The Secret Service
In going through the Today in History pages, I learned that it was in this day in 1995 (16 years ago) that President Clinton closed the circle around the White House to traffic as a security measure. This made me wonder because in the days of James K. Polk, office seekers just wandered into the White House and there was no such thing as security. Presidents routinely went for a walk around Washington and Franklin Pierce tore around the streets in his carriage. Lincoln was concerned about assassination when he was elected and he came into the city in disguise, with Allen Pinkerton as his body guard. When he gave his inaugural address, General Winfield Scott posted troops all around the city.
After the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains a key mission of the United States Secret Service. Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
The President, the Vice President, the President-elect, and the Vice President-elect
The immediate families of the above individuals
Former Presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes except when the spouse divorces or remarries. In 1997, legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former Presidents and their spouses for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former President leaves office
The widow or widower of a former President who dies in office or dies within a year of
leaving office for a period of 1 year after the President's death (the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the protection time)
Children of former Presidents until age 16 or until 10 years after the presidency, whichever comes first
Former Vice Presidents, their spouses, and their children under age 16 for a period of not more than 6 months from the date the former Vice President leaves office (the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the protection time)
Visiting heads of states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad whom the president deems important enough for protection outside the Diplomatic Security Service
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates
The spouses of major presidential and vice presidential candidates (within 120 days of a general presidential election)
Other individuals as designated per executive order of the President
National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of Homeland Security
Any of these individuals can decline Secret Service protection, with the exception of the President, the Vice President, the President-elect, and the Vice President-elect.
When Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State in 2009, the Secret Service continued to protect her in her personal capacity, however the Diplomatic Security Service protects her while she is performing her duties as the Secretary, to include any foreign travel.
The Secret Service investigates thousands of incidents a year of individuals threatening the President of the United States.
After the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains a key mission of the United States Secret Service. Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
The President, the Vice President, the President-elect, and the Vice President-elect
The immediate families of the above individuals
Former Presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes except when the spouse divorces or remarries. In 1997, legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former Presidents and their spouses for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former President leaves office
The widow or widower of a former President who dies in office or dies within a year of
leaving office for a period of 1 year after the President's death (the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the protection time)
Children of former Presidents until age 16 or until 10 years after the presidency, whichever comes first
Former Vice Presidents, their spouses, and their children under age 16 for a period of not more than 6 months from the date the former Vice President leaves office (the Secretary of Homeland Security can extend the protection time)
Visiting heads of states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad whom the president deems important enough for protection outside the Diplomatic Security Service
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates
The spouses of major presidential and vice presidential candidates (within 120 days of a general presidential election)
Other individuals as designated per executive order of the President
National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of Homeland Security
Any of these individuals can decline Secret Service protection, with the exception of the President, the Vice President, the President-elect, and the Vice President-elect.
When Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State in 2009, the Secret Service continued to protect her in her personal capacity, however the Diplomatic Security Service protects her while she is performing her duties as the Secretary, to include any foreign travel.
The Secret Service investigates thousands of incidents a year of individuals threatening the President of the United States.