[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 152 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E966]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING COLONEL ROBERT W. RUST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NEAL P. DUNN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2026

  Mr. DUNN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Colonel 
Robert W. Rust, whose actions helped prevent an assassination attempt 
on President John F. Kennedy before he took the oath of office.
  Colonel Rust passed away on September 1, 2024, in Florida at the age 
of 96. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in March of 
2025.
  Colonel Rust had a long career in public service and law enforcement, 
serving as a Marine Patrol Officer for the City of Miami; Assistant 
U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice for the Southern District 
of Florida; Chief Assistant County Prosecutor; State Representative for 
the Palm Beach and Martin Counties in the Florida House of 
Representatives; and U.S. Attorney for the Department of Justice for 
the Southern District of Florida from 1969 to 1977 before returning to 
privately practice law until his retirement in 1989. These are only a 
few of his many accomplishments and positions over his long life.
  In December 1960, during his time as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the 
Department of Justice, he used his authority to protect the then 
President-Elect John Fitzgerald Kennedy by intercepting the attempted 
assassin Richard Paul Pavlick.
  After his Presidential win, Kennedy vacationed at his family's estate 
in Palm Beach, Florida. Richard Pavlick followed Kennedy from New 
England to Florida, planning to carry out a suicide car bombing 
targeting the 35th President. Pavlick waited for an opportunity when 
Kennedy would not be with his wife, Jacqueline, and their two young 
children.
  Acting on a tip from Postmaster Thomas Murphy of Belmont, New 
Hampshire, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rust and John Marshall, Agent 
in Charge of the Secret Service for South Florida, intercepted Pavlick 
after he was detained by Palm Beach motorcycle police officer Lester 
Free for a traffic infraction. Agent Marshall persuaded Pavlick to sign 
a consent-to-search form, which led to the discovery that his car was 
filled with dynamite. Rust had traced Pavlick's purchase of the 
dynamite to New Hampshire, uncovering that Pavlick had followed 
President-elect Kennedy to Florida with the intent to assassinate him.
  Assistant U.S. Attorney Rust subsequently charged Pavlick federally 
with attempting to bomb a church, which had recently become a federal 
crime. At that time, it was not yet a federal crime to murder or 
threaten a President or President-elect; previous assassinations had 
been prosecuted only under state law. Rust and Marshall also persuaded 
Pavlick to sign a consent form to search his motel room. After 
obtaining his signed consent, they discovered a manifesto detailing his 
intent to assassinate Kennedy.
  Around this time, the Secret Service detail assigned to Kennedy's 
Florida visit checked into a hotel across the street. Kennedy was 
scheduled to arrive in Palm Beach the following day. Rust and Marshall 
then walked the handcuffed Pavlick over to the Secret Service. Pavlick 
was ultimately committed to an institution after it was determined that 
he had a history of mental illness.
  This attempt on President Kennedy's life is often overlooked due to 
an airline accident that occurred the same day and, of course, because 
of his tragic death nearly three years later.
  Rust received the Secret Service Treasury Department Award of Merit 
in 1964, as well as a letter of commendation from U.S. Secret Service 
Chief U.E. Baughman.
  In 1961, at the beginning of the 87th Congress, Public Law 87-829 was 
introduced and passed the following year, extending Secret Service 
protection to include Presidents-elect, Vice Presidents-elect, former 
presidents, and their families--considering the threat the previous 
December.
  Without Colonel Rust's efforts, Pavlick could have inflicted great 
harm on the future President and innocent Americans around him, I am 
proud to honor his legacy with these remarks today.

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