James Joseph Rowley (October 14, 1908 – November 1, 1992) was the head of the United States Secret Service between 1961 and 1973,[1] under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.

James Joseph Rowley
Rowley being sworn-in as Secret Service Chief, 1961
14th Director of the United States Secret Service
In office
September 1, 1961 – October 1973
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Nixon
Preceded byU.E. Baughman
Succeeded byH. Stuart Knight
Personal details
Born(1908-10-14)October 14, 1908
Bronx County, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 1992(1992-11-01) (aged 84)
Leisure World, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeGate of Heaven Cemetery
Silver Spring, Maryland
Spouse
Mabel Rita Cluen
(m. 1940)
Children3
Parent(s)James J. Rowley
Bridget Theresa McTeague

Rowley was born in Bronx County, New York to James J. Rowley and Bridget Theresa McTeague.[2] His parents were Irish immigrants who met in New York City and were married in Manhattan.[2]

Rowley began working for the Secret Service in 1938 during the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, after first joining the FBI in 1936. On June 18, 1964, Rowley provided testimony to the Warren Commission investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy.[3] After the assassination, Secret Service training was regularized and systematized. The James J. Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Maryland is named after him. Rowley died of congestive heart failure at his home in Leisure World, Maryland.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Saxon, Wolfgang (November 3, 1992). "James Rowley, 84, Who Headed Secret Service and Reorganized It". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Rowley, James J. (September 20, 1988). "Oral History Interview with James J. Rowley; Secret Service agent in charge of the White House detail during the Truman Administration" (Interview). Interviewed by Neil M. Johnson. Kensington, Maryland. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
  3. ^ "Testimony of James J. Rowley". Hearings Before the President's Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Volume V. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office. 1964. pp. 449–486.
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Preceded by Chief, United States Secret Service
September 1, 1961 – 1965
Succeeded by
Himself (as Director)
Preceded by
Himself (as Chief)
Director, United States Secret Service
1965 – October 1973
Succeeded by