Witness To History

0700  Got up. Stiff back. Felt lousy,

0830  Before we left for wreath ceremony, bombs exploded. USAF general had both legs broken.

0930  Went to the tomb anyway. Seven-foot wreath.

1030  Returned. Talks with Shah. 

1200  Luncheon

1400  Departure. 

1600  Moved out of Palace.

I was not feeling well, when I got up. I put on a heavy terrycloth bathrobe, with an Iranian Imperial Seal on the breast pocket. Two robes were put in the room for Duncan and me. After showering and shaving, I felt better. I put on my full dress, white uniform and went to get the President. When we got to the car, there was a lot of excitement. Three bombs had exploded in Tehran. The most recent one, reportedly made of two sticks of dynamite, went off one hundred yards from the tomb where the President was going. In another incident, Brigadier General Harold Price, a U.S. adviser in Tehran, was in a car that struck an explosive device in the roadway. Both his legs were broken and an Iranian woman, who was standing nearby, was killed. The third bomb went off in an alley near the U.S. Information Service office. Agent Taylor thought the situation was too dangerous for the President and wanted to cancel plans for the Wreath Laying Ceremony. We delayed our departure for forty-five minutes, while the Shah’s staff was consulted and the Secret Service got more information. The Shah sent his brother over to the palace to go to the tomb with the President. If the President canceled the event, it would appear the Shah was incapable of providing adequate security, in his own capitol. To avoid embarrassment to the Shah, the President made the decision to go to the tomb. We left in a high-speed motorcade, with motorcycle escorts. 

We got to the tomb of Reza Shah the Great, forty-five minutes later. When we arrived, we were greeted at the entrance to the compound and walked to the fountain, where the wreath was waiting. The President paused at the fountain, while the General and I went forward and picked up the wreath. The small wreath we had requested turned out to be more than seven feet tall. We went through the door to the mausoleum, ahead of the President and worked our way down the narrow curved stairs, with the wreath. At the bottom of the stairs, we helped the President place the wreath at the tomb. After adjusting the ribbon, the President stepped back two paces. The general and I stepped back to either side and saluted, while trumpeters played. Then the President moved to the tomb of the Shah’s brother, Ali Reza, and paused. We went back up the stairs and the President signed the Visitor’s Book. From the mausoleum, we walked toward the gate. A crowd was gathering just outside the gate where the cars were waiting. I was walking, just to the left and behind the President. 

When we got closer to the gate, Agent Taylor said to me, “Anything happens! You get on his back and I’ll get in front of him. We’ll move him right into the car. Don’t stop for anything!” 

I nodded, that I understood. At that point, I realized there might be more to the aide job, than I had anticipated! The crowd made some noise, but fortunately nothing happened. We quickly got into the cars and left. 

While the President was at the Tomb, Mrs. Nixon went to Niavaran Palace, where she had tea with the Empress, Mrs. Farland and Mrs. Alam, before touring a children’s library. When the President got back to Saadabad Palace, the Shah was waiting and the two leaders adjourned to the main floor office to talk. I quickly changed into a khaki uniform and went back to the office. Ten minutes after I returned, the President came to the door and called me in. He asked the Shah what he would like to drink. When the Shah replied orange juice, the President turned to me and said, “Commander, would you have someone bring us two glasses of orange juice?”

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