History & Origins

The Secret Service was originally established in 1865, the same year that the slaves were freed, to suppress widespread counterfeiting after the Civil War — nearly one-third of U.S. currency was fake at the time.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the legislation to create the Secret Service just hours before his assassination.

The agency didn’t formally start protecting U.S. presidents until after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901. In Buffalo, New York, he was shot twice in the abdomen. It didn’t kill him right away. He became sick from infection, languishing in a hospital for 8 days before his death. If only he had been shot 27 years later, penicillin might have saved him.

Presidential Protection

Theodore Roosevelt was the first full-time protectee of the Secret Service.

Presidents, First Ladies, and other VIPs have code names assigned by the Secret Service. For example, Ronald Reagan was “Rawhide” and Barack Obama was “Renegade.”

Presidential candidates only receive Secret Service protection starting 120 days before the general election.

After the age of 16, children of sitting presidents no longer receive Secret Service protection.

Operations & Duties

The Secret Service has two major, different functions. It is responsible for both protection (presidents, dignitaries, etc.) and investigation (financial crimes, cyber threats, etc.).

The agency has agents stationed in over 20 countries.

The Secret Service investigates financial cybercrimes, like credit card fraud and identity theft.

The agency has canine units, employing highly trained dogs, particularly for explosives detection.

Training & Equipment

Agents undergo seven months of intensive training at the Secret Service training center in Maryland.

Just like CIA agents, Secret Service agents are trained in high-performance driving maneuvers to evade potential threats.

Agents often have emergency medical training to stabilize protectees in crisis situations.

Interesting Incidents

In 1902, just a year after the agency was created, agents stopped an assassination attempt against Theodore Roosevelt.

In 1981, Agent Timothy McCarthy took a bullet for President Reagan during an assassination attempt.

The Secret Service guards the nuclear football, the briefcase containing nuclear launch codes, at all times.

Technology & Gear

Some agents wear specially designed suits resistant to gunfire.

The presidential vehicle, often called “The Beast,” is heavily armored and equipped with oxygen supplies and blood bags matching the president’s blood type.

Agents use encrypted communication systems to stay connected during missions.

Cultural Impact

The Secret Service has been featured in films like In the Line of Fire, Olympus Has Fallen, and The Sentinel.

Besides plainclothes agents, there’s also a Uniformed Division for guarding major sites like the White House.

Unique Protocols

The agency often runs decoy convoys to confuse potential attackers.

Air Force One’s security is heavily coordinated by the Secret Service.

Agents may discourage presidents from excessive handshaking in crowded areas to minimize risks.

Uncommon Facts

Agents use code words like “Tripwire” (potential threat) and “Hammerdown” (mission success) as nicknames for threats.

They actively protect the U.S. financial infrastructure from counterfeit threats.

The Secret Service occasionally partners with the U.S. Marine Corps for rapid-response teams.

The agency frequently conducts covert surveillance missions.

Since 2013, all former U.S. presidents receive lifetime Secret Service protection.