The Best Secret Service Code Names

Originally, Secret Service code names were used for security purposes; however today, the code names serve the purpose of brevity, clarity, and tradition more than anything else. Click through for some of the greatest code names ever granted to the men and women who have served this great country, the United States of America. Prepare yourself though, some of the names are more hilarious than they are honorable.

Al Gore – Sawhorse or Sundance

Long before Al Gore became a champion for environmental issues, he served as the Vice President under Bill Clinton’s term in office. During this time, he went by two Secret Service code names: Sundance and Sawhorse. Both of which are equally impressive to say the least!

Alexander Haig – Clawhammer

When Haig was a United States Army General, he admirably was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster, and also the Purple Heart. After such, he served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and as White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Making his code name of Clawhammer a darn good one.

Paul Ryan – Bowhunter

Currently, Paul Ryan serves as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He has served in politics since 1999 and perhaps his code name of Bowhunter stems from his love of hunting. Who knows?

Prince Charles – Unicorn

That’s right, even Prince Charles has a code name, albeit a whimsical one, Unicorn. As the first grandchild of King George VI, this does make some sense.

Barbara Bush – Snowbank or Tranquility

The wife of George H. W. Bush, the 41st President, served as First Lady from 1989 to 1993 and as Second Lady from 1981 to 1989. During her time as First Lady of the United States, Barbara worked to advance universal literacy, founding the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. With her two code names of Snowbank or Tranquility, it all seems to make sense with her personality and charm.

Ben Carson – Eli

As you may know, Ben Carson is a neurosurgeon, author, and politician who is serving as the current United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, under the Trump Administration. His code name of Eli may have biblical connotations to him personally or it could have something to do with the fact that he’s a huge fan of Eli Manning.

Bernie Sanders – Intrepid

A lot was revealed and learned about Bernie Sanders during his 2016 U.S. Presidential campaign, especially concerning his long and impressive career in politics. His Secret Service code name is insanely accurate to his character, intrepid means fearless or adventurous.

Betty Ford – Pinafore

Betty Ford was a powerhouse First Lady, becoming one of the most candid First Ladies in history, commenting on every single hot-button issue of the time, including feminism, equal pay, the ERA, drugs, abortion, sex, and gun control. Pinafore raised breast cancer awareness following her own 1974 mastectomy, as well as addiction when she announced her personal long-running battle with alcoholism and substance abuse, becoming the first First Lady to ever do so.

Bill Clinton – Eagle

At 46, Bill Clinton became the third-youngest President and was the first from the Baby Boomer generation. However in 1998, Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives. During his career, he was granted the code name, Eagle.

Michelle Obama – Renaissance

Ugh, Michelle Obama, you are sorely missed! The Former First Lady inspired so many of us in more ways than we can possibly fathom. She became a fashion icon, a true role model for women, and a loud advocate for poverty awareness, physical activity, nutrition, and healthy eating. Ensuring that her code name would of course be: Renaissance.

Dick Cheney – Angler

Dick Cheney, or Angler, served as 46th Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009, under President George W. Bush. Cheney had a leading behind-the-scenes role in the administration’s response to the September 11 attacks and also the coordination of the Global War on Terrorism.

Dwight Eisenhower – Scorecard or Providence

The five-star Army general also served as the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961. Eisenhower goes down in history as one of the greatest U.S. Presidents, making his code names of Scorecard or Providence truly fitting.

Edith Wilson – Grandma

‘Grandma’ was the First Lady from 1915 to 1921 and was also the first First Lady to have assumed presidential functions following President Wilson’s severe stroke. She screened all matters of state and decided which were the most important to bring to the bedridden President.

Ronald Reagan – Rawhide

There are many who argue that Ronald Reagan’s term in office helped to restore faith in the American Dream with his unyielding and passionate love for the United States. As such, this makes his code name a tad weird but it could be worse than Rawhide.

Sarah Palin – Denali

Sarah Palin had the distinct pleasure and honor to be the first Alaskan AND the first Republican woman nominated for the Vice Presidency in 2008. During the campaign trail, Palin went by the Secret Service code name of Denali.

Eleanor Roosevelt – Rover

Whether you remember her as ~the~ longest-serving First Lady of the United States or as the First Lady of the World, thanks to her many human rights achievements – no one can deny that Eleanor Roosevelt was a powerhouse of inspiration. As such, her Secret Service code needed to convey the same message, ergo meet Rover. There are few who speculate the name was inspired by her furry four-legged best friend.

George Herbert Walker Bush – Timberwolf

George H. W. Bush, or Timberwolf, has a long standing history of excellence achievements, and not just as a former President and Vice President. After the Pearl Harbor attacks, he enlisted in the Navy, became the youngest aviator at the time. Upon his return, he attended Yale University, entered the oil business, and became a millionaire by 40. He also served in the House of Representatives and was Director of Central Intelligence, among other positions. Timberwolf is a jack of all trades!

Melania Trump – Muse

Up next is the current First Lady of the United States and you probably already know a ton about her personal life so we won’t bore you with the details. We will however say that her husband, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested that her code name be Model.

George W. Bush – Tumbler, later Trailblazer

George W. Bush was one of the most popular and unpopular Presidents in history – that’s quite the accolade to rack up. During his two terms in office, his code names were Tumbler and later was changed to Trailblazer.

Gerald Ford – Pass Key

Ford was the 38th President, following the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Prior to this he served as Vice President, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew. He was also the first person appointed to the Vice Presidency under the 25th Amendment, and subsequently was also the only person to date who served as both Vice President and President without being elected to executive office. His Secret Service code name of Pass Key (Passkey) is certainly a head scratcher.

Barack Obama – Renegade

Ladies and gentleman, there is nothing we couldn’t tell you about Barack Obama that you don’t already know. He served as the 44th President of the United States, becoming the first African American and the first to be born outside the contiguous United States to have served as President. His legacy will forever remain and we do admire his cheeky code name of Renegade.

Happy Rockefeller – Shooting Star or Star Dust

Happy Rockefeller was more than just the Second Lady of the United States, she was also chairman of the board for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and was appointed public delegate to the United Nations by President George H. W. Bush back in 1991. So with code names like Shooting Star or Star Dust, it fits her personality and work in office.

Henry Kissinger – Woodcutter

Kissinger’s experience and talent as a diplomat and political scientist made him a shoo-in to serve as Secretary of State under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Additionally with his genius mind, it turns out Kissinger was a lover of carpentry which explains his code name of Woodcutter.

Ivanka Trump – Marvel

There is probably nothing we could tell you about Ivanka Trump that you don’t already know, including the fact that she serves as Assistant to the President Donald Trump, her father. The Secret Service has given her the code name, Marvel, which is truly fitting for someone of her nature.

Jackie Kennedy – Lace

As we all know, Jackie Kennedy was the wife of the 35th President, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady from 1961 until JFK’s tragic assassination in 1963. She is easily one of the most popular First Ladies, respected greatly for her lifelong contributions to the arts, as well as her grace and elegance. This fashion icon’s code name was rightfully Lace.

Jenna Bush – Twinkle

You already know who Jenna Bush’s parents are so we won’t bore you with the details. We will however tell you that she and her sister Barbara were the first (!) twin children of a U.S. President. Currently Jenna is a teacher, author, and journalist who has had the code name of Twinkle. Interesting.

John F. Kennedy – Lancer

JFK was the beloved 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his tragic assassination in November 1963. His average approval rating was 70%, which is the highest of ~any~ President. Making his Secret Service code name the very cool, Lancer.

John Kerry – Minuteman

If you remember ‘Minuteman’ was the Democratic nominee in the 2004 presidential election, losing to Republican incumbent George W. Bush by just 35 electoral votes. Kerry went on to serve as States Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017.

Lyndon B. Johnson – Volunteer

The Texan Democrat served as the 36th President of the United State, having assumed office after serving as Vice President under President John F. Kennedy. LBJ’s service to his country is one that paved the way for modern liberalism to take hold and breed, which only explains his fitting code name – Volunteer.

Meghan McCain – Peter Sellers (Peter)

Meghan McCain is the daughter of 2008 Presidential nominee and U.S. Senator John McCain. She gained a ton of media attention for her blog, McCain Blogette, where she documented life on the campaign trail and commented on things like fashion, music, and pop culture. No one knows why her Secret Service was Peter Sellers but she admitted in an interview, “I have nothing but horrible experiences with the Secret Service . . . I found them cliquey. I hated all of them.”

Mike Pence – Hoosier

The current Vice President of the United States, folks, goes by the Secret Service code name of Hoosier. His code name makes a ton of sense considering he’s from Indiana, home of Hoosier pride.

Mitt Romney – Javelin

Mitt Romney, or Javelin, was Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, then in 2012, he became the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States. However he lost that race to Democratic President Barack Obama.

Nancy Reagan – Rainbow

The classy Nancy Reagan was an actress, just like her husband, before diving into politics due to Ronald’s ambitions but it was a title she championed to her legacy. During her term as First Lady, she fought against recreational drug prevention causes by founding the “Just Say No” awareness campaign; she also had a strong influence on her husband, playing a role in some of his personnel and diplomatic decisions. Nancy’s high end fashion choices were well known, that with her strong, witty personality earned her the code name: Rainbow.

Nelson Rockefeller – Sandstorm

Nelson Rockefeller, or Sandstorm, served as the Vice President under President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. There were many Republicans who viewed Rockefeller as politically liberal and progressive, sometimes even moderate. However his legacy is one that has stood the tale of time and continues to do so.

Donald Trump – Mogul

We really don’t need to tell you much about Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States, because like most people all over the globe, you know everything already! The President’s Secret Service code name is that of Mogul, which means an important or powerful person, especially in the media industry.

Richard Nixon – Searchlight

As if you didn’t already know but Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974, becoming the only U.S. President to ever resign from office. Maybe his Secret Service code name of Searchlight hits a little too close to home with the whole Watergate scandal, then again, maybe not.

Hillary Clinton – Evergreen

Ahem, we could talk for ages and ages about all the accolades that Hillary Clinton has racked up in her many years of service, but you probably know all about it. So instead, we’ll just skip forward to the fact that her code was that of Evergreen. Fitting? Possibly.

Ted Kennedy – Sunburn

Ted Kennedy is more than the youngest brother of US President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, both who were victims of assassination. He became the second most senior member of the Senate when he died and was also the fourth longest serving Senator in history, serving for almost 47 years. That’s what makes his code name so odd, Sunburn. How are we even supposed to react to that?