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 assigns them. WHCA was originally created as the White House Signal Detachment under Franklin Roosevelt.
The WHCA, an agency of the White House Military Office, is headquartered at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and consists of six staff elements and seven organizational units. WHCA also has supporting detachments in Washington, D.C. and various locations throughout the United States of America.
According to 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 of the United States and their families
Woodrow WilsonEdith Wilson – GrandmaFranklin D. Roosevelt –Eleanor Roosevelt – RoverHarry S. Truman – General or SuperviseBess Truman – SunnysideDwight Eisenhower – Scorecard or ProvidenceMamie Eisenhower – SpringtimeJohn F. Kennedy – LancerJacqueline Kennedy – LaceCaroline Kennedy – LyricJohn F. Kennedy, Jr. – LarkRose Kennedy – CoppertoneEthel Kennedy – SundanceLyndon Johnson – VolunteerLady Bird Johnson – VictoriaLynda Bird Johnson – VelvetLuci Baines Johnson – VenusRichard Nixon – SearchlightPat Nixon – StarlightPatricia Nixon Cox – SugarfootEdward F. Cox – SeminoleJulie Nixon Eisenhower – SunbonnetDavid Eisenhower – SaharaGerald Ford – Passkey or Pass KeyBetty Ford – PinaforeSusan Ford – PandaMichael Ford – ProfessorJack Ford – PackmanJimmy Carter – Lock Master or DeaconRosalynn Carter – Lotus Petal or DancerAmy Carter – DynamoChip Carter – DiamondJack Carter – DerbyJeff Carter – DeckhandRonald Reagan – RawhideNancy Reagan – RainbowMaureen Reagan – Rhyme, RosebudMichael Reagan – RiddlerPatti Davis – RibbonRon Reagan – ReliantDoria Reagan – RadiantGeorge H. W. Bush – TimberwolfBarbara Bush – Snowbank or TranquilityMarvin Bush – TunerNeil Bush – TraplineJeb Bush – TripperDorothy Bush – TillerBill Clinton – EagleHillary Clinton – EvergreenChelsea Clinton – EnergyGeorge W. Bush – Tumbler, later TrailblazerLaura Bush – TempoBarbara Bush – TurquoiseJenna Bush – TwinkleBarack Obama – RenegadeMichelle Obama – RenaissanceMalia Obama – RadianceSasha Obama – RosebudDonald Trump – MogulMelania Trump – MuseIvanka Trump – MarvelDonald Trump Jr. – MountaineerEric Trump – MarksmanVice Presidents of the United States and their families
Spiro Agnew – PathfinderJudy Agnew – PhotographNelson Rockefeller – SandstormHappy Rockefeller – Shooting Star or StardustWalter Mondale – Cavalier or DragonJoan Mondale – CameoEleanor Mondale – CalicoTed Mondale – CenturionWilliam Mondale – ChessmanDan Quayle – Scorecard or SupervisorMarilyn Quayle – SunshineAl Gore – Sundance or SawhorseTipper Gore – SkylarkKarenna Gore – SmurfetteKristen Gore – SilhouetteSarah Gore – ScrewdriverAlbert Gore III – ShortstopDick Cheney – AnglerLynne Cheney – AuthorMary Cheney – AlpineElizabeth Cheney – ApolloJoe Biden – CelticJill Biden – CapriMike Pence – HoosierKaren Pence – HummingbirdPolitical 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.
Eugene McCarthy – InstructorGeorge McGovern – RedwoodJimmy Carter – Dasher or DeaconBob Dole – RamrodElizabeth Dole – RainbowMorris Udall – DashboardJohn B. Anderson – Miracle, Starburst or StardustKeke Anderson – ScarletGeorge H. W. Bush – Sheepskin (During 1980 Campaign) Phil Crane – SwordfishTed Kennedy – SunburnGeraldine Ferraro – DusterJohn Zaccaro – N/A (Declined Secret Service Protection)John Glenn – IronJesse Jackson – ThunderWalter Mondale – DragonLloyd Bentsen – ParthenonMichael Dukakis – PesoKitty Dukakis – PandaJesse Jackson – PontiacGary Hart – RedwoodPaul Simon – ScarlettJack Kemp – ChampionJoanne Kemp – CornerstoneJoe Lieberman – LaserHadassah Lieberman – LibertyJohn Kerry – MinutemanTeresa Heinz Kerry – MahoganyJohn Edwards – SpeedwayHillary Clinton – EvergreenBill Clinton – EagleJohn McCain – PhoenixCindy McCain – ParasolMeghan McCain – Peter Sellers (Peter)John Sidney McCain IV – PopeyeBridget McCain – PebblesSarah Palin – DenaliTodd Palin – DrillerMitt Romney – JavelinAnn Romney – JockeyRick Santorum – PetrusNewt Gingrich – T-RexPaul Ryan – BowhunterJanna Ryan – ButtercupBen Carson – EliHillary Clinton – EvergreenBill Clinton – EagleBernie Sanders – IntrepidTim Kaine – DaredevilKennedy AdministrationCabinetDean Rusk – FreedomStaffRear Adm. George Burkley (Physician to the President) – MarketGeneral Chester Clifton – WatchmanAndrew Hatcher – WinnerMalcolm Kilduff – WarriorEvelyn Lincoln – WillowGodfrey McHugh – WingKenneth O'Donnell – WandCaptain Tazewell Shepard (Naval Aide) – WitnessLyndon Johnson AdministrationStaffWalter Jenkins – VigilantPierre Salinger – WaysideNixon AdministrationCabinetHenry Kissinger – WoodcutterNancy Kissinger – WoodlarkStaffOllie Atkins (White House Photographer) – HawkeyeJames Baker – Fencing Master or FoxtailDwight Chapin – WatchdogKenneth Reese Cole, Jr. – SpectatorJohn Ehrlichman – WisdomTim Elbourne (White House Aide) – SnapshotAlexander Haig – Claw HammerH. R. Haldeman – WelcomeLawrence Higby – SemaphoreJames D. Hughes – Red BarronHerbert G. Klein – WitnessWilliam Lukash (Physician to the President) – SawhorseClark MacGregor – WhipcrackWilliam Timmons – WindowpaneWalter Tkach (Physician to the President) – SignatureRonald H. Walker – RoadrunnerRose Mary Woods – StrawberryRon Ziegler – Whale BoatKen W. Clawson – ThunderstormFord AdministrationStaffRon Nessen – Clam ChowderDick Cheney – BackseatCarter AdministrationCabinetCyrus Vance – Fade AwayHarold Brown – FinleyStaffZbigniew Brzeziński – HawkeyeBert Lance – DumboReagan AdministrationWilliam French Smith – FlivverTerrel Bell – FoxcraftGeorge W. Bush AdministrationScott McClellan – Matrix (generic name for White House Press Secretary)Andy Card – Potomac, later Patriot Josh Bolten – FatboyElaine Chao – FirebirdObama AdministrationRahm Emanuel – Black HawkTim Geithner – Fencing Master (generic codename for Secretary of the Treasury)Trump AdministrationKellyanne Conway – BlueberryStrom Thurmond – FootprintHoward Baker – SnapshotThomas P. O'Neill – Flag DayIsraelMenachem Begin – CedarHasia Begin Milo – CrystalCommonwealth RealmsQueen Elizabeth II – Kittyhawk, RedfernPrince Charles – Principal or UnicornUnited StatesBebe Rebozo – ChristopherLucy Mercer Rutherfurd – Mrs. JohnsonFrank Sinatra – NapoleonVaticanPope John Paul II – HaloLocations, objects, and places
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 – Acrobat or AndyThe Presidential Motorcade – BambooThe Harry S Truman Building (Department of State headquarters) – Birds-eyeCamp David – Cactus or BuckeyeThe Vice President's office – CobwebThe Vice President's staff – PacemakerThe Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City – RoadhouseAir Force One – Angel or CowpuncherThe U.S. Presidential State Car – StagecoachFollow-up car – HalfbackThe White House – Castle (Crown referring to the Executive Mansion, the central representative and office spaces of the White House)The Capitol – Punch bowlThe White House Situation Room – Cement MixerEisenhower Executive Office Building (part of the White House Complex) – CentralWashington Dulles International Airport – Curbside The temporary residence of the President – Charcoal or Base The Pentagon – CalicoWhite House garage – CarpetJ. Edgar Hoover Building (FBI Headquarters) – CorkLyndon Baines Johnson's ranch – VolcanoIn 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.
24President Wayne Palmer – CitadelPresident Allison Taylor – LibertyThe American PresidentAndrew Shepherd – LibertyChasing LibertyFirst Daughter Anna Foster – Liberty.First DaughterSamantha Mackenzie – Lucky CharmFirst KidPresident Paul Davenport – EagleLuke Davenport – PrinceIn the Line of FireThe President – TravelerJerichoPresident Jon Tomarchio – CondorOlympus Has FallenThe White House – OlympusPresident Benjamin Asher – SouthpawPresident's Son Connor – SparkplugSpecial agent in charge – Big TopThe SentinelPresident John Ballentine – ClassicFirst Lady Sara Ballentine – CincinnatiTom Clancy's novelsPresident Roger Durling in Debt of Honor – JumperUnnamed President in Clear and Present Danger – WranglerUnnamed President in Endwar – American EaglePresident Jack Ryan in Debt of Honor and Executive Orders – SwordsmanDr. Caroline "Cathy" Ryan in Executive Orders – SurgeonOlivia "Sally" Ryan in Executive Orders – ShadowJack Ryan, Jr in Executive Orders – ShortstopKatie Ryan in Executive Orders – SandboxKyle Daniel Ryan in The Bear and the Dragon – SpriteGeorge Winston (Secretary of the Treasury) in Executive Orders – TraderArnold Van Damm (White House Chief of Staff) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – CarpenterCallie Weston (Chief Speechwriter) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – CalliopeScott Adler (Secretary of State) in Executive Orders and The Bear and the Dragon – EagleBenjamin Goodley (National Security Advisor) in Executive Orders – CardsharpElizabeth Eliot (National Security Advisor) in Sum of All Fears – HarpyThe West WingPresident Jed Bartlet – Eagle or LibertyZoey Bartlet – BookbagC. J. Cregg – FlamingoSam Seaborn – PrincetonGus Westin (Grandson of Jed Bartlet) – TonkaArnold Vinick – Big SurThe Prodigal DaughterPresident Florentyna Kane – BaronessVantage PointHenry Ashton – EagleThe Last JihadPresident James MacPherson – GambitVice President Lewis Rhodes – TopekaVice President Bill Oaks – CheckmateShooterPresident – FlashlightAir Force OnePresident James Marshall – Boy ScoutHouse of CardsFrank Underwood – Little John (as Vice President), Big John (as President)ScandalPresident Fitzgerald Grant – FalconFirst Lady Mellie Grant – FoxtailVeepPresident/Vice-President Selina Meyer – DuchessMadam SecretaryPresident Conrad Dalton – FalconDesignated SurvivorThomas "Tom" Kirkman – Glasses (as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development), Phoenix (as President)
