The Chairman. Well, they didn't do that here, did they?
Mr. Rowley. No, sir.
The Chairman. They went to the beatnik joint.
Mr. Rowley. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Now, is that consistent with their duty?
Mr. Rowley. No; it is not consistent or inconsistent with their duty. But as they explained to me, they wanted to get a breath of fresh air. If they are at a residence in a remote place, and they want to walk around the area, they might walk maybe a city block or so, which is what they do on a lot of these assignments—particularly in hotels. This was not an air-conditioned hotel.
The Chairman. It would seem to me that a beatnik joint is a place where queer people of all kinds gather anyway, and that the mere fact that these men did leave their post of duty might be an indication to someone that the President was not being protected, and might leave an opening for them to go there and try to do something.
Mr. Rowley. They were relieved, Mr. Chief Justice. They didn't leave their post of duty. They would not leave their post of duty until they were relieved by someone.
The Chairman. As I understood the report, they said they left for a coffee break.
Mr. Rowley. Well, it is an expression. They left to have coffee, sir.