2. Protecting the Leader of America Evolution of Presidential Protection

3. Threats Before Presidency George Washington needed protection from both the British and American Tories (Loyalists) There was at least one known assassination plot against Washington by New York Tories His earliest protection was his slave, Billy Lee, who accompanied General Washington throughout the Revolutionary War and all of its battles Washington also established a personal bodyguard of soldiers known as the “Life Guard”

4. Billy Lee Bought by Washington in 1768, William Lee was groomed as a personal servant Accomplished rider and hunting partner of Washington, and served faithfully during Revolutionary War Freed in Washington’s will and lived out the rest of his years at Mount Vernon

5. Life Guards Established in March 1776 to protect Washington and his baggage Fought in battles Requirements of Washington- “be from five feet eight inches to five feet ten inches, handsomely and well made” Numbered 50, disbanded after the war

6. Pre-Lincoln Protection Although a mentally disturbed person wandered into the White House threatening President Adams’ life, there was no official Presidential protection For special events, local police would be used for crowd control/security but President was often in public with very limited, or no, protection from possible assassination Many Presidents, including Lincoln, resisted attempts to increase security, feeling it would limit their movements and public presence

7. Lincoln Assassination Despite pleas from many, Lincoln resisted increasing his security even during the Civil War Near the end of the war, he allowed Washington Metropolitan Police to guard him while out in public His police guard had left his post the night of Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre Despite the assassination, Presidential protection did not change

9. Origins of the Secret Service July 5, 1865- Secret Service formed as part of U.S. Treasury Department to stop counterfeiters 1867- mission expanded to include “detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government” 1894- Secret Service begins informal protection of President Garfield after assassination plot discovered Informal protection for traveling Presidents continued 1902, after McKinley assassination, Secret Service assumes official, full-time Presidential protection

10. Expansion of Secret Service Protection 1908- Secret Service protection of President-elect 1917- Congress expands protection to President’s immediate family, Presidential threats federal crime 1951- protection expanded to Vice-President 1961- protection for ex-Presidents begins 1965- protection for ex-President’s spouse/children 1968- after RFK assassination, protection expanded to Presidential candidates and nominees 1971- protection of foreign heads of state, and official guests of U.S. government

11. Secret Service post-9/11 2001- jurisdiction expanded to include computer-based financial crime/terrorism 2002- Secret Service transferred from U.S. Treasury Department to newly created Department of Homeland Security 2007- Secret Service protection begins in May for Illinois Senator/Presidential candidate Barrack Obama, earliest protection ever (candidate Hillary Clinton already under Secret Service Protection due to status as spouse of ex- President Bill Clinton)

13. Presidential Assassinations Abraham Lincoln- shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre Apr. 14, 1865, died next day James Garfield- shot by Charles Guiteau in train station on July 2, 1881, died of blood poisoning on September 19, 1881 William McKinley- shot by Leon Czolgosz at Pan- American Exhibit on September 6, 1901, died eight days later John F. Kennedy- shot and killed by Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas motorcade on November 22, 1963

15. Presidential Assassination Attempts Andrew Jackson- Jan. 30, 1835 Richard Lawrence shot at him at a funeral, both guns misfired Theodore Roosevelt- Oct. 14, 1912 shot by John Shrank at speech, hit in chest but blocked by thick speech Franklin D. Roosevelt- Feb. 15, 1933 shot at by Giuseppie Zangara in Miami, missed FDR Harry Truman- Nov. 1, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationals attacked Blair House, killed by guards Gerald Ford- Sept. 1975, threatened, shot at, by two women, Lynnette Fromme/Sara Jane Moore Ronald Reagan- Mar. 30, 1981, shot in lung by John Hinkley Jr., trying to impress actress Jodi Foster

16. Reagan Assassination Attempt

17. Research Project With your group, choose one presidential assassination, or attempt, to research Choose a U.S. President or other world leader You will have two days to research and one day to put your presentation together Your group’s presentation should include information about the event, the leader, the assassin, motives, protection or lack of, etc. Presentation should have visual aids, include a typed 1-2 page summary with a minimum of 3 sources listed in your bibliography