Starting from the early 1900s, Secret Service codenames have been given to presidents, vice presidents, first ladies, and other prominent individuals.
In the past, the main objective of using them was to provide an additional level of protection while communicating through unsecured technology. However, now their function has evolved into a more administrative and organizational role.
According to a spokesperson from the Secret Service, as reported by The Washington Post, the names on the list should not be analyzed too closely since they are selected arbitrarily by the White House for the potential candidate to choose from.
On July 15th, JD Vance was revealed as Trump’s running mate for the 2024 presidential campaign, only two days after the former president narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. Since then, Vance has been given a secret codename of his own.
As per the report by the Daily Mail, the Ohio senator is referred to as “Bobcat” by the agents responsible for his protection.
Individuals vying for a position can select their own codename from a roster provided by the White House Communications Agency.
Candidates choose names that are easy to pronounce and unambiguous when communicating over the radio. These names are often personal and symbolic, reflecting the candidate’s personality.
For instance, let’s consider the monikers “Mogul” and “Muse” that refer to former President Trump and his wife, Melania, respectively. Similarly, “Celtic” and “Capri” are used for President Biden and first lady Jill. Another example is “Pioneer,” which is used to refer to Vice President Kamala Harris.
Families often have designated codenames that begin with the same letter to identify members.
During his brief stint as Trump’s running mate, Vance has faced criticism for his controversial remarks. He referred to Democratic women as a “bunch of childless cat ladies with miserable lives” who are contributing to the country’s misery.
According to the government website of the Canadian province of Alberta, where bobcats roam freely, these medium-sized cats are naturally shy of humans. Vance, being from Ohio, is well aware of the native bobcat population in the area.
As a passionate Ohio football fan, the former Marine proudly attended Ohio State University, where the football team is famously referred to as the Bobcats.
Originally hailing from Jackson, Kentucky, the family of the 39-year-old has roots tied to the Breathitt County Bobcats, the local high school sports team.
During his four-year tenure as Vice President to Trump from 2017 to 2021, Mike Pence, a native of Indiana, opted for the moniker “Hoosier,” which refers to an Indiana resident.
At times, the nicknames may not be as complimentary, but they are just as individualized.
Former President Bill Clinton’s younger half-brother, Roger Clinton, spent over a year in prison due to drug-related offenses. During his time, he was commonly referred to as “Headache” by the Secret Service.
According to a statement given to The New York Times, “I don’t have the option of being the elder brother.”
During his time as a Massachusetts senator, Ted Kennedy was often seen playing flag football in Hyannis Port with his pale skin exposed to the sun. In fact, he was given the codename “Sunburn” – a nod to his susceptibility to sunburns due to his fair complexion.
