Stringent Security in Effect Before State-of-Union Talk

Authorities enforced unusually strict security measures on Capitol Hill today, site of President Reagan’s State of the Union address to members of Congress, the Supreme Court and diplomatic corps.

With increasing concern about terrorist activities, threats from Libya and Christmastime attacks at two European airports, Capitol Hill police appeared to be taking special precautions for Reagan’s 8 p.m. EST speech.

Although authorities declined to specifically discuss security measures, congressional aides said they are the tightest in memory.

“Security is just getting tighter and tighter and tighter as people get more nervous,” said one aide who has worked on Capitol Hill for 25 years.

Explosion in 1983

Security was tightened considerably after a bomb exploded in the Capitol on Nov. 7, 1983. No one was injured, but the case has never been solved.

Most of the 1,200-member police force at the Capitol was to be on duty tonight, checking identifications and limiting access to the normally public building.

“It is the policy of this department never to discuss security matters on the Hill,” said Capitol police spokesman Lt. Jeffrey Zanotti.

Jack Russ, the House sergeant-at-arms, noted that security has changed “drastically” in the last five years.

“Five years ago, you had total access any time anywhere. Now you have to go through a metal detector; even the mail is X-rayed,” he said.

In the past, it has been common before joint sessions to have bomb-sniffing dogs walk through the galleries overlooking the House of Representatives, where Presidents address members of Congress, the Supreme Court justices, the diplomatic corps and many other dignitaries.

One Doesn’t Attend

The usual procedure is for all but one Cabinet member to attend the session. The one exception, whose identity is not disclosed before the speech, stays away in case of a catastrophe.

Authorities also appeared tense in the wake of a recent television broadcast on terrorism that implied that security at the Capitol was inadequate.

Harvey McGeorge, a terrorism consultant and former Secret Service member who was interviewed for the broadcast, has been critical of what he contends is poor security on Capitol Hill.

“Capitol Hill is a visible target,” McGeorge said in an interview.