Mr. Write's Page

As you know, the U.S. Secret Service is assigned to protect current and former national leaders and their families. You probably also know that the agency has been taking heat lately for a series of scandals and screw-ups.

Forget those shortcomings for a moment.

In 1945, when Harry Truman became President, the Secret Service began using code names to identify the people, places, and things they protect.

Code names are not only practical, but also very dashing and cool. To keep them that way, a system was set up whereby incoming presidents could select their own code names and those of their family members from a suggested list.

Truman used the code name General. His wife Bess was Sunnyside. Then, starting with Eisenhower, the level of cool was raised another notch: members of the First Family began using code names that started with the same letter.

The result has been really interesting. Here, for your edification and amusement, are some of those Secret Service code names, past and present…

Dwight Eisenhower — Scorecard
Mamie Eisenhower — Springtime

John Kennedy — Lancer
Jacqueline Kennedy — Lace
Caroline Kennedy — Lyric
John Kennedy, Jr. — Lark

Lyndon Johnson — Volunteer
Lady Bird Johnson — Victoria
Lynda Byrd Johnson — Velvet
Luci Baines Johnson — Venus

Richard Nixon — Searchlight
Pat Nixon — Starlight
Patricia Nixon Cox — Sugarfoot
Julie Nixon Eisenhower — Sunbonnet

Gerald Ford — Passkey
Betty Ford — Pinafore
Susan Ford — Panda

Jimmy Carter — Deacon
Rosalynn Carter — Dancer
Amy Carter — Dynamo

Ronald Reagan — Rawhide
Nancy Reagan — Rainbow
Maureen Reagan — Rhyme
Ron Reagan — Reliant

George H. W. Bush — Timberwolf
Barbara Bush — Tranquility
Jeb Bush — Tripper
Dorothy Bush — Tiller

Bill Clinton — Eagle
Hillary Clinton — Evergreen
Chelsea Clinton — Energy

George W. Bush — Tumbler
Laura Bush — Tempo
Barbara Bush — Turquoise
Jenna Bush — Twinkle

Barack Obama — Renegade
Michelle Obama — Renaissance
Malia Obama — Radiance
Sasha Obama — Rosebud

Some code names are generic to the office, regardless of the occupant…

Speaker of the House — Flag Day
Secretary of State — Fadeaway
Secretary of the Treasury — Fencing Master
White House Press Secretary — Matrix

Key Washington locations and the President’s official vehicles also get code names…

The White House — Castle
The Pentagon — Calico
U.S. Capitol Building — Punchbowl
Senate Office Building — Porkchop
Andrews Air Force Base — Acrobat
Dulles Airport — Curbside
Camp David — Buckeye
Presidential motorcade — Bamboo
President’s limo — Stagecoach
Follow-up car — Halfback
Air Force One — Angel
President’s helicopter — Nighthawk
Press corps aircraft — Dog pound

I know what you’re thinking. Deep down, you wish you could have a code name, too, just like the big shots.

Well, you can.

The people at HLN have set up a Secret Service Code Name Generator that will grant your wish.

I entered “Rocky Smith,” and the generator christened me Thundersnow.

That being a bit odd, I entered “Walter Smith” and got the code name Mountain. Much better.

Lastly, I entered “Paco Smith.” Paco’s code name is Scone.

I explained to Paco what a scone is, and he approves.

Secret Service agents at the ready, probably at “Porkchop” or “Castle” or “Calico.”