Former Secretary Of State Selected For Additional Screening

For many of us, it would be difficult not to recognize former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and central figure in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. But apparently, a TSA screener at LaGuardia Airport in New York City did not ... and pulled Kissinger out of a security line for additional screening even after asking his name.

The Washington Post reports that Kissinger was in a wheelchair ... he is 88 years old ... when the incident occurred. Kissinger had requested the wheelchair because of the long walk to the gate area. A freelance reporter recognized the former secstate and related the story to the paper. The reporter said Kissinger was standing near the wheelchair, with his jacket off, being subjected to a full TSA pat-down.

TSA recently began a pilot program that allows some passengers 75 and older to keep their shoes and jackets on during the screening process, but they must go through additional screening if an alarm sounds while they are clearing security.

FMI: www.tsa.gov