# Secret Service Code Names for the Obamas **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577 "2008-11-07T01:48:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/41 "2008-11-09T09:08:45Z")
> [@Ducktail](#): > > I dunno, if they were trying to psychologically distance themselves, you’d think they’d pick slightly less “Awww, how cuuuute” names than things like Rosebud. Like I said it’s a hazy recollection, but depersonifying language is de rigeur in most (all?) of the security fields. If the codenames were supposed to be some sort of secret secure thing they wouldn’t be published in newspapers or bandied about on messageboards, and the “more clear on radios” explanation is really crap when you think about it: Barack, Michelle, Malia, Natasha are more clear than Renegade, Renaissance, Radiance and Rosebud. And, checking wiki, historical code names are even more strange: Lancer, Lace, and Lyric are more clear than John, Jackie, and Caroline? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/42 "2008-11-10T00:08:20Z")
> [@Rubystreak](#): > > Bush Jr.'s name: Tumbler… hmmmm. Thought he was on the wagon. This probably has nothing to do with it, but the Talking Heads song [“Born Under Punches”](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Born-Under-Punches-lyrics-Talking-Heads/C9B033584C2DC4D4482568B0002D54C7) has the narrator saying some oddly fitting things: “The hand speaks. The hand of a government man. Well I’m a tumbler. Born under punches. I’m so thin…,” and “I’m not a drowning man! And I’m not a burning building! (I’m a tumbler!) Drowning cannot hurt a man! Fire cannot hurt a man. (Not the Government Man.)” Somehow, I just can’t see Dubya being a Heads fan or appreciating the song, although the Service employee who picked the names might’ve been. Coincidentally, the new Oliver Stone film “W” was marketed with the Heads song “Once in a Lifetime” featured prominently in the commercials. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/43 "2008-11-10T00:28:13Z")
> [@chique](#): > > …and the “more clear on radios” explanation is really crap when you think about it: Barack, Michelle, Malia, Natasha are more clear than Renegade, Renaissance, Radiance and Rosebud. But RENEGADE removes the need for additional names and titles; wouldn’t the SS calling the POTUS “Barack” be somewhat disrespectful? I don’t know if the Secret Service do this in real life, but in Clancy’s “Jack Ryan” novels the agents had additional code words/phrases for potential scenarios involving their charges. When an attempt was made to grab Katie Ryan (code name: SANDBOX) from her pre-school the code word SANDSTORM was used. Just for interests sake: the names used for the Ryan family were: SABER, SURGEON, ???, SHORTSTOP and SANDBOX (can’t recall Sally’s…) ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/44 "2008-11-10T00:33:34Z")
SHADOW it appears. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/45 "2008-11-10T02:18:25Z")
So who were SUGARFOOT and TINKERBELL? Some of JFKs whores or was somebody in the White House “a little light in the loafers”? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/46 "2008-11-10T20:09:42Z")
John Anderson= Miracle ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/47 "2008-11-10T20:29:46Z")
I would’ve done: Barack= Jordan (big baller from Chicago) Michelle= Justice Sasha= Jersey Malia= Jumper ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/48 "2008-11-10T23:41:01Z")
Gee, this very topic is a top Digg, except it was written by a Chicago Tribune writer… ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/49 "2008-11-10T23:54:57Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Just for interests sake: the names used for the Ryan family were: SABER, SURGEON, ???, SHORTSTOP and SANDBOX (can’t recall Sally’s…) Jack Ryan was SWORDSMAN. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/50 "2008-11-11T00:13:57Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > Denali, huh? Considering her hubby’s was Driller, that’s just ominous, considering that Denali’s a pristine national park. > > I would’ve called her “Puckwit”. You spelled “Phuckwit” wrong. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/51 "2008-11-11T03:52:22Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > I knew that other Dopers had to be wondering this. I wonder what Palin’s code name was? Twinkie? Dingdong? Ho-Ho? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/52 "2008-11-11T17:43:11Z")
> [@The\_Scrivener](#): > > Denali, huh? Considering her hubby’s was Driller, that’s just ominous, considering that Denali’s a pristine national park. Might I point out that “Denali” is also an acronym for “Denial”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/53 "2008-11-11T18:17:31Z")
My late dog was named Denali. The dog was smarter and would have made a better candidate ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/54 "2008-11-11T18:30:30Z")
> [@Karyn](#): > > Wackjob? Never mind ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/55 "2008-11-11T18:42:02Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Might I point out that “Denali” is also an acronym for “Denial”? 🙂 anagram, not acronym. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/56 "2008-11-11T19:07:30Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > anagram, not acronym. **Balance** ’s official codename: Dumbass. :smack: I plead sleep deprivation. I read “denial” about a dozen times on preview because I was woozily paranoid about typing it wrong somehow, and then I completely screwed up “anagram”. I _really_ need to go home and fall over. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/57 "2008-11-12T02:46:16Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Jack Ryan was SWORDSMAN. Ah yes, thank you. Wasn’t that was after some Secret Service jokes that favoured SHOOTER, referring to his CIA field experience, and that unfortunate matter in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/58 "2008-11-12T03:04:01Z")
I saw this night’s NBC evening news. They had a short item about how many people had emailed them complaining that an item on the family’s code names compromised the First Family’s security. NBC news cleared the disclosure with their Secret Service sources, who flat out admitted in today’s information society that codenames are essentially useless. They do it mainly because it’s “cool”. It’s nice to know that instead of hunting down assasination plots or counterfitters, the Secret Service is busy thinking up useless names. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/59 "2008-11-12T03:42:15Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > I saw this night’s NBC evening news. They had a short item about how many people had emailed them complaining that an item on the family’s code names compromised the First Family’s security. NBC news cleared the disclosure with their Secret Service sources, who flat out admitted in today’s information society that codenames are essentially useless. They do it mainly because it’s “cool”. It’s nice to know that instead of hunting down assasination plots or counterfitters, the Secret Service is busy thinking up useless names. Right. It’s clearly taken a HUGE amount of effort. Besides, the SS gets TONS of free press about it when this comes up every four years. I have absolutely no problem with a group of people who’ve signed up to take bullets for people they probably don’t really like getting a little publicity. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577/60 "2008-11-12T20:30:52Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > I saw this night’s NBC evening news. They had a short item about how many people had emailed them complaining that an item on the family’s code names compromised the First Family’s security. NBC news cleared the disclosure with their Secret Service sources, who flat out admitted in today’s information society that codenames are essentially useless. They do it mainly because it’s “cool”. It’s nice to know that instead of hunting down assasination plots or counterfitters, the Secret Service is busy thinking up useless names. Except they don’t, they’re given those names by the White House comm team. I would have called Barack “Maverick” if it was me with the final decision… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secret-service-code-names-for-the-obamas/471577.md?page=2)