Although probably best known for protecting the President, the Secret Service was originally created on July 5, 1865, by Abraham Lincoln to suppress the production of counterfeit money. Because they were the only agency with manpower to do so, shortly thereafter the Secret Service also began to investigate other crimes such as murder, bank robbery, and illegal gambling. However, it was not until 1901,when William McKinley was assassinated, that Congress requested the Secret Service to protect the president.
Unfortunately, the Secret Service wasn’t always efficient when it came to keeping the president safe. After the Kennedy assassination, it was concluded that the Secret Service didn’t have enough men for the job, and they didn’t have a very good plan for communicating potential threats.
After the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan, who was bravely defended by a Secret Service Agent despite the fire from the would-be-assassin, the Secret Service increased their efficiency. Now they are kept up-to-date with the best techniques and material for protecting the president from potential assassination threats.
When in 1968 a presidential candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated, Congress also authorized the protection of major presidential and vice president candidates and nominees. The Secret Service also protects the relatives of presidents, and those whom the president requests by executive order.
The Secret Service still works in preventing counterfeit money and various internet-related crime with a good degree of success – at one time clapping 28 internet-related crime suspects in jail after working across the globe to round them up.
They also protect the White House complex. When two Puerto Ricans attempted to assassinate President Truman, a protector of the Blair House (across from the White House and the house in which Truman was then residing) stopped the attempt, although being mortally wounded in the process.
Becoming a Secret Service agent is not easy. One must undergo a special procedure to receive a Top Secret security clearance. Also, you must be a US citizen, be in excellent physical condition, and have good eyesight.
The Secret Service’s tasks have changed quite a bit over the years – eliminating counterfeiting, eliminating internet fraud, and protecting the President.
Further Investigation
The Secret Service Story
5-page brochure that covers their history and missions.
Secret Service History
Timeline with beginnings, expansion and today.
Untied States Secret Service Strategic Plan
33-page download that details the goals of the Secret Service including investigations, protection, and maintaining infrastructure.
Special Agent
7-page brochure that details the requirements of a secret service agent.
Junior Secret Service Agent Training Manual
24-page download full of information and activities for young people to see what it would have been like to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Junior Secret Service Program
Online “training manual” focusing on the protection of President Eisenhower.
Know Your Money
3-page download to help you identify the real thing.
Our own unit studies, book studies and investigations that encourage research and independent learning.
