The United States Secret Service

 
PROTECTION


Our Protective Mission:

After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains the primary mission of the United States Secret Service.

Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:

•the President, the Vice President, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the President-elect and Vice President-elect; •the immediate families of the above individuals; •former Presidents, their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse re-marries. In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former Presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former President leaves office. •children of former presidents until age 16; •visiting heads of foreign 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; •major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general Presidential election.


Certain Secret Service protective methods are generally the same for all individuals protected. Permanent protectees, such as the President and the First Lady, have details of special agents assigned to them for a 3 to 5. Temporary protectees, such as candidates and foreign dignitaries, have details of special agents on temporary assignment from Secret Service field offices.

The Secret Service does not discuss methods or means in any detail, however generally speaking, the advance team surveys each site to be visited. From these surveys, the members determine manpower, equipment, hospitals, and evacuation routes for emergencies. Fire, rescue, and other public service personnel in the community are alerted. A command post is established with full communications facilities. The assistance of the military, federal, state, county, and local law enforcement organizations is a vital part of the entire security operation.

Before the protectee's arrival, the lead advance agent coordinates all law enforcement representatives participating in the visit. Personnel are posted and are alerted to specific problems associated with the visit. Intelligence information is discussed, identification specified, and emergency options outlined. Prior to the arrival of the protectee, checkpoints are established, and access to the secured area is limited.



Protective Research

During the visit, Secret Service and local law enforcement personnel form a network of support for members of the detail surrounding the protectee. The Secret Service command post acts as the communication center for protective activities, monitors emergencies, and keeps all participants in contact with one another. After the visit, agents analyze every step of the protective operation, record unusual incidents, and suggest improvements for the future.

Protective research is an important ingredient in all security operations. Technicians and engineers develop, test, and maintain technical devices and equipment needed to secure a safe environment for the Service's protectees. Agents and specialists assigned to protective research also evaluate information received from other law enforcement and intelligence agencies regarding individuals or groups who may pose a threat to protectees. This information is critical to the Service's protective planning.


The Secret Service Uniformed Division, initially a force comprised of a few members of the military and the Metropolitan Police Department, began formalized protection of the White House and its grounds in 1860. This unit was under the direction of the White House Military Aide until 1922 when President Warren G. Harding prompted the establishment of a White House Police Force.

It was not until 1930, after an unknown intruder managed to walk into the White House dining room, that President Herbert Hoover recognized the need for the White House Police and the Secret Service to join forces. President Hoover wanted the Secret Service to exclusively control every aspect of Presidential protection; therefore, Congress placed the supervision of the White House Police under the direction of the Chief of the Secret Service.

In 1970, Public Law 91-217 expanded the role of the White House Police, newly named the Executive Protective Service, to include protection of diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C. area. Congress later added the protection of the Vice President's immediate family to the Executive Protective Service's growing responsibilities in 1974.

After several name revisions, the force officially adopted its current name, the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division in 1977. While protection of the White House Complex remains its primary mission, the Uniformed Division's responsibilities have expanded greatly over the years.



They now protect the following:

•the White House Complex, the Main Treasury Building and Annex, and other Presidential offices; •the President and members of the immediate family; •the temporary official residence of the Vice President in the District of Columbia; •the Vice President and members of the immediate family; and •foreign diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and throughout the United States, and its territories and possessions, as prescribed by statute.



Officers of the Uniformed Division carry out their protective responsibilities through special support units (Countersniper, Canine Explosive Detection Team, Emergency Response Team, Crime Scene Search Technicians, Special Operations Section, Magnetometers) and a network of fixed security posts, foot, bicycle, vehicular and motorcycle patrols.


 
HISTORY


BEGINNINGS

1865The Secret Service Division began on July 5, 1865 solely to suppress counterfeit currency. Chief William P. Wood was sworn in by Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch.1867Secret Service responsibilities were broadened to include "detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government." This appropriation resulted in investigations into the Ku Klux Klan, non-conforming distillers, smugglers, mail robbers, land frauds, and a number of other infractions against the federal laws.1870Secret Service headquarters relocated to New York City. 1874Secret Service headquarters returned to Washington, D.C. 1875The first commission book and a new badge were issued to operatives.1877Congress passed an Act prohibiting the counterfeiting of any coin, gold or silver bar. 1883Secret Service was officially acknowledged as a distinct organization within the Treasury Department. 1894The Secret Service began informal part-time protection of President Cleveland. 1895Congress passed corrective legislation for the counterfeiting or possession of counterfeit stamps.1901Congress informally requested Secret Service Presidential protection following the assassination of President William McKinley. 1902The Secret Service assumed full-time responsibility for protection of the President. Two operatives were assigned full-time to the White House Detail. 1906Congress passed Sundry Civil Expenses Act for 1907 that provided funds for Presidential protection by the Secret Service.

Secret Service operatives began to investigate the western land frauds. The Service's investigations returned millions of acres of land to the government. Operative Joseph A. Walker was murdered on November 3, 1907, while working on one of these cases. 1908Secret Service began protecting the President-elect. Also, President Roosevelt transferred eight Secret Service agents to the Department of Justice. They formed the nucleus of what is now the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

EXPANSION

1913Congress authorized permanent protection of the President and the statutory authorization for president-elect protection.1915President Wilson directed the Secretary of the Treasury to have the Secret Service investigate espionage in the United States. 1917Congress authorized permanent protection of the President's immediate family and made "threats" directed toward the President a federal violation. 1922White House Police Force created on October 1, 1922, at the request of President Warren G. Harding. 1930White House Police were placed under the supervision of the Secret Service.1950Officer Leslie Coffelt, White House Police, was shot and killed by Puerto Rican nationalists while protecting President Truman at the Blair House on November 1, 1950. 1951Triggered by the attack on Truman, Congress enacted legislation that permanently authorized Secret Service protection of the President, his immediate family, the President-elect, and the Vice President, if he wishes. (Public Law - 82-79). 1961Congress authorized protection of former Presidents for a reasonable period of time.1962Congress expanded coverage to include the Vice President (or the next officer to succeed the President) and the Vice President-elect. (Public Law 87-829). 1963Congress passed legislation for protection of Mrs. John F. Kennedy and her minor children for 2 years. (Public Law 83-195).1965Congress authorized protection of former Presidents and their spouses during their lifetime and minor children until age 16.1968As a result of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, Congress authorized protection of major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and nominees. (Public Law 90-331). Congress also authorized protection of widows of Presidents until death, or remarriage, and their children until age 16.1970White House Police Force renamed the Executive Protective Service and increased its responsibilities to include the protection of diplomatic missions in the Washington, D.C. area. (Public Law 91-217). 1971Congress authorized Secret Service protection for visiting heads of a foreign state or government, or other official guests, as directed. 1975The duties of Executive Protective Service were expanded to include protection of foreign diplomatic missions located throughout the United States and its territories. 1977The Executive Protective Service was officially renamed the Secret Service Uniformed Division on November 15, 1977. 1984Congress enacted legislation making the fraudulent use of credit and debit cards a federal violation. The law also authorized the Secret Service to investigate violations relating to credit and debit card fraud, federal-interest computer fraud, and fraudulent identification documents.1986Treasury Police Force merged into the Secret Service Uniformed Division on October 5, 1986.1986A Presidential directive authorized protection of the accompanying spouse of the head of a foreign state or government.1990The Secret Service received concurrent jurisdiction with Department of Justice law enforcement personnel to conduct any kind of investigation, civil or criminal, related to federally insured financial institutions. 1994The passage of the 1994 Crime Bill Public Law 103-322, in part, revised Title 18 USC Section 470, providing that any person manufacturing, trafficking in, or possessing counterfeit U.S. currency abroad may be prosecuted as if the act occurred within the United States.

TODAY

1997Congress passed legislation in 1994 stating that Presidents elected to office after January 1, 1997, will receive Secret Service protection for 10 years after leaving office. Individuals elected to office prior to January 1, 1997, will continue to receive lifetime protection. (Public Law 103-329)