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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1979)
The private thoughts of an ex-Secret Service agent By Mark Herron Battalion Reporter As he travels around the state talking to civic clubs and organi zations about his days as a Se cret Service agent, Mike Howard says one of the most frequent questions he hears is: “Was there a conspiracy to kill the President (Kennedy)?” “Fifteen million tax-paid dollars were appropriated this year for further investigation,” Howard said, “because nobody wants to accept the fact that Oswald, a mentally deranged little punk, killed the president, and was all by his lonesome when he did it.” Howard looked frustrated as he explained his opinions. “Oswald was trying to make a name for himself,” he said. “He was thrown out of every subver sive organization he tried to join. “A month before the assassi nation, Oswald was rejected by the Freedom for Cuba organiza tion,” Howard said, “and that’s when he bought his rifle.” Howard said even though there was no conspiracy to kill the president, he feels Dallas politi cians should share the blame for Kennedy’s death. “Some local politicians told Kennedy he was not liked in Dal las, and needed to ride in an open car so he could wave at the people. When that motorcade came down the street,” he said, “Kennedy was an open target.” Leaning forward in his chair, Howard said, “But maybe Oswald shot the president by accident, because I don’t think he was aim ing for Kennedy.” Howard said Oswald had writ ten in his diary, “I’m going to kill John Connally, that S.O.B.” The reason for Oswald’s hostil ity, Howard said, was that Con nally, in his days as Secretary of the Navy, had refused to rescind Oswald’s dishonorable discharge from the Marines. Howard said Oswald would have known Con nally would be in the motorcade because local newspapers re ported that Connally would be rid ing in the same car with the Pres ident. Howard said a short time be fore the Kennedy assassination, Oswald had tried to shoot Gen. Edwin Walker (who was opposed to Kennedy) but missed his head by an inch to the left. After the assassination, he said, “We took Oswald’s rifle to Washington where it was test fired over and over, and each time it shot one inch to the left, when fired from 200 yards.” That was the distance from which Os wald had shot Kennedy. “If Oswald had’ve been aiming at Kennedy’s head, he would have missed him at that distance. “On the first shot,” Howard said, “Oswald was aiming at Connally’s head but hit Ken nedy’s shoulder. That same bullet went through Kennedy, grazed Connally’s wrist, and landed in his knee. “When Oswald fired the sec ond shot,” Howard continued, “Kennedy was almost directly be tween Oswald and Connally, and the bullet struck the right side of Kennedy’s head.” After the assassination, How ard was assigned to protect Pres ident Johnson and his family at the White House. In the spring of 1965, Howard said he and three other agents, all native Texans, were sent to protect the president’s daughter, Lynda Bird, while she attended the University of Texas. “Lynda Bird was assigned to a dorm with 900 other gjfls,” he said. “The dorm residents were in a state of shock at first. We put electric alarms and locks on all the doors, in the dorm, and on all the windows in her wing.” A Secret Service agent was on duty at all times, Howard said. The agents sat in a glass booth in the lobby, and watched a televi sion that monitored the hall out side Lynda Bird’s room. “I went to classes with her, and usually drove the car when she went on dates,” Howard said. “She went to dances and pizza parlors just like other college stu dents, t>v_it one of vjs (,agents') was always tlrere.” When Lynda Bird graduated from UT in 1966, Howard said he walked across the stage right be hind her, and received a fake diploma. After graduation, Howard said, Lynda Bird wanted to travel. “We were in the jet set, going to New York, Hollywood, Aculpulco, Europe, South America, -- all over.” When Howard accompanied Lynda Bird to Buckingham Palace to a party given by the Queen of England, he was told he wouldn’t be able to bring his gun. “Since I had to wear a tuxedo,” Howard said, ” I just hid my pistol in my top hat.” Howard has a photo album full of pictures from his travels. “Lynda Bird gave me this album after she was married,” he said. The inscription on the album cover reads, “To the other man in my life.” Howard said one reason they became such close friends was “we were both big history buffs, so we always had a lot to talk ab out.” Howard said he went on the honeymoon in the Virgin Islands, when Lynda Bird married Charles Robb. Before their honeymoon, Howard made decoy reservations in Canada, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, he said, to throw reporters off the track. Howard said he still feels close to Lynda Bird, who now lives in Virginia. “We see each other about four or five times a year.” During the interview, a pack age was delivered to Howard. In the box was a pottery coffee cup with “Happy Birthday Uncle Mike” painted on the side. The cup was from Lynda Bird’s daughter, Lucinda, Howard’s goddaughter. Howard said during the time he was protecting Lynda Bird, he also became good friends with President Johnson. “LBJ would call me from time to time asK \_yr\c\a S\rci was doing, wYto sVfe was dating, or how her grades were,” he said. “When LBJ left the White House in 1968, he asked me to go with him to his ranch in Johnson City, Texas.” Howard said he hated to leave the glitter and prestige of Wash ington D.C., but he received a pay raise for moving back to Texas. Howard explained that when a president leaves office, he is given Secret Service protection for the rest of his life. “There were several threats on LBJ’s life after he retired to the ranch,” Howard said. “An uncle of a boy killed in Viet- Nam came to Texas to kill LBJ,” he said, “but fortunately we caught him at a bus station near Johnson City.” Johnson was often difficult to work with, Howard said. “He would just walk into a crowd and there was no way I could give him adequate protection.” Howard said he often took the blame for something the ranch foreman, the mechanic, or the pilot might have done wrong. “He chewed me out a few times, but I could take it. “Some of the agents took the rough treatment personally, and some couldn’t accept the prob lems he created,” he said. Despite the difficulties, Howard said, “I liked him a lot.” Pointing to a beagle lying in his backyard, Howard said, “That’s Crasher. LBJ gave him to me as a pup. “At the ranch, I was his fa vorite,” Howard said. “I lost a lot of friends in the Secret Service because I was able to work with him.” Howard explained, “LBJ didn’t like to trust a lot of people - just me.” “When he got on his radio,” he continued, “he always asked for me.” “In fact,” Howard said, “LBJ was calling for me when he died.” VJBJ a. Yveart attack. vsfW\\a taK- mg a nap, Howard said. “In the middle ot the attack, he grabbed bis radio and called lor me.” Johnson was known as “One” around the ranch. Howard said his last words were “One to Mike.” Those words provide the title for a book Howard has written. One to Mike is a book full of stories about Howard’s life as a Secret Service agent, and will be published soon, he said. Howard said he remained on the ranch exactly one year after the former president died. “I had been with the Secret Service for 14 years,” he continued, “I was exhausted and just needed a change.” Unemployment was no prob lem for Howard. “The day I re tired, I was hired by John Hill as a body guard, and I’ve been with him since then (1974).” Hill is a Dallas oil millionaire whose 17 year old son lives on a ranch north of Dallas. Howard and his wife live on the ranch and “protect” the younger Hill. Howard said he thought Hill’s son was in no great danger, but “wealthy people are often inse cure.” Howard said he and his wife always had trouble being ac cepted into a community because of the nature of his work. “My job doesn’t identify with anything in this community,” he said. “I’m not a farmer, or a carpenter, or a salesman. “There aren’t many body guards around Prosper,” he added. Prosper is a nearby town with a population of 600. “But the folks around here are great,” he said. “Prosper is the first community I’ve lived in where I felt free to talk about my job.” Reflecting on his life, Howard said, “I achieved my goal (pro tecting the President),” he said. “I made it to the top, and saw most of the world while I was doing it.” Smiling, he said, “Now I’m happy right where I’m at.” BulIIIS MtllH Thursday Night Specials These homemade dishes are made from our own family recipes. Each dinner is served with fresh hot garlic bread. -OPEN SALAD BAR- Spaghetti Dinner Reg, 3.15 Lasagna Dinner Reg. 3.79 $029 P0B0YS, PASTRIES, FRESH BREAD Every Thursday Night 4-8 ADDED BONUS Present this coupon and get a free beverage with your dinner. Soft drinks - beer - wine 2700 Texas Ave. Bryan