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The Secret Service has been making headlines recently with the election of a new US president. While many celebrities and high-profile individuals have personal bodyguards, when it comes to protection and security, no one matches the level of the Secret Service. Ensuring the safety of the U.S. President requires a level of vigilance and precautionary measures that are unparalleled.
The Secret Service takes its responsibility incredibly seriously. But even in such a high-stakes environment, things occasionally go awry—sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic. Here are 10 surprising facts about the Secret Service that may catch you off guard.
10. The Secret Service Was Established on the Same Day President Lincoln Was Assassinated
President Abraham Lincoln met his tragic end in 1865, assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Had he been protected by a well-trained security team, he might have lived to see the remarkable age of 207 years today.
Though Lincoln didn’t benefit from such protection, his actions laid the foundation for the future creation of the Secret Service. On April 14, 1865, Lincoln signed the legislation that would pave the way for its formation, marking one of his last acts as president.
Initially, the Secret Service was formed under the US Treasury Department to tackle the widespread issue of counterfeiting following the Civil War. It was believed that up to half of the money in circulation was counterfeit during that period.
It wasn’t until the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 that the Secret Service was officially assigned to protect the president. On March 1, 2003, the agency was moved from the Department of the Treasury to the Department of Homeland Security.
9. The Secret Service Investigated Eminem Over His Lyrics
Eminem, known for his provocative and controversial music, came under the Secret Service’s radar in 2003. A particular line from his song ‘We Are American’ raised alarms. He rapped: “(Expletive) money, I don’t rap for dead presidents. I’d rather see the president dead.”
The Secret Service routinely investigates anything that could be perceived as a threat to the president. As a spokesperson from the agency stated: “We don’t have the luxury to do otherwise.”
The term “dead presidents” refers to US currency, which primarily features the faces of deceased presidents. An early, incomplete version of the song was leaked and spread through hip hop chat forums before it caught the attention of the Secret Service. Ultimately, the agency chose not to pursue further investigation.
8. Secret Service Agents Posed As Stanford Students To Protect Chelsea Clinton
It may sound amusing, but plainclothes Secret Service agents posed as Stanford students to closely monitor Chelsea Clinton during her four years at the university. Her dorm was equipped with bulletproof windows, and her Secret Service code name was “Energy.”
Two Secret Service agents shared a dormitory with Chelsea, occupying rooms next to hers. Reports suggest that while they were vigilant, the Secret Service allowed Chelsea some leeway to maintain a social life, provided she kept them informed of her plans ahead of time.
7. A Magician Managed to Rob Secret Service Agents Blind
Apollo Robbins is widely regarded by his colleagues as the best in his field—pickpocketing. However, his work is not criminal; he is a professional performer known as a “theatrical pickpocket.”
Robbins has left many notable individuals in awe with his pickpocketing talents, including Jennifer Garner and Penn Jillette. However, his most remarkable feat may have occurred in 2001 during a dinner with Jimmy Carter. While casually engaging with Carter’s security team, Robbins discreetly relieved the agents of a watch, badge, keys, and even a copy of the former president’s itinerary.
6. Ronald Reagan’s Acting Career May Have Unintentionally Helped Save His Life
On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside a Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Thanks to the quick and decisive actions of Secret Service agent Jerry S. Parr, President Reagan was swiftly transported to the hospital and received treatment for injuries that could have been fatal had Parr not followed his instincts.
What’s even more astonishing is that Parr, a former electric-power lineman, developed a childhood fascination with the Secret Service after watching a 1939 film called Code of the Secret Service. The movie starred a young Ronald Reagan as a Secret Service agent named Brass Bancroft. For Parr to grow up to be a Secret Service agent himself and ultimately save the life of the actor-turned-president must have been an incredibly surreal experience.
5. Only One Secret Service Agent Has Died While Protecting The President
During President Harry S. Truman’s tenure, he temporarily resided in Blair House, located across from the White House while the latter underwent renovations. On November 1, 1950, White House police officer Leslie William Coffelt was stationed outside Blair House when two Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire. While several officers were injured, Coffelt was the only one to succumb to his wounds.
Coffelt successfully shot one of the assailants, who was struck in the ear and killed. The other suspect was apprehended and sentenced to prison, but after 27 years, he was pardoned in 1979. He was deported to Puerto Rico, where he passed away in 1994.
4. Secret Service Disrupted Counterfeiting Scheme During Rush Hour 2 Filming
In 2000, during the filming of Rush Hour 2, a scene was staged where $1 billion in fake money was thrown into the air. The issue arose when the counterfeit bills appeared too realistic. Extras and bystanders on the set took some of the bills and used them in real transactions.
Naturally, the Secret Service was not happy with the situation and swiftly issued a cease-and-desist order against the prop maker Independent Studio Services, Inc. In addition, agents seized $100 million worth of counterfeit money.
3. The Secret Service is Responsible for Super Bowl Security
Given the ongoing threat of terrorism, major events like the Super Bowl, which draw large crowds, present a significant risk as potential terrorist targets.
The Secret Service has been assigned the task of performing 11,000 background checks on all involved personnel, vendors, and performers. In addition, the agents apply thorough counterterrorism strategies to secure the Super Bowl, ensuring the event remains free from any terrorist-related disasters.
2. The FBI Originated from the Secret Service
Before 1908, the US Department of Justice relied on the Secret Service to supply reserve personnel for federal investigations. This practice continued until Congress prohibited it, worried it might encourage espionage and internal surveillance within the government.
Following legal challenges and resistance, Attorney General Charles Bonaparte eventually assembled a small team of detectives drawn from the Secret Service to carry out investigations for the Department of Justice. This group ultimately became the precursor to the FBI.
The Secret Service has been in search of a rare coin for over six decades.
At the beginning of the 20th century, President Theodore Roosevelt tasked the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens with creating a new double eagle gold coin inspired by the art of ancient Greece. The coin was valued at $20, but today, almost a century later, its worth has soared to $7–$10 million each.
By the time Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the presidency in 1933, the U.S. had moved away from the gold standard. As a result, 445,000 double eagle coins were recalled and melted down into gold bars. These coins were never officially released, but in 1944, the Secret Service uncovered that a few had accidentally entered public circulation due to internal malfeasance.
Since that time, the Secret Service has made it their mission to locate and recover as many of these coins as possible.
