# POTUS ~ Question about Perks **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932 "2008-12-28T05:42:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gus\_Handsome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Gus\_Handsome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gus_Handsome)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/1 "2008-12-28T05:42:15Z")
So I heard that the POTUS has a yearly salary of $400,000, and that he receives this salary for life, regardless if he only serves one term or two. Is this true? Indexed? Also, do they get Secret Service protection for the rest of their lives? So lets say President Obama retires after serving one term at the age of 51, he gets 400k for the rest of his life, and a Secret Service detail forever and ever? I wonder how many agents they asign to a former President who has been retired for 20+ years and is yesterday’s news. I just find this stuff very interesting. Thank you Gus ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/2 "2008-12-28T05:44:40Z")
I’ve never heard that the president gets that salary for life. That claim sounds rather dubious and unnecessary, especially when you consider the kind of cash a former president can rake in doing speeches. Clinton was the last president to receive lifetime SS protection, as he signed a bill limiting SS protection for former presidents to 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![mrpayday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@mrpayday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrpayday)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/3 "2008-12-28T05:54:05Z")
According to this he get’s a pension equal to the pay of a cabinet secretary, $191,300. > **[Frequently Asked Reference Questions | Internet Public Library](https://www.ipl.org/div/farq/pensionfarq.html)** > > Salaries and Retirement Benefits of U.S. Presidents and Other Federal Government Employees Example Questions That Can Be Answered Using This FAQ How much does the President make in a year? What is the pension amount given to former Presidents and... ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/4 "2008-12-28T07:01:57Z")
Bush will get lifetime protection as well. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/5 "2008-12-28T07:41:57Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > Bush will get lifetime protection as well. No, he won’t. The Secret Service’s own [FAQ](http://www.secretservice.gov/faq.shtml#faq9) agrees with **BrandonR** ’s statement above. The statute the FAQ cites, PL 103-329, was signed by President Clinton on Sep. 30, 1994. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/6 "2008-12-28T18:23:41Z")
^ Bush will probably get protection even past 10 years, with the WOT it was agreed that the decision was hasty. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/7 "2008-12-31T19:39:58Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/8 "2008-12-31T19:43:36Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > Bush is the SON of a president. BUSH SR and his FAMILY get protection. BUSH JR would get protection because he is BUSH SR SON Nope, read the FAQ > [@](#): > > Children of former presidents until age 16 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/9 "2008-12-31T19:46:52Z")
[spooky] It’s a voice from beyond the edit window [/spooky] ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/10 "2008-12-31T20:23:24Z")
I did read it. That is why i edited it. At one time i read that it was his immediate family also gets it. That article has changed since i last read it. They took out a question about the firearms that they carry which I was going to use as an example as the FAQ being incomplete ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/11 "2008-12-31T20:27:14Z")
Quick question: Is ‘perk’ an acceptable form of ‘perquisite’ now, as opposed to ‘perq’? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/12 "2008-12-31T20:37:39Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > ^ > Bush will probably get protection even past 10 years, with the WOT it was agreed that the decision was hasty. What if Obama declares peace with Terror? Or victory over it? “Sorry, W, but nobody wants you dead any more.” ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/13 "2008-12-31T20:44:34Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Quick question: Is ‘perk’ an acceptable form of ‘perquisite’ now, as opposed to ‘perq’? According to the OED, yes: > [@](#): > > A small privilege or perquisite customarily due to a member of a particular organization, rank, profession, etc.; an unofficial or fringe benefit enjoyed by an employee; an advantage or benefit arising from a situation. However, it has been in use since 1869, so “now” doesn’t seem to have the meaning you infer. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/14 "2008-12-31T21:01:33Z")
> [@tofergregg](#): > > According to the OED, yes: > > However, it has been in use since 1869, so “now” doesn’t seem to have the meaning you infer. Hm. I’ve only recently seen it spelled with a ‘k’. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/15 "2008-12-31T21:02:28Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Hm. I’ve only recently seen it spelled with a ‘k’. > > Thanks. I’ve never seen it spelled with a ‘q’. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potus-question-about-perks/478932/16 "2008-12-31T21:06:19Z")
I’ve always seen it spelled with a K, “Perks of the job,” and whatnot…