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U. E. Baughman

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Urbanus Edmund Baughman (1905 - 1978)[1] was the chief of the United States Secret Service between 1948 and 1961, under Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy.

Baughman was the first Secret Service Chief to pen a memoir concerning the office he held, which was entitled Secret Service Chief which was a veritable tell-all on the intricacies and inner workings of the Secret Service and it's evolution from a counterfeit detection department to the presidential protection unit.

Baughman was interviewed by Time Magazine and in an article dated April 20, 1953 he described the Secret Service's biggest fear as, "escaped mental patients who bear grudges against the President or the Government."[2] Baughman admitted that in 1952 the United States Secret Service handled 2535 presidential protection cases. Of these cases, 74 resulted in arrests, and 72 of those were sent to prison or mental institutions.[2]

Baughman gave a description of the job of the president to the senate appropriations committee:

"[The President] cannot have what is considered a normal life, home or family relationship. He has no choice as to where he lives. He is a focal point for public and world attention. He is a slave to his office, being obliged to serve his country without cease at all hours and every day of the year. He can have very little privacy. If he has young children, they are largely governed by protocol and cannot enjoy the freedom of the White House as they would a normal home."[2]

Mr. Baughman appeared on the show "What's My Line," during the 1950s (exact date unknown), the week before he was to be honored by the White House and would appear in "Life Magazine."

Government offices
Preceded by Chief, United States Secret Service
November 29, 1948 - August 31, 1961
Succeeded by


References