My wealthy, rabidly Republican sister is still villifying the Clintons at every opportunity. Her latest is that she personally knows a person who knows a person who knows a person who was, for a while, the pilot of the Presidential helicopter and who often gossiped about the Clintons. According to this impecable source, Hillary used to scream at Bill, call him stupid and other less romantic names and even, on occasion, hit him about the head and shoulders. I put it down to Republican glurge, but it did make me wonder:
What would the Secret Service people do in the event of a family brawl? I understand the Secret Service people assigned to the Presidential detail are sworn to defend the POTUS even to the cost of their own lives—how could they NOT intervene to prevent a physical assualt, no matter who was perpetrating it? I asked my sister this question and she didn’t have an answer.
In this particular case, the Secret Service wasn’t likely to intervene unless they thought Hillary was armed. I mean, have you ever been anywhere near Bill Clinton? He had a 15-minute stop at the Florence, SC airport during the 1992 primary season; he got out and shook hands. He’s a BIG dude - I’d guess 6’2" or 6’3", and he’s never been a stringbean, though he’s slimmed down in recent years. He can physically defend himself against Hillary.
Can’t say I blame her for acting like that towards him if the story’s true. But it does amaze me that there are people out there who are still so obsessed with them. I mean, what do these people think they did to this country that they think was so bad? The farther away one gets, the more piddling all the stuff the VRWC made so much noise about, back then - Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica - clearly was. Especially now that we’ve got a contemporary standard of comparison. How is it, exactly, that these people still manage to keep a mad on about the Clintons?
The President are flown in a Marine Corps helicopter. Marines on that detail have never gossiped before, so I doubt they are now. Further, as an old Army man, I can promise you that helicopters are much too noisy to hear what the passengers are saying. The pilot wears one of those aviator helmets anyway.
Further I would suppose the VIP helicopter the Prez uses has a door between him and the crew.
On the other hand, early in the First Bill Administration there was a rumor much discussed on talk radio that H threw an ashtray (remember ashtrays? But I digress.) at B. The question was what the SS should do.
In any case, a good question, although I doubt this story very much.
It seems to me that if Laura slapped GWB the Secret Service would be obligated to hold the first lady for assaulting the president, whatever federal law that is, plus for simple assault, which under the District of Columbia Code is in section 22-404 .
Paul, I didn’t believe the story for a single moment. All the things you mention occurred to me, too. I think IF a member of the helicopter crew were to gossip, he/she would be in lots of trouble. I had forgotten the alleged ashtray incident. I was curious as to the response of the SS people IF the President were to be assaulted. I would think that those people are so well trained that they would jump in without considering the marital aspect. I told my sister the story was BS the moment I heard it.
That is one theory. A lot of this was talked about (again on talk radio, so you know it is all true) in light of supposed cocaine orgies held by Hollywood People in the White House.
The counterarguement is that the USSS cannot arrest people under those circumstances as the POTUS would then try to give them the slip when he wants some private time. It is better to have the President guarded even if it means a lawman must ignore a violation of the law.
They’re still jealous about that whole “peace and prosperity and competent leadership” thing, I’d wager. After all, eight years of Bill Clinton sure beats the snot out of 16 years of Nixon/Reagan/Bush Sr., and the righties can’t forgive that easily.
I never believe stories which purport to come from anyone who " personally knows a person who knows a person who knows a person who was, for a while, the …"
Interesting idea though - I wonder what would happen then if the first couple were into bondage and rough sex? Would the secret service shoot the whip from Mrs. President’s hand?
It is my own personal opinion that the pilot of the helicopter wouldn’t devuldge what saw if you had jumper cables clamped on to his 'nads. People assigned to these jobs take their responsibilities and confidences very seriously.
Also, I think anyone who raised his/her hand against the President would find themselves hog-tied on the floor before they could say “guh?” They may have to apologize for it later, but that wouldn’t stop them from doing it.
I think there’s a big difference between a husband-wife fight where one spouse my smack the other upside the head, and someone actually trying to hurt or kill the president. Hopefully, his bodyguards can tell such a difference.
Oh, thank you for that very very scare mental place… :eek: