Dear Editor:

You may recall a few months back a documentary on TV featuring a White House Detail of the Secret Service, showing the extraordinary lengths to which they go to protect the president.

When the president has to go somewhere, the Secret Service is with him all the way. When he returns to the White House, the agents breathe a sigh of relief because they believe that he is 100 percent secure only in the executive mansion.

Then, all of a sudden, we learn to our absolute horror that this is not true; an intruder scaled the fence in 29 seconds, made his way to the front door, found it unlocked and walked in. Then we are told of an armed man with a criminal record riding in an elevator with the president.

Further, housekeepers discovered seven bullet holes in the outside walls of the White House living quarters, which came as shocking news to the Secret Service, which clings to the belief that the White House remains the safest place of all for the president to be.

I think not.

John VanOrsdell
Boothbay Harbor