Have any Secret Service agents died protecting the President?
Asked by: Mustafa Nicolas | Last update: January 29, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (42 votes)
Yes, at least one Secret Service officer, Leslie Coffelt, died protecting President Harry S. Truman in 1950 during an assassination attempt, and while other agents were shot (like Tim McCarthy), Coffelt is the only one killed in the line of duty while guarding a president from an assassination attempt. Agent Clint Hill famously tried to shield President John F. Kennedy, but wasn't killed, though the events haunted him.
Has any president ever refused Secret Service protection?
On January 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, reinstating lifetime Secret Service protection for his predecessor George W. Bush, himself, and all subsequent presidents. Richard Nixon relinquished his Secret Service protection in 1985, the only president to do so.
How much do Secret Service agents who guard the president make?
A Secret Service agent's salary is based on the General Schedule (GS) pay scale. New agents usually start at the GL-7 or GL-9 pay grade. This base pay often ranges from $49,000 to $77,000. Agents also earn Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP), adding an extra 25% to their salary.
Which president was called Headache by the Secret Service?
Presidency of Bill Clinton
During his brother's presidential campaign and subsequent administration, Clinton was given the codename "Headache" by the Secret Service due to his controversial behavior.
Who was the Secret Service agent who protected Kennedy?
Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who tried to shield the Kennedys, dies at 93 Hill received Secret Service awards and was promoted for his actions that day, but for decades blamed himself for Kennedy's death, saying he would gladly have given his life to save the president.
Secret Service Agent Commits Suicide Amid Affair Probe | NewsBreaker | Ora TV
Did Clint Hill save Jackie Kennedy's life?
Yes, Secret Service Agent Clint Hill is widely credited with saving Jacqueline Kennedy's life during the JFK assassination by leaping onto the moving limousine and pushing her back into the seat to shield her from further harm. While he couldn't save President Kennedy, his heroic, split-second actions prevented Mrs. Kennedy from falling or being hit as she tried to climb out of the car after the shots were fired.
Who was Obama's Secret Service agent?
A 27-year veteran of the Secret Service, Joseph P. Clancy was appointed Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division on February 1, 2009. Mr. Clancy held this position until his retirement from the Secret Service on June 30, 2011.
Who is the least popular first lady?
Melania Trump is often cited as the least popular First Lady in modern polling history, particularly at the end of her husband's presidency, leaving the White House with historically low final approval ratings, according to CNN and Washingtonian, due to factors like her low profile, partisan polarization, and disconnect with public expectations, despite some admirers finding her graceful and elegant.
Which president pardoned his brother?
Hearst's sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter, and she was pardoned by President Bill Clinton. Roger Clinton, the president's brother, was pardoned for drug charges after having served the entire sentence more than a decade earlier.
Who are the 36 people the Secret Service protects?
Who and What We Protect
- The President of the United States.
- The Vice President of the United States.
- The president's and vice president's immediate families.
- Former presidents, their spouses and their minor children under the age of 16.
- Foreign heads of state and their spouses visiting the United States.
Does the Secret Service go to the bathroom with the president?
Yes, Secret Service agents are always nearby and often in the bathroom with the President, especially outside the private residence, to ensure security, though they try to give privacy in highly controlled spaces like the White House residence where agents usually wait outside an unlocked door. The core mission is protection, so agents remain within steps or just outside the door, even during seemingly private moments, as the President is never truly alone.
What is the average pension for a Secret Service agent?
The money can be substantial. On top of their federal pensions--under a plan that paid out an average of $42,768 per retiree last year--the former agents draw annual salaries ranging from $60,000 to $122,000 in their new federal jobs, according to pension data and employee records.
How much does a president's bodyguard make?
A US Presidential bodyguard (Secret Service Agent) salary varies significantly with experience, grade, and location, but generally starts lower (around $47k-$88k for agents) and can reach over $100k, with senior agents or those on special assignments earning much more, potentially over $150k-$300k, plus overtime and benefits, though specific high-profile figures have seen large payments.
Do presidents get a lifetime pension?
Benefits Available to Former Presidents
In addition, each former President is authorized to receive a lifetime federal pension, travel funds, and franked mail privileges. Separate statutes provide U.S. Secret Service protection to former Presidents.
What was Hillary Clinton's code name?
Vice presidents and their families
From left to right: President Bill Clinton, codename "Eagle"; Chelsea Clinton, codename "Energy"; Senator Hillary Clinton, codename "Evergreen"; Vice President Al Gore, codename "Sundance".
What was Melania Trump's code name?
Melania Trump's official Secret Service code name was "Muse," chosen to complement her husband Donald Trump's code name "Mogul," reflecting her background as a former model. However, some reports from her former chief of staff, Stephanie Grisham, also suggest she was nicknamed "Rapunzel" by some Secret Service agents because she rarely left the White House.
Who cannot be pardoned by the president?
The President of the United States may pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the United States. They may also pardon anyone who commits a federal offense against the District of Columbia. The president cannot grant pardons for violations of state laws.
Did Bill Clinton pardon anyone?
As president, Clinton used his power under the U.S. Constitution to grant pardons and clemency to 456 people, thus commuting the sentences of those already convicted of a crime, and obviating a trial for those not yet convicted.
Did Melania Trump do anything as first lady?
Yes, Melania Trump has actively engaged in various initiatives as First Lady, primarily through her "Be Best" campaign focusing on children's well-being, advocating for mental health, online safety (cyberbullying), and supporting military families, while also hosting events, traveling with the President, and overseeing White House functions like the garden and social events, even securing executive orders on foster care and AI education.
Who is a forgotten president?
Miguel Malvar is often considered the "forgotten president" of the Philippines. He took over as president of the First Philippine Republic after Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces in 1901 ¹. Malvar's presidency, however, is not officially recognized by the Philippine government.
Does Melania Trump have dual citizenship?
Yes, Melania Trump has dual citizenship, being a citizen of both her birth country, Slovenia, and the United States, as she became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006 after moving to New York in 1996, making her a dual national, which is permitted under both Slovenian and U.S. law.
What was Obama's GPA?
Barack Obama reportedly had a 3.7 GPA when he graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1983, though official records aren't public; his biographer cited this figure after Obama mentioned it, highlighting his academic ability.
Do former presidents get a plane?
When authorized by the President, Government air- craft may be used by a former President for transition purposes. When deemed necessary for protective pur- poses chartered aircraft may also be used by a former President in winding up the affairs of his Presidency.
Who is the most educated president in America?
The most educated U.S. President is Woodrow Wilson, the only one to earn a Ph.D., which he received in History and Political Science from Johns Hopkins University, also serving as President of Princeton University before his presidency. Other highly educated presidents include James Madison (Princeton, Law), John Quincy Adams (Harvard), John Adams (Harvard), and modern presidents like Barack Obama (Columbia, Harvard Law) and George W. Bush (Yale, Harvard MBA), but Wilson's doctorate sets him apart academically.