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 code names change over time for security purposes, but are often publicly known. For security, code names 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 D. 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 B. 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 Roger Clinton Jr. – no code name; press claimed was Headache
• 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 Hunter Biden – Captain

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 Douglas Emhoff - Playmaker Cole Emhoff - Pirate Ella Emhoff - Pickle
• JD Vance – Bobcat

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 – Ramrod Elizabeth Dole – Rainbow
• Morris Udall – Dashboard

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 – Iron
• 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 – Laser Hadassah Lieberman – Liberty

2004

• John Kerry – Minuteman Teresa Heinz Kerry – Mahogany
• John Edwards – Speedway

2008

• John McCain – Phoenix Cindy McCain – Parasol Meghan McCain – Peter Sellers (Peter) John Sidney McCain IV – Popeye Bridget McCain – Pebbles
• Sarah Palin – Denali Todd Palin – Driller

2012

• Mitt Romney – Javelin Ann Romney – Jockey
• Rick Santorum – Petrus
• Newt Gingrich – T-Rex
• Paul Ryan – Bowhunter Janna Ryan – Buttercup

2016

• Ben Carson – Eli
• Tim Kaine – Daredevil Anne Holton – Dogwood
• Bernie Sanders – Intrepid

2020

• Bernie Sanders – Intrepid
• Kamala Harris – Pioneer

2024

Government officials

• Kennedy Administration Cabinet Secretary of State Dean Rusk – Freedom Staff Rear Adm. George Burkley (Physician to the president) – Market Senior military aide General Chester Clifton – Watchman Associate Press Secretary Andrew Hatcher – Winner Assistant Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff – Warrior Personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln – Willow Air Force aide Godfrey McHugh – Wing Special assistant and appointments secretary Kenneth O'Donnell – Wand Naval aide Captain Tazewell Shepard – Witness White House secretary Priscilla Wear – Fiddle White House secretary Jill Cowen – Faddle
• Lyndon Johnson Administration Staff Walter Jenkins – Vigilant Pierre Salinger – Wayside
• Nixon Administration Cabinet Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger – Woodcutter His wife, Nancy Kissinger – Woodlark Staff White House photographer Ollie Atkins – Hawkeye Gulf Coast Regional Chairman James Baker – Fencing Master or Foxtail Deputy Assistant to the President Dwight Chapin – Watchdog Domestic Affairs Advisor Kenneth Reese Cole Jr. – Spectator John Ehrlichman – Wisdom White House aide Tim Elbourne – Snapshot Secretary of State Alexander Haig – Claw Hammer White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman – Welcome Assistant to Haldeman Lawrence Higby – Semaphore Air Force aide James D. Hughes – Red Barron Communications Director Herbert G. Klein – Witness Dr. William Lukash (Physician to the president) – Sawhorse Senior assistant Clark MacGregor – Whipcrack Assistant for Legislative Affairs William Timmons – Windowpane Dr. Walter Tkach (Physician to the president) – Signature Director of the White House Office of Presidential Advance, later Director of the National Park Service, Ronald H. Walker – Roadrunner Personal secretary Rose Mary Woods – Strawberry Press Secretary and Assistant to the President Ron Ziegler – Whale Boat Presidential spokesman Ken W. Clawson – Thunderstorm
• Ford Administration Staff Press Secretary Ron Nessen – Clam Chowder Deputy Chief of Staff, later Chief of Staff, Dick Cheney – Backseat
• Carter Administration Cabinet Secretary of State Cyrus Vance – Fade Away Secretary of Defense Harold Brown – Finley Staff National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzeziński – Hawkeye Director of the Office of Management and Budget Bert Lance – Dumbo
• Reagan Administration Attorney General William French Smith – Flivver Secretary of Education Terrel Bell – Foxcraft
• George W. Bush Administration Scott McClellan – Matrix (generic name for White House press secretary) Chief of Staff Andy Card – Potomac, later Patriot Chief of Staff Josh Bolten – Fatboy Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao – Firebird
• Obama Administration Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel – Black Hawk Tim Geithner – Fencing Master (generic codename for Secretary of the Treasury)
• First Trump administration Senior Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway – Blueberry

Other individuals

• Israel Prime Minister Menachem Begin – Cedar Hasia Begin Milo – Crystal
• Commonwealth realms Queen Elizabeth II – Kittyhawk, Redfern King Charles III – Principal or Unicorn
• United States Senator Howard Baker (R-Tennessee) – Snapshot Actor Antonio Banderas – Zorro Congressman and Speaker of the House Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill – Flag Day Florida banker and businessman, confidant of President Nixon, Bebe Rebozo – Christopher Social secretary to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and mistress to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd – Mrs. Johnson Singer and actor Frank Sinatra – Napoleon Senator Strom Thurmond (R-South Carolina) – Footprint
• Vatican Pope John Paul II – Halo

Locations, objects, places and parts of Secret Service

U.S. Secret Service codenames are not only given to people; they are often given to places, locations and even objects, such as aircraft like Air Force One, and vehicles such as the Presidential State Car.

• Joint Base Andrews, in Prince George's County, Maryland – Acrobat or Andy
• The Presidential Motorcade – Bamboo
• The Harry S Truman Building (Department of State headquarters) – Birds-eye
• Camp David, presidential retreat in Catoctin Mountain Park, in Frederick County, Maryland – Cactus or Buckeye
• The Vice President's office – Cobweb
• The Vice President's staff – Pacemaker
• The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City – Roadhouse
• Air Force One – Angel or Cowpuncher
• The U.S. Presidential State Car – Stagecoach Follow-up car – Halfback
• The White House – Castle (Crown referring to the Executive Mansion, the central representative and office spaces of the White House)
• The Capitol – Punch bowl
• The White House Situation Room – Cement Mixer
• Eisenhower Executive Office Building (part of the White House Complex) – Central
• Reagan National Airport – Curbside
• The temporary residence of the President – Charcoal or Base
• The Pentagon – Calico
• White House garage – Carpet
• J. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI Headquarters) – Cork
• Lyndon Baines Johnson's ranch – Volcano
• Secret Service Counterassault Team – Hawkeye
• Secret Service Counter-sniper Team – Hercules

In fiction

In popular culture, the practice of assigning codenames is often used to provide additional verisimilitude in fictional works about the executive branch, or high-ranking governmental figures.

• 1600 Penn First Son Standrich "Skip" Gilchrist Jr. – Meatball
• Air Force One President James Marshall – Boy Scout
• The American President President Andrew Shepherd – Liberty
• Chasing Liberty First Daughter Anna Foster – Liberty
• Designated Survivor President Tom Kirkman – Phoenix (formerly Glasses during his time as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development)
• First Daughter First Daughter Samantha Mackenzie – Lucky Charm
• First Kid President Paul Davenport – Eagle First Son Luke Davenport – Prince
• House of Cards President Frank Underwood – Little John President Claire Underwood – Lone Star
• In the Line of Fire The President – Traveler
• Jericho President Jon Tomarchio – Condor
• The Night Agent Maddie Redfield (VP Daughter) – Badger Omar Zadar (PIF leader) – Osprey
• Paradise President Cal Bradford – Wildcat
• The Prodigal Daughter President Florentyna Kane – Baroness
• Red, White & Royal Blue First Son Alexander Claremont-Diaz – Barracuda First Daughter June Claremont-Diaz – Bluebonnet Prince Henry – Bishop
• Scandal President Fitzgerald Thomas "Fitz" Grant III – Falcon First Lady Melody Margaret "Mellie" Grant – Foxtail White House Chief of Staff Abigail "Abby" Whelan – Firebrand
• The Sentinel President John Ballentine – Classic First Lady Sara Ballentine – Cincinnati
• Squeeze Me The President – Mastodon The First Lady – Mockingbird
• Tom Clancy's novels Unnamed President in Clear and Present Danger – Wrangler President Jack Ryan in Debt of Honor and Executive Orders – Swordsman Dr. Caroline "Cathy" Ryan in Executive Orders – Surgeon Olivia "Sally" Ryan in Executive Orders – Shadow Jack Ryan Jr. in Executive Orders – Shortstop Katie Ryan in Executive Orders – Sandbox Kyle Daniel Ryan in The Bear and the Dragon – Sprite George Winston (Secretary of the Treasury) in Executive Orders – Trader Benjamin Goodley (National Security Advisor) in Executive Orders – Cardsharp Arnold Van Damm (White House Chief of Staff) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – Carpenter Callie Weston (Chief Speechwriter) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – Calliope Scott Adler (Secretary of State) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – Eagle
• Veep Vice President Selina Meyer – Duchess
• The West Wing President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet – Eagle or Liberty Zoey Bartlet – Bookbag C. J. Cregg – Flamingo Sam Seaborn – Princeton Gus Westin (grandson of Jed Bartlet) – Tonka Arnold Vinick – Big Sur

See also

• 00 Agent § Origin of nomenclature
• CIA cryptonym
• List of nicknames of United States Presidents