Marshall Fields (White House intruder)
Encyclopedia
Marshall Fields was involved in a 1974 Christmas Day
intrusion into the grounds of the White House
complex. Although he eventually surrendered, Fields threatened White House security during negotiations that lasted for four hours. Along with an intrusion by Robert K. Preston
in February of the same year, this incident sparked a security review by the U.S. Secret Service
.
were oriented against intrusions by individuals and assassin
s. As a prelude to Fields's breach of security, in February 1974, Private Robert K. Preston
, a U.S. Army
helicopter
mechanic
, managed to steal a military helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland
. He briefly touched down in the South Lawn after flying over the Executive Mansion. In addition, in 1973, another individual had attempted to crash his vehicle through the White House gates.
On December 25, 1974, Marshall Fields crashed his Chevrolet Impala
into the Northwest Gate of the White House complex. Dressed in Arab
clothing, Fields claimed that he was the Messiah
and that he was laden with explosives. He drove up to the North Portico and positioned himself only several feet from the front door. After four hours of negotiations, Fields surrendered. The explosives he claimed to be in possession of were discovered to be flare
s. President
Gerald Ford
and his family were not home at the time.
As a result of this attack, the Secret Service began to review their security measures. Although spokesperson George Cosper claimed that the White House's security was adequate, the 19th century wrought iron
gates were replaced in 1976. Later that year, Stephen B. Williams attempted to drive his pickup truck
into these new gates. Although the front of his truck suffered damage, the gate held. Since then, several others have attempted, but none have succeeded in mimicking these attacks.
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
intrusion into the grounds of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
complex. Although he eventually surrendered, Fields threatened White House security during negotiations that lasted for four hours. Along with an intrusion by Robert K. Preston
Robert K. Preston
At 2 A.M. on February 17, 1974, Robert K. Preston, a United States Army private first class, stole a United States Army UH-1 Iroquois helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland, flew it to Washington, D.C., and hovered for six minutes over the White House before descending on the south lawn, about...
in February of the same year, this incident sparked a security review by the U.S. Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
.
Incident
The White House's physical security measures following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were oriented against intrusions by individuals and assassin
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s. As a prelude to Fields's breach of security, in February 1974, Private Robert K. Preston
Robert K. Preston
At 2 A.M. on February 17, 1974, Robert K. Preston, a United States Army private first class, stole a United States Army UH-1 Iroquois helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland, flew it to Washington, D.C., and hovered for six minutes over the White House before descending on the south lawn, about...
, a U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
, managed to steal a military helicopter from Fort Meade, Maryland
Fort Meade, Maryland
Fort Meade is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home to the National Security Agency, which is located on the US Army post Fort George G...
. He briefly touched down in the South Lawn after flying over the Executive Mansion. In addition, in 1973, another individual had attempted to crash his vehicle through the White House gates.
On December 25, 1974, Marshall Fields crashed his Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
into the Northwest Gate of the White House complex. Dressed in Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
clothing, Fields claimed that he was the Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
and that he was laden with explosives. He drove up to the North Portico and positioned himself only several feet from the front door. After four hours of negotiations, Fields surrendered. The explosives he claimed to be in possession of were discovered to be flare
Flare (pyrotechnic)
A flare, also sometimes called a fusee, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a brilliant light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for signalling, illumination, or defensive countermeasures in civilian and military applications...
s. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
and his family were not home at the time.
As a result of this attack, the Secret Service began to review their security measures. Although spokesperson George Cosper claimed that the White House's security was adequate, the 19th century wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
gates were replaced in 1976. Later that year, Stephen B. Williams attempted to drive his pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
into these new gates. Although the front of his truck suffered damage, the gate held. Since then, several others have attempted, but none have succeeded in mimicking these attacks.
External links
- Security in the Nation’s Capital and the Closure of Pennsylvania Avenue: An Assessment — By Bruce Hoffman and Peter Chalk. Copyright 2002 RAND.
- Protection of the White House Complex in the Twentieth Century — By the Peace Park Vigil of Proposition 1.