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View From The Middle
Security for the Pope's visit here will be as tight as possible, according to Police Commissioner Ray-mond Kelly, especially in light of the "displeasure" shown last week by Osama bin Laden, who was generally irked by the fact that the Pontiff was making the trip at all. Kelly says there will be literally thousands of police deployed throughout the city, and that includes not only the elite of the Finest, but helicopters and K-9 units and underwater units and overwater units and, oh, yes, technologically sophisticated surveillance units the likes of which science fiction books are made. It didn't used to be that way. Although caution was always a primary concern - and the NYPD and federal enforcement agencies always were at probably more-than-necessary levels at the time - things radically changed since September 11, 2001, just as life in general has. I didn't get a chance to see Pope John Paul II when he visited in 1995; nor will I see the Pontiff this weekend, but I clearly remember covering many events surrounding the visit of Pope Paul VI when he spoke at the United Nations in 1965. Along with Pauline Frederick, NBC's chief U.N. correspondent at the time, I was mostly assigned to that world headquarters on the East River, although I was privileged to have seen His Holiness at Yankee Stadium from a 10-foot-tall balcony affair located almost 40 yards from the altar where he celebrated Mass. This was where all the cameras were located and, yes, it was just like in the movies, with all those huge, fat cameras and big zoom lenses peering out from this fortress-like "bump" in the middle of center field. But, peeking out from under one of those cameras was, uh, me. And I got a chance to see him and receive his blessing. As I said, my "normal" assignment was within the U.N. complex, setting things up for our coverage (after all, if I hadn't been there, who was going to get the coffee?). When His Holiness arrived, Ms. Frederick was among those privileged to be presented to him - I stayed in our broadcast booth about three stories up overlooking the General Assembly. Hey. Somebody had to answer the phones. Oh, sure, you can bet there was plenty of security around, including a couple of Secret Service (We called them "SS") guys with special lapel pins and sunglasses who patrolled the floor where all the studios are; but it was nothing compared to what will be going on during the visit of Pope Benedict. Unlike years ago, this weekend there will be sharpshooters on the tops of buildings and scuba divers in the East River. No chances will be taken. None. Oh, yes, our country was involved in Vietnam then, just like we are in Iraq now. President Lyndon Johnson had his hands full. And he hoped the Pontiff wouldn't bring up the subject in his U.N. talk, while knowing this man of peace could not avoid it and would condemn any action in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, we were also covering demonstrations around the U.N., including those by groups that had permits to hold rallies on the corner of 47th Street and 1st Avenue. We were especially pleased, however, when, upon leaving, Pope Paul VI gave a special blessing and a note of gratitude to the press, saying he "admired and respected" the media and hoped it "would not falter" in helping to bring the message of peace to the world.
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