and General Trujillo. And
textbooks for the sick schools of the District
of Columbia.
they will be a source of endless demeaning
embarrassment to the men forced to wear
HELEN F. HALL.
them.
Alexandria.
The nation needs programs and principles
and progress a lot more than it needs this
kind of antique panoply.
HARRY MUHEIM.
Silver Spring.
ON
Until spreading out your front page the
other morning I wasn't too concerned about
Mr. Nixon's infatuation with football games:
perhaps it even sublimated energies that
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
2 of 2
Preservation Copy
might otherwise have been misspent in ex-
pressing vexations better left to Spiro
Agnew. But now it appears we are getting
feedback from the TV screen, in the form of
the new White House guard uniform. It
needs only a red feather in the helmet to re-
produce a bowl game halftime show. (Will
President Nixon must have hit a new high
the chief guard carry a baton?) Or perhaps
(low?) for presidential follies in the new uni-
the President is yearning for the pomp and
forms. Where do we begin the catalogue?
ceremony of European courts. I suspect it is
The timing is wretched-the unnecessary
a combination of the two, and so I should
expenditures revealed immediately after the
like to propose that the guard force be offi-
veto of the "inflationary" HEW appropria-
cially renamed the Vatican Tackles.
tions bill. The uniforms are an offense to
JOHN S. JORDAN JR.
the eye-the belt and pistols marring the
Washington.
lines of the jacket; the silly caps. All this in
the "best" operetta tradition. How the men
ON
must hate them. To say nothing of the
How nice that at the same time our Presi-
aroma of militarism that seems more pro-
dent is vetoing funds for education and the
nounced than when the men wore their old
fight against poverty, he is dressing the
uniforms.
White House police in new uniforms at a
Let's hope the President will retire the
cost of $9,500. It is good to know that a
new ones, sell them as surplus to some high
pompous display will continue in the White
school marching bands, and take the loss as
House, even in the face of ignorance and
a necessary evil. Maybe we can forgive him
malnutrition in the rest of the nation.
the money, but not the ludicrous notion that
MARCIA GELPE.
should have died a-borning.
Washington.
EUNICE GRAHAM.
ON
Takoma Park.
I suspect you'll receive a lot of letters
ON
complaining about those Student Prince cos-
It was intriguing to see the new South
tumes for the White House Guards. But, in
American dictatorship look of the "palace
my opinion, one shouldn't criticize! After
guard" at the White House. We hope Mr.
all, since the President was so impressed
Nixon was able to impress the visiting head
with European outfits and ways, it might be
of state from the Mother Country with the
fun to go monarchy all the way. We could
grandeur and style of our form of govern-
change his title, and he could even have a
ment.
real crown-handcrafted by some of the cur-
If Mr. Nixon continues to exercise such
rently unemployed, whose services could be
"inflation control" we can expect the eduça-
utilized in stitching up those marvelous uni-
tional system to be asked, regretfully, to
forms. (There opens up a whole new vista of
close up shop altogether in order to keep
allied court activities and consequent job op-
the presidential trappings in gold braid.
portunities.)
MARY C. NEUMAN.
Funds for such fantastic frivolities should
Annapolis.
be readily available-just look at the sums
ON
recently rescued by the veto of the HEW
bill. And, after all-what price glory?
Fortunately for Washington visitors with a
myopic eye for traditional military dress,
BETTY FAIRCHILD.
the White House Palace Guard is currently
Silver Spring.
attired in regalia which would be appropri-
ate for the illégitimate offspring of a runa-
way toy soldier from the IceCapades and the
youngest daughter of a banana republic dic-
tator.
It has been reported that the nation's
Number One football fan, possibly inspired
during a halftime performance by a high
school drum major, lent his hand in design-
ing this vinyl and elastic melange. The
stain-resistant, starling-proof vinyl chapeau
resembles the one used by Mickey Mouse in
the 1938 production of "Fantasia."
Wouldn't this have been an excellent op-
portunity for the White House to dispense
with rhetoric and keep 9,500 inflationary
dollars out of the economy?
MICHAEL P. ZELL.
Washington.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Preservation Copy
W.H.
W.
AND NOW, IN GLORIOUS COLOR
Washington finally has a controversy on which you can take a side
without getting caught in a deep ideological discussion. It con-
cerns the new ceremonial uniforms of the White House police force,
shown here in an official photo, and the issue is simple: Are they
handsome or are they hideous?
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum