The Secret Service Code Names of 10 First Ladies
In the chaos of a post-Civil War America, the federal law enforcement agency known as the Secret Service was formed as a branch of the U.S. Treasury Department. Back then, they weren’t the elite presidential protection unit we know today, but a critical line of defense against the rampant counterfeiting that threatened the nation’s financial stability. But that changed after the 1901 assassination of President William McKinley, when the Secret Service was assigned a new role that would redefine its legacy: protecting the nation’s political leaders and visiting foreign dignitaries.
One of the more fascinating aspects of the Secret Service is the use of code names when referring to the president, vice president, their family members, and key officials. Harry S. Truman became the first president to be assigned an official code name — “General” — in 1945, though Secret Service agents had code names for at least two first ladies before that. The practice began as advancements in communication technology called for more robust protocols for protecting leaders’ anonymity. And even though technology has evolved since the mid-20th century, the code name tradition persists as a simple way of communicating between agents. Here are 10 first ladies whose unique Secret Service code names offer some insight into this quirky aspect of political history.
Edith Wilson: Grandma
When Edith and Woodrow Wilson married in 1915, he was two years into his first term as president and both had been previously married and widowed. Edith became the first presidential spouse to be given a Secret Service agent, and during her courtship with the president, she was assigned the code name “Grandma.” There is no indication why the Secret Service chose this seemingly unsuitable name, as Edith was only 43 years old when she married Woodrow — 15 years his junior — and not a grandmother.
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Eleanor Roosevelt: Rover
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt suspected her husband, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, might have had something to do with choosing her Secret Service code name. She was known as “Rover,” and those who accompanied her were called “Rover’s Rangers.” She was assigned the name during World War II, when she traveled to England to visit American servicemen and observe women’s roles in the war effort. However, there is no record of the Secret Service having an official code name for FDR.
Bess Truman: Sunnyside
First Lady Bess Truman’s code name was “Sunnyside,” thought to be a reflection of her warmhearted personality (rather than her egg preference). Her husband Harry S. Truman, who chose the code name “General” for himself, despite never achieving that rank during his military service, was also assigned the code name “Supervise.” He was possibly given this alternative name because “General” could refer to someone of that rank accompanying the president.
Jacqueline Kennedy: Lace
Traditionally, the code names given to a presidential family all start with the same letter. Once someone is assigned Secret Service protection, they choose their code name from an approved list of names kept by the White House Communications Agency. The Kennedy administration’s comparison to Camelot is highlighted by President John F. Kennedy’s choice of code name, “Lancer,” presumably a nod to Sir Lancelot, while his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, was aptly known as “Lace,” reflecting her elegance. During JFK’s brief presidency, the White House code name was “Crown.”
Rosalynn Carter: Dancer
Jimmy Carter’s code name, “Deacon,” reflected his strong religious faith, while his wife Rosalynn’s code name, “Dancer,” echoed her love for dancing. Before their White House years, the Carters lived in Hawaii during Jimmy’s time in the Navy, where Rosalynn became, according to her grandson Josh Carter, “a champion hula dancer.” Rosalynn’s passion for dance extended beyond hula, though. She wrote in her autobiography that she and Jimmy loved to dance together, and she enjoyed choosing entertainment for White House events, which featured performers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater over the years.
Nancy Reagan: Rainbow
Before Ronald Reagan entered politics, his acting career included a number of roles in Western films, making his code name “Rawhide” a fitting choice. First Lady Nancy Reagan’s name, “Rainbow,” isn’t as obvious, though one biography suggests it referred to the many colors of her personality.
Hillary Clinton: Evergreen
Although the Secret Service claims that code names aren’t tied to the personalities of those assigned, some designations do reflect aspects of the people they represent. Bill Clinton’s “Eagle” (possibly a reference to his time as an Eagle Scout) and Hillary’s “Evergreen” seem well matched, while their daughter Chelsea’s “Energy” captured the youthful vibe of a teenager in the White House. Hillary continued to use “Evergreen” during her 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns, making the name particularly fitting for the former first lady.
Laura Bush: Tempo
Laura Bush, wife of former President George W. Bush, was assigned the code name “Tempo” to go along with the president’s code name, “Trailblazer.” The president, however, had a different code name when his father, George H.W. Bush, known as “Timberwolf,” was president: “Tumbler.”
Michelle Obama: Renaissance
When presented with a list of code names beginning with the letter “R” during his presidential campaign, former President Barack Obama chose “Renegade,” and First Lady Michelle Obama selected “Renaissance.” Some believe that Michelle’s name reflected her goal to rejuvenate and redefine the traditional role of first lady.
Jill Biden: Capri
First Lady Jill Biden’s code name, “Capri,” remains the same as when she was second lady and is likely a nod to her Italian heritage. President Joe Biden also kept his Irish-inspired code name, “Celtic,” from his time as vice president.
