Secret Service code name

The United States Secret Service uses code names for U.S. presidents, first ladies, and other prominent persons and locations. The use of such names was originally for security purposes and dates to a time when sensitive electronic communications were not routinely encrypted; today, the names simply serve for purposes of brevity, clarity, and tradition. The Secret Service does not choose these names, however. The White House Communications Agency maintains a list that candidates choose from, often choosing ones that resonate with them personally.

According to an established protocol, good codewords are unambiguous words that can be easily pronounced and readily understood by those who transmit and receive voice messages by radio or telephone regardless of their native language. Traditionally, all family members' code names start with the same letter.

The codenames change over time for security purposes, but are often publicly known. For security, codenames are generally picked from a list of such 'good' words, but avoiding the use of common words which could likely be intended to mean their normal definitions.

Presidents and their families

* Woodrow Wilson
** Edith Wilson – Grandma
* Franklin D. Roosevelt
** Eleanor Roosevelt – Rover
* Harry S. Truman – General or Supervise
** Bess Truman – Sunnyside
* Dwight Eisenhower – Scorecard or Providence
** Mamie Eisenhower – Springtime
** David Eisenhower – Sahara
* John F. Kennedy – Lancer
** Jacqueline Kennedy – Lace
** Caroline Kennedy – Lyric
** John F. Kennedy, Jr. – Lark
** Rose Kennedy – Coppertone
** Ethel Kennedy – Sundance
* Lyndon Johnson – Volunteer
** Lady Bird Johnson – Victoria
** Lynda Bird Johnson – Velvet
** Luci Baines Johnson – Venus
* Richard Nixon – Searchlight
** Pat Nixon – Starlight
** Patricia Nixon Cox – Sugarfoot
** Edward F. Cox – Seminole
** Julie Nixon Eisenhower – Sunbonnet
* Gerald Ford – Passkey or Pass Key
** Betty Ford – Pinafore
** Susan Ford – Panda
** Michael Ford – Professor
** Jack Ford – Packman
* Jimmy Carter – Dasher which was changed to Deacon or Lock Master
** Rosalynn Carter – Lotus Petal or Dancer
** Amy Carter – Dynamo
** Chip Carter – Diamond
** Jack Carter – Derby
** Jeff Carter – Deckhand
* Ronald Reagan – Rawhide
** Nancy Reagan – Rainbow
** Maureen Reagan – Rhyme, Rosebud
** Michael Reagan – Riddler
** Patti Davis – Ribbon
** Ron Reagan – Reliant
** Doria Reagan – Radiant
* George H. W. Bush – Timberwolf
** Barbara Bush – Snowbank or Tranquility
** Marvin Bush – Tuner
** Neil Bush – Trapline
** Jeb Bush – Tripper
** Dorothy Bush – Tiller
* Bill Clinton – Eagle
** Hillary Clinton – Evergreen
** Chelsea Clinton – Energy
* George W. Bush – Tumbler, later Trailblazer
** Laura Bush – Tempo
** Barbara Bush – Turquoise
** Jenna Bush – Twinkle
* Barack Obama – Renegade
** Michelle Obama – Renaissance
** Malia Obama – Radiance
** Sasha Obama – Rosebud
** Marian Shields Robinson – Raindance
* Donald Trump – Mogul
** Melania Trump – Muse
** Donald Trump Jr. – Mountaineer
** Ivanka Trump – Marvel
** Eric Trump – Marksman
** Jared Kushner – Mechanic
* Joe Biden – Celtic
** Jill Biden – Capri

Vice presidents and their families

* Spiro Agnew – Pathfinder
** Judy Agnew – Photograph
* Nelson Rockefeller – Sandstorm
** Happy Rockefeller – Shooting Star or Stardust
* Walter Mondale – Cavalier
** Joan Mondale – Cameo
** Ted Mondale – Centurion
** Eleanor Mondale – Calico
** William Mondale – Chessman
* Dan Quayle – Scorecard or Supervisor
** Marilyn Quayle – Sunshine

* Al Gore – Sundance or Sawhorse
** Tipper Gore – Skylark
** Karenna Gore – Smurfette
** Kristin Gore – Silhouette
** Sarah Gore – Screwdriver
** Albert Gore III – Shortstop
* Dick Cheney – Angler
** Lynne Cheney – Author
** Elizabeth Cheney – Apollo
** Mary Cheney – Alpine
* Mike Pence – Hoosier
** Karen Pence – Hummingbird
* Kamala Harris – Pioneer
** Doug Emhoff – ''TBA''

Political candidates and their spouses

U.S. Secret Service codenames are often given to high-profile political candidates (such as presidential and vice presidential candidates), and their respective families and spouses who are assigned U.S. Secret Service protection. These codenames often differ from those held if they are elected or those from prior periods if they held positions needing codenames.

1968

* Eugene McCarthy – Instructor

1972

* George McGovern – Redwood

1976

* Jimmy Carter – Dasher or Deacon
* Bob Dole – RamrodHarlan Daily Enterprise – Sep 21, 1987 Jack Anderson – Secret Service Gears up for the Campaign
/ref>Daily Union – Oct 29, 1976 Rainbow Enjoys Campaign
/ref>
** Elizabeth Dole – Rainbow
* Morris Udall – DashboardCode names give insight into candidates – The Telegraph – Mar 15, 1987
/ref>

1980

* John B. Anderson – Miracle, Starburst or Stardust
** Keke Anderson – Scarlet
* George H. W. Bush – Sheepskin (During 1980 Campaign)
* Phil Crane – Swordfish
* Ted Kennedy – Sunburn

1984

* Geraldine Ferraro – Duster
** John Zaccaro – N/A (Declined Secret Service Protection)
* John Glenn – IronThunder on the Campaign Trail
/ref>
* Jesse Jackson – Thunder
* Walter Mondale – Dragon

1988

* Lloyd Bentsen – Parthenon
* Michael Dukakis – Peso
** Kitty Dukakis – Panda
* Jesse Jackson – Pontiac
* Gary Hart – Redwood
* Paul Simon – Scarlett

1996

* Bob Dole – Patriot
** Elizabeth Dole – Pioneer
* Jack Kemp – Champion
** Joanne Kemp – Cornerstone

2000

* Joe Lieberman – LaserThe Fix-Here are the 2016 candidates’ Secret Service code names — and your own
/ref>
** Hadassah Lieberman