The 15 Most Amusing Secret Service Code Names Ever Used

The practice of assigning Secret Service code names dates back to the Truman administration, when a full-time protection team was established for the president, their family, the president-elect, and the vice president (despite the agency existing for over 150 years). Interestingly, these names were never truly confidential. Originating from a time before encrypted communications, the code names often reflect a unique aspect of the individual’s personality. Here are some of the most humorous and memorable names selected over the decades.

1. Edith Wilson // "Grandma"

Edith, Woodrow Wilson's second wife, was the inaugural First Lady to be granted Secret Service protection, though her code name predated the 1917 legislation. After losing his first wife during his second year in office, Wilson quickly became infatuated with Edith. Concerned about public perception of his swift new romance, Wilson's team discreetly referred to Edith using the unflattering code name "Grandma."

2. Meghan McCain // "Peter Sellers"

During her father John McCain's 2008 Republican presidential campaign, he adopted the code name "Phoenix." Following Secret Service protocol, immediate family members' code names must start with the same letter, leading Meghan to be dubbed "Peter Sellers." This made her the only individual to share a full name as a code name. Her siblings opted for cartoon-inspired names: "Popeye" and "Pebbles."

3. Newt Gingrich // "T-Rex"

As a 2012 presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was assigned a Secret Service detail and selected his code name inspired by his fascination with dinosaurs. Notably, while serving in Congress, he kept a replica T. rex skull on display in his office.

4. Josh Bolten // "Fatboy"

Josh Bolten, George W. Bush's Chief of Staff, was an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast and selected his code name after his preferred motorcycle model. "My Secret Service team adored the code name," Bolten remarked. "Even the female agents, who were humorously referred to as Fatgirls."

5. Frank Sinatra // "Napoleon"

Despite Sinatra's frequent association with the Kennedy family, it was President Nixon who arranged for him to receive a Secret Service code name and occasional protection. This proved useful, as Ol' Blue Eyes was a regular presence in the Reagan White House as well.

6. Happy Rockefeller // "Shooting Star"

Gerald Ford's vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, had the straightforward code name "Sandstorm." However, his wife Happy's initial code name, "Shooting Star," was quickly revised after agents recognized the potential risks. Former Secret Service agent Joseph Petro noted, "Within days, it became clear that 'Shooting Star' was problematic, as a fragmented transmission might only convey the word 'shooting,' potentially triggering unnecessary alarm." Mrs. Rockefeller's code name was promptly updated to "Stardust."

7. Ronald Reagan // "Rawhide"

President Reagan's passion for ranching and his background as a Western film actor inspired his code name, "Rawhide." Larry Rowlett, a member of his security team, once shared, "Yes—he was always approachable and down-to-earth. If anyone called him 'Rawhide,' he'd just laugh." First Lady Nancy, however, was always referred to as Mrs. Reagan.

8. Karenna Gore // "Smurfette"

Al Gore's daughter was 19 when her father became vice president, and she later deeply regretted her chosen code name. "Since that moment four years ago, when I was rushed to pick a two-syllable name starting with an s," she explained in a 1997 Slate essay, "I've been mortified every time I'm introduced as 'Smurfette.'"

9. Ron Nessen // "Clam Chowder"

Gerald Ford's press secretary was widely known for his sharp wit (he even took the stage on Saturday Night Live once!). His fondness for clam chowder inspired his code name, which becomes even more amusing due to its oddly specific nature.

10. Ted Kennedy // "Sunburn"

Though often hailed as the "Lion of the Senate," Ted Kennedy was assigned the code name "Sunburn" during his 1980 presidential campaign. Appropriately, his mother, Rose Kennedy, was given the name "Coppertone."

11. Ron Ziegler // "Whaleboat"

At just 29, Ron Ziegler became Richard Nixon's press secretary. While the Secret Service referred to him as "Whaleboat," journalists, who often received evasive responses from him during daily briefings, nicknamed him "Zig-Zag."

12. William French Smith // "Flivver"

The reason behind Reagan's Attorney General (1981-1985) being called "Flivver" remains unclear, but the term isn't particularly complimentary—it refers to an old, unreliable car.

13. Hillary Clinton // "Evergreen"

The name "Evergreen" is fitting, as it has been in use for over three decades. Hillary Clinton was assigned this code name when her husband, Bill, became president in 1992. As a former First Lady, she retains lifetime Secret Service protection, which has been essential given her prominent roles as secretary of state and presidential candidate.

14. Prince Charles // "Unicorn"

Foreign dignitaries occasionally receive code names, and Prince Charles was assigned "Unicorn"—a fitting choice, as it aligns with a symbol frequently used in British culture.

15. Pope John Paul II // "Halo"

For reasons that are quite apparent.

This story was republished in 2019.