The Dec. 1, 2008, Time Magazine had an interesting article by Alex Altman about the US Secret Service.
It said that it was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln the very day that he was killed and that they had been guarding Obama (code-named "Renegade")longer than any presidential candidate in history, since May 2007.
Today there are over 3,200 members guarding the president, first family, candidates for high office and visiting dignitaries. They were originally created to stop counterfeiting back when one of every three bills was fake. Presidential security only became a formal objective after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, and officially in 1951 after an attempt on President Truman's life.
Their demeanor, sunglasses, ear pieces and constant scanning, is well known.
They still keep an eye on fiscal matters.
IN THE LINE OF FIRE
1865-- Set up under chief William Wood
1963-- President John F. Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, the only time a sitting chief executive killed while under agency protection.
1968-- Robert F. Kennedy assassinated. Agency begins protecting presidential candidates.
1981-- Agent Tim McCarthy leaps in front of a bullet intended for President Reagan, fired by John Hinckley, Jr.
2003-- Agency becomes part of newly-created Department of Homeland Security.
An Interesting History of a Little-Known Branch of the Government. --Cooter
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