List of Top 10 Secret Service Code Names of U.S. Presidents

The Secret Service agency was established in 1865 as a measure to prevent counterfeiting of currency due to the Civil War. The agency has been protecting the president of the United States since 1901 after the assassination of President McKinley. As part of their security measures, the Secret Service assigns code names to the president, the first lady, and their children. 

These code names are typically chosen for their positive connotations or their association with the president's personality or background.

The United States Secret Service states: “We are one of America’s oldest federal law enforcement agencies, originally created in 1865 to stamp out rampant counterfeiting in order to stabilize America's young financial system.” 

“By the end of the Civil War, nearly one-third of all currency in circulation was counterfeit. As a result, the country’s financial stability was in jeopardy. To address this concern, the Secret Service was established in 1865 as a bureau in the Treasury Department to suppress widespread counterfeiting.”

“After the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, the Secret Service was tasked with the full-time protection of the President of the United States.  Over time, this protective mission has been expanded by statutory changes, Presidential Decision Directives, Homeland Security Presidential Directives, National Security Presidential Directives, and various Executive Orders” it adds.

These names were considered to be a secret as they were used to communicate about the movements of the candidates. 

In the Early Show, political consultant Laura Schwartz said that the Secret Service can now use the code names more freely because technology has advanced and the Secret Service has more secure communications.

Here is a list of the Top 10 Secret Service Code Names of U.S. Presidents:

Rawhide

Source: History.com

Ronald Reagan was known as Rawhide during his time as president of the United States. The Secret Service assigned him this code name because it was a reference to his rugged personality and his Western roots.

Lancer

Source: The White House

John F. Kennedy's code name, Lancer, was a fitting one, given that his administration was often compared to Camelot, the magical court of Arthurian legend of which Lancelot was a legendary knight.

Searchlight

Source: Politico

Richard Nixon's Secret Service codename, "Searchlight," was ironic because of his subsequent involvement in the Watergate scandal, which was ultimately uncovered by the media.

Deacon 

Source: BBC

Jimmy Carter's name was a reflection of his deeply religious faith. He was active in the Baptist church for many years, and he continued to teach Sunday school even after becoming president.

Eagle

Source: The Guardian

Bill Clinton's Secret Service code name was "Eagle." Some have speculated that this was a reference to his association with the Boy Scouts, as Eagle Scout is the organisation's highest rank. This would be a fitting name for someone holding the highest office in the land.

Timberwolf

Source: National Archives

The reason why George H.W. Bush was given the code name "Timberwolf" is unknown. Some people speculate that it was because of his strong leadership and his ability to take charge in difficult situations. Others believe that it was a reference to his background as a pilot and his love of the outdoors. Ultimately, the reason for his code name is a mystery.

Renegade

Source: History.com

After the Secret Service presented Barack Obama with a list of code names starting with the letter R, he chose the name "Renegade."

Trailblazer

Source: NBC News

George W. Bush's Secret Service code name while his father was president was Tumbler, which was less flattering than his presidential code name Trailblazer. Some reports suggest that the former was based on his alleged propensity to party.

Mogul

Source: CNN

Donald Trump once jokingly suggested the code name "Humble" for himself, but the Secret Service ultimately chose something that was more in line with his personality.

Passkey

Source: The White House

The irony of Gerald Ford's moniker, "The Great Pardoner," is that it was bestowed upon him after he granted Richard Nixon a "full, free, and absolute pardon." This pardon effectively closed the door on any possibility of criminal prosecution against Nixon, despite the fact that he was facing serious allegations of wrongdoing.