The Not-So-Secret Service

Agency Tales from FDR to the Kennedy Assassination to the Reagan Era

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One of JFK's Secret Service Agent Drivers Died Shortly Before The Kennedy Assassination

Ponder this incredible thought for a moment: out of literally thousands of Secret Service agents who have come and gone since the inception of the agency in 1865, encompassing part or all of three different centuries (the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty first, to be precise), only 36 operatives/agents/personnel have died in the line of duty. Fortunately for all concerned, this is an extremely small number of unfortunate souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. However, what makes this tiny sampling even more powerful is the fact that, as I discovered in 1997, one very special agent, Thomas B. Shipman, one of three agents who drove President Kennedy or his Secret Service follow-up vehicle on many trips between Election Night 1960 and the Fall of 1963, died 10/14/63 of an alleged heart attack at (of all places) Camp David, the month before the Kennedy assassination

I made this shocking discovery when perusing a passage buried in Col. George J. McNally's obscure and non-indexed book entitled, A Million Miles of Presidents. The relevant passage reads, "One of the President's drivers, Tom Shipman, died suddenly." I cannot convey how amazing this bit of information was back in 1997 (and still is today), as no other book, article or website ever even hinted of an agent from Kennedy's own detail passing away shortly before the assassination. In the chronology of McNally's narrative, after discussing the death of baby Patrick Kennedy (Aug. 1963) and the 11-state "Conservation Tour" (late September 1963), this would seem to indicate a time period of around Sept. 1963 for Shipman's death. McNally also mentions the death of Administrative Officer Frank Sanderson who died in May 1963, as verified by a quick internet search at Ancestry.Com and other sites. Strangely, no death for a "Tom" or "Thomas" Shipman was listed at the time for 1963. However, Secret Service SA (Special Agent) Tom Shipman was on the "Conservation Tour," as Office-of-the-Naval-Aide records for this trip reveal. In fact, Shipman rode on Helicopter #2 from the South Lawn of the White House on the way to Andrews Air Force Base on 9/24/63 with Ken O'Donnell, SA Gerald Blaine, SA PaulBurns, and SA William Greer.

Also, Shipman is listed in the Protective Survey Report (written 9/20/63) for the 9/24/63 Milford, PA stop. Previously, Shipman had been on JFK's 3/23/63 trip to Chicago, IL, driving the follow-up car. Secret Service agent Sam Kinney told me on 4/15/94: "[fellow agent/driver] Deeter B. [Flohr, Ike's driver] and I were buddies – traveled a lot together; Tom Shipman, Deeter B., and myself." Former agent Darwin Horn wrote to me on 2/25/04: "Shipman was a driver for many years with Dick Flore [sic] and Morgan Gies."

If that weren't enough, it also appears that there were two new additions to the regular White House Garage (chauffeur) detail in Oct.-Nov. 1963: SA Henry J. Rybka, attending Treasury School from 11/1/63 to 11/8/63 and who would go on to be called away from Kennedy's limousine by Agent Emory Roberts at Love Field, and SA Andrew M. Hutch, who did not join the detail until 11/18/63, having previously been a White House Policeman. They joined veterans SA Samuel A. Kinney; SA George W. Hickey; SA William R. Greer; Special Officer (SO/Uniformed Division) William C. Davis; WH Policeman James M. Carter, and SAIC Morgan L. Gies. From the record, then, it appeared Shipman died suddenly sometime between October 3 and November 1, 1963.

It would be nice to have the travel logs for this period, but the Secret Service destroyed them in January 1995. From the Final Report of the Assassination Records Review Board, page 149: "In January 1995, the Secret Service destroyed presidential protection survey reports for some of President Kennedy's trips in the fall of 1963. The Review Board learned of the destruction approximately one week after the Secret Service destroyed them, when the Board was drafting its request for additional information. The Board believed that the Secret Service files on the President's travel in the weeks preceding his murder would be relevant."

Why the destruction? No satisfactory answer was ever given, although many hold deep suspicion.

Where is Shipman's death certificate? At present, it is unavailable and, without an exhumation and toxicology tests, at this late juncture, a verdict of "heart attack" is a country doctor 'catch-all' that is unsatisfactory and inconclusive, given the subject at hand (a presumably fit Secret Service agent who had to pass annual physicals and perform the rare honor of driving several presidents).

This was the extent of my knowledge from 1997 until 1999, when I came across an online website dedicated to fallen officers that, for the first time ever, listed Shipman's death and his middle initial and, most importantly, on 7/26/01, when I discovered, once again via the internet, The Association of Former Agents of the Secret Service's website (the organization goes by the abbreviation AFAUSSS). It listed 33 (now, 36) agents and personnel who have died in the line of duty since the Secret Service was established. The only JFK-era agent listed is White House Garage/Chauffeur Special Agent Thomas B. Shipman: "October 14, 1963: Died of a heart attack while on a presidential protective assignment at Camp David, Maryland." It was not until 2013, thanks to the help of researcher Deb Galentine, that an obscure news article was found that mentioned the death of Shipman (The News, Frederick, Maryland, 10/16/63). After a coroner's report furnished the day after his death, Shipman was quickly buried only two days later. Obviously, no toxicology tests were performed. In the last couple of years, I have discovered similar newspaper articles, more data, and new information from surviving members of Shipman's family. More on thisto follow.

Shipman's death meant fellow agent Bill Greer very ineptly drove JFK to his death in Dallas and Shipman's immediate replacement, Henry J. Rybka, fresh from Treasury School, was recalled at Love Field by the aforementioned Emory Roberts. Former agent Gerald Blaine told me on 2/7/04 that Kinney, Shipman, and Greer were "the three consistent ones" that drove JFK's car (commenting that Greer "usually" did), adding that Shipman and Kinney also drove the follow- up car. Former agent Winston Lawson wrote to me in a letter dated 1/20/04: "Tom Shipman, also a driver, died of a heart attack while up at Camp David, prior to retirement. I don't know the year and couldn't find out. I believe Sam Kinney found his body. They would have roomed together in one of the cabins up there."

Shipman's passing just a month before Dallas puts him in very special and tragic company: three agents who have died in the 21st century; the six who died tragically in the 4/19/95 Oklahoma City bombing; five other agents who died in the 1990's; eight in the 1980's; two in the 1970's (including J. Clifford Dietrich, who died in a helicopter crash on 5/26/73); another one in the 1960's, Thomas Wooge, on 10/17/68 (he also briefly guarded JFK); Leslie Coffelt, the Uniformed Division officer who died on 11/1/50 during the Truman assassination attempt involving a few agents who later guarded JFK; one in the 1940's; four in the 1930's; two in the 1920's; and two in the period from 1900-1910. That's a very small and sad group, indeed.

JFK and LBJ advance man Marty Underwood, on the ill-fated Texas trip, told author Harry Livingstone: "There were a couple of suicides in the thing, with the Secret Service and everything ..." When Livingstone asked "Do you remember who committed suicide?" Underwood responded: "I don't remember. I think there were a couple ...," only to be cut off by Livingstone. Also, an unnamed agent took his own life "in the late Sixties, in Washington, with his own weapon. There were signs he was beginning to buckle," as former agent Chuck Rochner explained to fellow former agent Marty Venker. Former agent Darwin Horn wrote to me in an e-mail dated 3/2/04: "I cannot recall the name of the SA who killed himself in the late 60's. I seem to recall something of that nature occurring though."

The above is a very good updated summation of what I presented in my first book. Since publication, more information and evidence has flown forth to add to the mystery. Former agent Gerald Blaine has a photo of Shipman in his 2010 book The Kennedy Detail, yet, strangely, although he is much aware of my writings online (after all, as I have strenuously argued, his entire book is a reaction to my work), he does not actually mention Shipman once (or even address his untimely death) in the actual text of his book; the same goes for Clint Hill's multiple books or, for that matter, all other books out there to date! Researcher Tyler Newcomb, the son of author Fred Newcomb of Murder from Within fame, wrote to me on 2/5/14: "I got a private eye to try and look into any information on him (Shipman). He apparently died of a heart attack and his widow Jacqueline just plain disappeared from what I found. No trace whatsoever after the funeral. Shipman had 2 brothers I believe and both are deceased." While I found several similar contemporary news articles mentioning Shipman's death (all only available after paying a fee and searching the archives), Tyler was kind enough to forward this information on to me, as well:

From the Associated Press, "White House Chauffeur Dies at Camp David," Washington Post, October 16, 1963, p.C9

"Thomas Shipman, 51, one of President Kennedy's Secret Service drivers, died Monday at the presidential retreat at nearby Camp David. The cause of death was not immediately determined pending a coroner's report.

Mr. Shipman, a native of Washington, was a District policeman from 1936 until 1950 when he transferred to the White House police force. He became a Secret Service agent in 1954.

Mr. Shipman occasionally drove the President's limousine, but, more normally, drove the carload of Secret Service agents who follow directly behind the President.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, of the home address, 3817 Van Ness St. NW."

Researcher Deb Galentine, whose father was a former police detective and CIA operative who guarded JFK, wrote to me in February 2014: "I, too, think Shipman had a heart attack. I think it's probable he was 'heart attacked' [intelligence method of assassination that, ostensibly, leaves the victim as a "natural cause" statistic]. I think if he was 'heart attacked,' it was because he refused to do what Greer did – slow down to a near stop as soon as the signal happened.

Shipman's death could have been a "natural early death." It happens. But the records show JFK was at the White House, so why the Secret Service were at Camp David needs to be addressed." Here is what Galentine is referring to:

Galentine added: "That letter sets up an appointment, a time for photos with the President, an ambassador, and photographers. Noon. 10/14/63. The letter was written on the 11th."

10/14/63 Stanley Tretick photo: JFK Jr, under dad's desk during serious Oval Office discussion.

No statement from JFK or the White House about the death of Shipman!

Actual handwritten records of President Kennedy's schedule, obtained via the JFK Library – again, no mention of the death of Shipman.

The curmudgeonly President Nixon expressed his sympathies to this fallen agent's family in 1973, even sending the First Lady and their one daughter to pay their respects at the funeral ... yet nothing whatsoever was said or done by either President Kennedy or his staff in 1963 about Agent Shipman? Is this even believable?

New information was gleaned from unsolicited contacts from Shipman's family in 2015. Christine Jones, Shipman's niece, wrote to me on 10/3/15:

Thank you for your coverage of Tom Shipman, my uncle. I just discovered your site and thought that you may find the following information helpful.

Jacqueline was my mother's older sister and went by "Jackie." She grew up in Pittsburgh, and her maiden name was Maglaughlin. Her parents lived at 7004 Meade Place in Pittsburgh until her mother, Marion E. Maglaughlin died in July of 1975.

Uncle Tom and Aunt Jackie had a daughter named Laura, who was approximately five years old when her dad died. Jackie and Laura later moved to Colorado where Laura still lives and works under the name Laura Shipman-Hamblin. Jackie was Tom's second wife. Laura knew Tom's children from his first marriage, and I guess that they are in their 60's or 70's.

Tom and my arents are deceased now so I can only share what I remember my mom telling me about Uncle Tom's death. I hope that this information is helpfumother were going to meet for dinner the day that JFK came to Dallas. (My mom and dad moved to Texas in 1950 and Dallas was our home.) Prior to the scheduled dinner with my mom, Tom expressed concern to her that JFK refused to use the protective bubble for the car to ensure his safety. During their phone conversation, Tom said that he was prepared to pull quickly out of the motorcade and do whatever was necessary to protect JFK if anything was to happen.

When my mom received the call that Tom had died, she was shocked. According to Aunt Jackie, Tom had received a clean bill of health for his annual physical the month before his death. Aunt Jackie told my mom that after Tom had eaten lunch at Camp David, he told others that he did not feel well and went to take a nap. Sometime during the nap, he suffered a heart attack. The fact that no autopsy was ordered, and that

Aunt Jackie was encouraged to bury Tom quickly, seemed strange.

Aunt Jackie and my pl to your ongoing research.

In a follow-up message the next day, Christine Jones wrote:

I am happy to clarify the highlighted areas in your e-mail message. Please note that the information that I shared was based on conversations that my mother, (Josephine) shared with me as an adult. Unfortunately, she passed away 9 years ago.

The following information is what I remember from conversations with my mother, Josephine Maglaughlin-Leonard:

Tom Shipman called his sister-in-law, Josephine Maglaughlin-Leonard (Jackie Shipman's younger sister and only sibling) when he found out that he would be in Dallas with JFK. The exact date of that phone call is not known but it was before Tom went to Camp David. It was during this same call that Tom expressed his concern to Josephine about JFK refusing to use the protective bubble and that he was prepared to quickly pull out of the motorcade if anything was to happen.

Josephine was looking forward to meeting Tom for dinner when he was in Dallas since she had not seen him in 10 years.

Jackie called her sister, Josephine to tell her that Tom died at Camp David. During that conversation, Jackie told Josephine that there would not be an autopsy and that she was encouraged to bury Tom quickly. My mother (Josephine) said that Tom had received his annual physical a month earlier and received a clean bill of health. (I can't verify the timing of Tom's annual physical.) Josephine stated that Tom's death came as a shock to her and her sister, Jackie.

The details that I outlined in the e-mail was information that Josephine (my mother) shared with me when I was an adult. I did not ask my mother for specific dates or timing regarding the circumstances she described to me. Also, I never met my uncle and only learned about him through my mother, Josephine. She held Tom Shipman in high regard and said that JFK would have survived if Tom had been the driver that day in Dallas.

I hope that this information is helpful and provides some clarification.

On 10/6/15, I had a nice conversation with Laura Shipman, Tom Shipman's youngest daughter. She corroborated and did not dispute anything her cousin Christine Jones (her father's niece) had to say; no wet blankets. She also said her older sister always criticized Greer. Their father has a box of items that she was going to look through and scan for me, as well. In addition, her brother said her dad thought that JFK would be killed one day! It is true that Tom Shipman knew of JFK's upcoming Dallas trip, had planned to be part of it, and arranged a dinner meeting with his sister in law Josephine who lived in Dallas since 1950. Josephine was Christine Jones' mother. One more thing – she also views it as suspicious that her father was quickly buried and corroborates Christine that her mother was urged to bury him quickly! She also said that, when her father passed away, Kennedy's personal physician, Dr. George Burkley, took care of everything.

Some would add that Dr. Burkley "took care of everything" after observing Kennedy's body at both Parkland and Bethesda Hospitals ...