DATE=4/23/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40138
TITLE=STARR/SECRET SERVICE
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR IS WAGING A LEGAL 
BATTLE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND TREASURY OVER WHETHER 
HE HAS THE RIGHT TO COMPEL TESTIMONY FROM SECRET SERVICE AGENTS 
IN THE PROBE INTO SEX AND PERJURY CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT 
CLINTON.  THE SECRET SERVICE HAS LONG MAINTAINED ITS 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR GUARDING THE PRESIDENT COULD BE COMPROMISED 
IF AGENTS WERE FORCED TO TELL ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AND HEAR DURING
THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS.  NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT JIM 
MALONE HAS MORE ON WHAT IS TURNING OUT TO BE A PROTRACTED LEGAL 
STRUGGLE.

TEXT:  THE SECRET SERVICE HAS A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY.  IT BEGAN 
UNDER THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT AS A SELECT UNIT TARGETING 
COUNTERFEITERS AND FORGERS.  FOLLOWING THE ASSASSINATION OF 
PRESIDENT WILLIAM MCKINLEY IN 1901, THE SECRET SERVICE TOOK ON A 
NEW ROLE -- PROTECTING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 

                   /// RADIO REPORTER ACT. ///

         WE UNDERSTAND THERE HAS BEEN A SHOOTING.  THE 
         PRESIDENTIAL CAR COMING UP NOW.  WE KNOW IT IS THE 
         PRESIDENTIAL CAR.  YOU CAN SEE MRS. KENNEDY'S PINK SUIT.
         THERE IS A SECRET SERVICE MAN SPREAD-EAGLED OVER THE TOP
         OF THE CAR.   (FADES)

                        /// END ACT. ///

THE SECRET SERVICE SUFFERED ITS MOST SEVERE SETBACK IN 1963 WHEN 
PRESIDENT JOHN KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED WHILE RIDING IN AN OPEN 
LIMOUSINE IN DALLAS, TEXAS.  IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE KENNEDY 
ASSASSINATION, THE SECRET SERVICE REVISED ITS SECURITY TECHNIQUES
AND PRIDES ITSELF AS THE FINEST PROTECTIVE SERVICE IN THE WORLD.

NOW, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL KENNETH STARR WANTS TO COMPEL SECRET 
SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY IN HIS ON-GOING PROBE INTO ALLEGATIONS 
OF SEX AND PERJURY INVOLVING PRESIDENT CLINTON AND FORMER WHITE 
HOUSE INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY.

THE DEPARTMENTS OF JUSTICE AND TREASURY OPPOSE THE REQUEST, 
FEARING THAT FORCING SECRET SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY ABOUT WHAT 
THEY SEE AND HEAR DURING THE PRESIDENT'S PRIVATE MOMENTS COULD 
COMPROMISE THEIR ABILITY TO PROTECT HIM.

FORMER UNDERSECRETARY OF THE TREASURY RON NOBLE SERVED EARLIER IN
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSAW THE SECRET SERVICE.  HE 
OPPOSES THE STARR REQUEST FOR TESTIMONY AND EXPLAINED WHY IN AN 
INTERVIEW ON THE N-B-C "TODAY" PROGRAM.  

                       /// NOBLE ACT. ///

         IN ORDER FOR THEM TO DO THEIR JOB, THEY NEED TO BE CLOSE
         TO THE PRESIDENT.  IN ORDER FOR THE PRESIDENT TO TRUST 
         THEM, THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY 
         WILL NOT REVEAL PRIVATE THINGS THEY SEE OR HEAR WHILE ON
         DUTY.

                        /// END ACT. ///

BUT KENNETH STARR HAS FILED PAPERS IN FEDERAL COURT ARGUING THE 
TESTIMONY OF SECRET SERVICE AGENTS COULD BE CRUCIAL IN HELPING 
HIM DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE PRESIDENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH 
MONICA LEWINSKY.  THAT IS A VIEW SUPPORTED BY A FORMER ASSOCIATE 
WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, ALAN RAUL, WHO 
WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED ON THE "TODAY" PROGRAM.

                        /// RAUL ACT. ///

         WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND THE 
         PUBLIC HAS A COMPELLING INTEREST IN A THOROUGH, 
         UNIMPEDED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.

                        /// END ACT. ///

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO FILED COURT PAPERS OPPOSING THE 
STARR REQUEST.  THOSE PAPERS INCLUDE A LETTER FROM FORMER 
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, WHO SAYS HE IS DEEPLY TROUBLED ABOUT THE 
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST MR. CLINTON, BUT OPPOSES FORCING SECRET 
SERVICE AGENTS TO TESTIFY.  THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS REMOVING 
THE GUARANTEE OF CONFIDENTIALITY COULD LEAD FUTURE PRESIDENTS TO 
DISTRUST THE AGENTS WHO GUARD THEM, AND THAT IN TURN COULD PUT 
THEM AT RISK.

/// OPT ///  ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO SAYS IT IS UNCLEAR IF 
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND MR. STARR WILL BE ABLE TO WORK OUT A 
COMPROMISE ON THE ISSUE OF SECRET SERVICE TESTIMONY.

                        /// RENO ACT. ///

         WE ARE ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THESE ISSUES 
         BY WORKING TOGETHER AND TALKING IT OUT.  I DO NOT KNOW 
         WHETHER WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVE THE 
         ISSUES BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY MY GOAL.

                        /// END ACT. ///

                         /// END OPT ///

THE GRAND JURY PROBING THE CLINTON ALLEGATIONS HAS HEARD 
TESTIMONY FROM A FORMER UNIFORMED SECRET SERVICE OFFICER WHO SAYS
THE PRESIDENT SPENT NEARLY AN HOUR ALONE WITH MONICA LEWINSKY IN 
THE OVAL OFFICE IN LATE 1995.

THE PRESIDENT HAS DENIED HE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MONICA
LEWINSKY AND SAYS HE NEVER TOLD ANYONE TO LIE ABOUT THE NATURE OF
THEIR RELATIONSHIP.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JBM/RAE

23-Apr-98 1:39 PM EDT (1739 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.