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 Citing 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 HeadacheWatson, Robert. "Life in the White House: A Social History of the First Family and The President's House". State University of New York Press, 2004, p. 125. 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 Doug Emhoff – PlaymakerKamala Harris Reveals the Secret Service Code Names Ella and Cole Emhoff Chose for Themselves 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 DeaconCarter character and career analyzed anew 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 – LaserThe Fix-Here are the 2016 candidates’ Secret Service code names — and your own 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-RexMartin Bashir Aired on April 27, 2012 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
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 – Halohttps://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-secret-service-codenames/story?id=15962814
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)William Manchester, The Death of a President, 1967 – 'vocabulary' pages 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 – HawkeyeThe Secret Service is investigating how a man who shot and injured Trump was able to get so close 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 ScoutAir Force One script The American President President Andrew Shepherd – Liberty Chasing Liberty First Daughter Anna Foster – Liberty Designated Survivor