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Originally Posted by elvis himselvis
No, they didn't enter the mansion itself...the route they took was as follows...(the following quote is taken from Dick Grob's book, "The Elvis Conspiracy?"):
"The casket was moved from its position in the entrance to the music room and placed in the foyer. It was lined up just inside the doorway to Graceland with the head of the casket pointing north. Preparations for the public viewing were now almost complete. This was to be the most trying of ordeals from a security standpoint. Sam and I had discussed the procedures over and over, trying to make sure we had covered all the bases.
Up until now, movements of Elvis's body had been unannounced and done with relative little publicity and completed in secret with plenty of escort for protection. Now, we were about to ask people to come close, to enter the confines of the estate and to approach close to the casket. Even under normal circumstances this would be a problem. Fans mobbed Elvis wherever he went but he loved every minute of it and he didn't want to ever lose that appeal or that respect. But things were not normal. Elvis was deceased and the fans were not there in the same fashion as before a concert. They were upset. They were hysterical in somce cases. They were not normal. Many had come from hudreds of miles away, some further. They were crying. They were sad. This was not to be a happy moment.
The showing of emotion under these circumstances was to be expected but we needed to be aware of the overly emotional person. That was to be expected also. We didn't want anyone throwing themselves onto the casket or disrupting the process for those who followed. Sam and I analyzed what needed to be done. We also felt that someone might want to take pictures which we did not wish to have happen. I was determined to not have his picture appear on the front page of some newspaper while he was laying in a coffin. That was my own personal failure out of this entire process. I rpotected Elvis from outsiders but thought that the "threat" would come from the inside from his own family. I quickly learned what a bunch of "turn coats" existed within the family.
Our first concern was to control the crowd. While they were all outside we had relative ease in controlling them. Once we opened the gates and invited them in, things could change. The crowd estimated by now to be approaching 100,000 was massive. Control could be very easily lost if it was allowed to slip for just one instance.
The "black and white" plan was set into motion. The front gate would be opened only wide enough to allow one person at a time to pass. The security detail on the gate would be "beefed" up, putting men on the pillars with speakers to announce the rules for entering. The men inside would channel those entering to the right side of the drive. Two barricades would be set outside the gate to channel those entering to come from the right side of the gate and allowing those leaving to exit to the left. This only worked partially especially after time began to run out for people to enter. Once inside they would be directed to pass up the drive along the right side by officers stationed along the way. Announcements would be made at the gate and just before making the turn toward the house that cameras would not be permitted and that they would be confiscated and the offenders ejected immediately. People were advised to leave their cameras outside, however they could leave them in the gate house but we were acceepting no responsibility. They were also advised that anyone getting off the drive onto the grass would be ejected. They were allowed to look at the flowers but to not touch.
As the line approached the house, another annoucement would be made showing that there would be no stopping on front of the casket. The line was allowed to walk up the front steps on the right side, walk past the front door and exit by the left side of the steps. A chain and stanchion type barrier was placed directly in front of the casket to prevent anyone from approaching closer than three feet. Once they had passed by the coffin they exited the estate by walking down the drive on the left side finally coming back to the front gate. There, entering people were stopped to allow those exiting to pass out the gates. The entire process we estimated would take a half hour from the time one entered until they left. We did not realize how close together the fans would stand in line as they made their way up to the house. At one point it took almost two hours to pass by the casket.
Vernon had originally said that he wanted to let the fans file by for two hours. This was the time we planned upon. Security was set on the casket itself. On either side of the door just outside the house were uniformed officers, one to each side. These officers were on the casket of the barrier set up. On the crowd side of the barrier stood two members of the Honor Guard, one to each side. Just inside the door were two other security people. Al Strada stood at the foot of the casket and Dean (Nichopolous) was at the head. Either man could move from his position tot he ouside area of the casket by taking one step. The United States flag and the Tennessee flag stood on stadards just outside the door. Four other members of the National Guard honor guard stood by the pillars at the top of the steps.
Thus I felt that no one could get to the casket. If anyone tried there were several "circles" of prevention and protection that would come into play. Al did not move from his position refusing any relief durring the entire time we allowed the public to pass. Al took this as a personal assignment and was not about to be denied for any reason. I believe that if we were still allowing fans to pass, he would still be standing there.
So the arrangements were set. Both Sam and I would be out front watching the crowd. All the officers were instructed to be watchful for anyone acting "crazy" or strange. Those individuals would be watched more closely as they approached the house. We reviewed the plans once more and could see no flaws that were apparent. We hoped and prayed it would work."
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I was just putting out some info I found .And, it was a horrible picture in the Enquirer. 
