MUSE? The Stories Behind Secret Service Code Names For Past Presidents and Spouses

Part of Day One initiation into the White House for a president taking office is the reception of a new name – a code name that is, for Secret Service to use during his time in office.

Every member of the first family – the first lady and the president’s children – also get nicknames as part of the protocol.

Although these code names were originally formed for security reasons and kept top-secret, all that changed in current times with the rapid adoption and expansion of technology.

Because the code names get leaked much easier than they used to, they’re now used mostly for brevity and out of tradition.

That said, Secret Service code names are still part of the presidential package; and, they’re not going away any time soon!

Here’s a list of the some of the best Secret Service code names for past presidents and first ladies:

1 Eleanor Roosevelt: Rover

Franklin D. Roosevelt did not have a code name, but first lady Eleanor earned hers when she journeyed to England with "Rover's Rangers."
2 Harry S. Truman: General

Harry S. Truman was the first president to use a Secret Service code name. It was "General."
3 Dwight Eisenhower: Scorecard & Providence

Eisenhow had not one, but two Secret Service code names: "Scorecard" and "Providence!"
4 Mamie Eisenhower: Springtime

Mamie Eisenhower's code name "Springtime" was revealed by author Raplh Abertazzie, who wrote The Flying White House: The Story of Air Force One.
5 John F. Kennedy: Lancer

JFK's code name was inspired by the King Arthur legend Lancelot about an honorable knight. This was fitting since his administration was often compared to the Arthurian court of Camelot.
6 Jackie Kennedy: Lace

Fashion icon and first lady Jackie Kennedy's code name came from her penchant for wearing lace, particularly during her wedding day to then-senator John.
7 Richard Nixon: Searchlight

He may have been an embarrassment to our nation, but his code name is probably the most ironic on this list!
8 Pat Nixon: Starlight

Pat Nixon's code name echoed her spouse's and was equally as ironic!
9 Gerald Ford: Passkey

Another ironic one: "Passkey" was the code name of Gerald Ford who granted Nixon “a full, free, and absolute pardon.”
10 Jimmy Carter: Deacon

The Baptist president who taught Sunday School even after stepping into office was nicknamed "Deacon" to reflect his faith.
11 Rosalynn Carter: Lotus Petal

Jimmy Carter's wife, Rosalynn's code name mirrored her floral first name.
12 Ronald Reagan: Rawhide

With his past of playing cowboys in the movies and love of the Wild West, it's not hard to see why Reagan's code name became "Rawhide" when he was elected president!
13 Nancy Reagan: Rainbow

Nancy Reagan's Secret Service code name was "Rainbow." On the day of her passing, a beautiful, huge rainbow appeared over a favorite golf course of the Reagans in Palm Springs. Coincidence or divinity?
14 George H.W. Bush: Timberwolf

"Timberwolf" is the name of the largest member of the dog family. Some speculate that it was used as the code name for the first Bush to be president because of his big family and their influential role on politics.
15 Barbara Bush: Tranquility

After her passing, former member of the Secret Service Jonathan Wackrow commented on the reasoning behind Barbara Bush's code name "Tranquility." He said it, "exemplified her demeanor and its calming, humanizing and gentle effect on those around her."
16 Bill Clinton: Eagle

Perhaps out of irony, Bill Clinton was given the code name "Eagle" despite never reaching the rank while he was a Boy Scout.
17 Hillary Clinton: Evergreen

Hillary Clinton's code name was "Evergreen" while she was first lady. She re-used this during her campaign against Trump in 2016.
18 George W. Bush: Trailblazer

The second Bush to be president changed his nickname from his days in the White House under his father's presidency from "Tumbler" to "Trailblazer" after stepping into office.
19 Barack Obama: Renegade

According to reports, Barack Obama chose "Renegade" from a list of options given to him of names that began with "R."
20 Michelle Obama: Renaissance

Michelle Obama's code name stuck with the trend of words that began with "R" for the the 44th first family.
21 Donald Trump: Mogul

President Trump's code name is "Mogul" in reference to his decades spent in the real estate industry. How awesome is that?
22 Melania Trump: Muse

Melania's code name does not take much explaining! The beautiful, elegant former model earns the nickname "Muse!"