The beginning of the Secret Service
By Barb42
@Barb42 (4214)
United States
January 21, 2009 11:49am CST
The Presidents have not always been protected by the Secret Service. It was only started in July of 1865 after Abraham Lincoln's assassination in April of that year. It was began because of all the counterfeiting and not for protecting the President.
After McKinley was assassinated in 1901, the Secret Service was then assigned to protect President Theodore Roosevelt. It was not until 1906 that legislation was passed to assign this job to the President as an official duty.
Since then, the Secret Service Duties have grown. They also protect the First Family,and the Vice President and his family. They also protect the former President and his wife for 10 years. If there are any small children, they protect them until the age of 16.
President George and Laura Bush will now have the services of the Secret Service for the next 10 years protecting their lives from harm. I wonder how one feels to have someone following around your every move. I don't think I would like to be in any position where I then had to be protected from the world after I retired. I like my private life too much! How about you? Would you exchange your private life with that of one where the Secret Service followed you around?
4 people like this
7 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Thanks for that bit of history, something I never knew!
I would not want to have any sort of secret service or bodyguard following my every move! I wouldn't even be able to enter a public restroom alone because they'd have to make sure there are no dangers in there. Doesn't sound like much of a life to me.
2 people like this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Can you imagine not being able to go out shopping for groceries or clothes without having them with you? They probably close the buildings to regular people while you do your shopping. I remember Laura saying that it was going to be hard to get back to doing her own cooking since it had been a long time since she had done that. That is not a life for me that I'd want to lead! I like my individuality. As to the public restroom, you probably wouldn't be able to go there at all.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Jan 09
After his tenure, Harry Truman paid his own way home by train and NEVER had any secret service protection when his term was over. He refused it. Said he was just an ordinary American now, going back to an ordinary life.
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I would imagine adults get used to it but it might be hard on the social life of young people. Obama says his daughters call their agents "the secret people" which I think is sweet although they may have other names for them in a few years. lol Thanks for the info. I didn't know a lot of this stuff.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Jan 09
I would think that they would be used to it by now. It would be like learning to ignore an annoying fly.....
As for me, as long as they didn't take pics or sold any 'juicy bits' to tabloids, I'd actually be grateful for the protection if my hubs was an ex-Pres with a record like Bush's. LOL
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
21 Jan 09
Actually I agree with you about Bush and I've never really had a problem with him. But today's media is so influential, especially in the U.S. and Britain, and you can bet that things are never really how they portray them. Just due to the density of your population alone, the need for heightened security is necessary from it's own people, not just terrorists. Case in point: all the stalkers who only need an inch to take a mile and end up taking a life............sad but true.
2 people like this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Oh, there are many people out there that would kill someone in a heart beat! And they don't have to be Presidents. There are just some people that think their way is the correct way regardless of how wrong they are. And you are right; it isn't always what we consider a terrorist! Who knows anymore who lives next to us or how they feel about things!
2 people like this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
21 Jan 09
I am sure they are used to it, but that doesn't mean they like it. As for Bush's record, everything you hear coming from the media isn't always the pure truth. I personally think he's been a good president. HE kept our country free of terrorism for 7 years. We wait with baited breath to see what will happen under Obama's watch - the guy who wants to sit down with the enemy without pre-conditions to have peace. It won't ever happen! Peace with these people, that is.
2 people like this
@rocketj1 (6955)
• United States
22 Jan 09
I have heard that many of them become like family to the first family. They are very discreet and stay out of the way. If I was in danger of assassination, I would welcome them with open arms.
By the way, The Secret Service is also in charge of investigating the counterfeiting of American currency.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Bush and all past presidents can at any time once their terms are up refuse secret service protection. It is a choice to keep them for 10 years.
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Yes, I understand that. I suppose that it is according to how people feel about you whether you want to keep the Secret Service people for the full ten years. There are many who never had the protection and lived their life out without any problems.
1 person likes this
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
22 Jan 09
Personally I would want them for a few years but not the full ten years. At some point you would think they would want more privacy and a normal life.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 Jan 09
What an excellent post. I did not know any of this information about ec Presidents.I suppose that it is necessary as they may be attacked or something. would I like it? No, I like my privacy and would not exchange my private life to onwe where I was constantly being followed. That would be hell for me. Blessings
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
22 Jan 09
If I had to live my life in the public eye, I guess I would become accustomed to having people around all the time...particularly if every whim was being satisfied.
I suppose the fact that they know the country's secrets is the reason they need to be protected.
If I had a big enough, luxurious enough house and I got to have my privacy, I think it would be ok. Who knows, maybe my protectors are a pretty nice bunch of people to have around.
I think it would be worse if after 10 years everyone moved out and I was suddenly on my own.
