# So who look after Obama's kids' security at school? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123 "2008-11-10T23:59:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/1 "2008-11-10T23:59:45Z")
Secret service agents in the classroom? Sounds like a plot for a Disney movie… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/2 "2008-11-11T00:17:03Z")
It is the Secret Service. The President’s kids are always protected 24/7. That isn’t anything new. Chelsea Clinton and the Bush twins all had SS agents assigned to them even when they were in college and went to class or even a frat party. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/3 "2008-11-11T02:02:13Z")
I don’t think the Secret Service actually sit in the class with the kids. They cover the school and the grounds. Life is not a Hollywood comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Punintentional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@Punintentional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punintentional)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/4 "2008-11-11T12:35:37Z")
The West Wing had an episode where the President’s daughter was assigned a (new?) secret service agent and the agent tells the President that if she sees the President’s daughter sneaking out to go to parties, drink, etc, she wont inform the President, as she wants to maintain trust with the daughter (so the daughter won’t sneak off without her, putting herself in risk). Is this true in real life? If Chelsea Clinton took her agents to a party with people openly snorting lines or coke… would he/she be “cool” with it? ---
**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, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/5 "2008-11-11T14:22:56Z")
> [@CrazyChop](#): > > Secret service agents in the classroom? Sounds like a plot for a Disney movie… [It was.](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116311/) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/6 "2008-11-11T14:27:51Z")
There was a great, original cast SNL sketch in the 70’s about two Secret Service agents (played, I believe, by Ackroyd and Belushi) accompanying Amy Carter to class, standing behind her desk, and helping her cheat. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/7 "2008-11-11T14:36:34Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There was a great, original cast SNL sketch in the 70’s about two Secret Service agents (played, I believe, by Ackroyd and Belushi) accompanying Amy Carter to class, standing behind her desk, and helping her cheat. That is too funny. Wish I’d seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/8 "2008-11-11T14:40:31Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There was a great, original cast SNL sketch in the 70’s about two Secret Service agents (played, I believe, by Ackroyd and Belushi) accompanying Amy Carter to class, standing behind her desk, and helping her cheat. I thought that was Mad Magazine! (not that it couldn’t be both) ---
**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, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/9 "2008-11-11T14:51:56Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > I thought that was Mad Magazine! > > (not that it couldn’t be both) MadTV had a sketch with Chelsea Clinton at Stanford. Her agents were a little more sinister - she used them as enforcers, who, among other things, dragged someone out of her dorm room and shot him because he was sitting on her bed. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/10 "2008-11-11T14:53:01Z")
Ford’s son said that his SS agents would follow in the car behind him when he went out on a date, and that he learned very quickly that he shouldn’t try to lose them. They hate that. Expect to start seeing interviews with previous presidential children with info for the Obama kids, with the above and other things; one of them pointed out that you need to find out who’s in charge of the kitchen, and be good friends with them, because that’s the only way you’re gonna get food any time other than official mealtimes. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/11 "2008-11-11T15:08:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > There was a great, original cast SNL sketch in the 70’s about two Secret Service agents (played, I believe, by Ackroyd and Belushi) accompanying Amy Carter to class, standing behind her desk, and helping her cheat. One of my favorite SNL skits of all time! When another student accuses Amy of cheating the Secret Service agents go after her and stick her head in her desk and bang the lid on her (sounds dumb I know but was hilarious I assure you). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/12 "2008-11-11T15:10:42Z")
Found a [transcript](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/76/76mamycarter.phtml) for the SNL sketch. I guess the SS agents were Ackroyd and Bill Murray, not Ackroyd and Belushi. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/13 "2008-11-11T15:15:22Z")
> [@Punintentional](#): > > If Chelsea Clinton took her agents to a party with people openly snorting lines or coke.. would he/she be “cool” with it? IIRC, they are only concerned “officially” with the security of their package. However, anyone stupid enough to snort coke in front a federal agent would probably find themselves in a sorry state… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/14 "2008-11-11T15:39:15Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > IIRC, they are only concerned “officially” with the security of their package. However, anyone stupid enough to snort coke in front a federal agent would probably find themselves in a sorry state… Hmmm. They are treasury agents, I suppose. “Hey, do you have a tax stamp for that weed?” ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/15 "2008-11-11T15:52:53Z")
> [@Mr.Slant](#): > > Hmmm. They are treasury agents, I suppose. They aren’t Treasury agents, the Secret Service was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/16 "2008-11-11T15:55:20Z")
> [@jonesj2205](#): > > They aren’t Treasury agents, the Secret Service was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003. Oooh, good save. I suppose the Obama kids won’t have to worry about their protection folks getting on them if they start counterfiting their lunch money… ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/17 "2008-11-11T16:03:02Z")
Jenna Bush got busted for underage drinking by local police while she was under SS protection. The SS only cares about keeping someone alive and safe so details like that don’t matter to them. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/18 "2008-11-11T16:04:43Z")
I know that former presidents get protection for life; does this extend to their children as well? Or is it assumed that nobody would want to harm, say, Chelsea Clinton now Bill’s no longer in charge? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/19 "2008-11-11T16:07:01Z")
> [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](#): > > I know that former presidents get protection for life; does this extend to their children as well? Or is it assumed that nobody would want to harm, say, Chelsea Clinton now Bill’s no longer in charge? I don’t know what the situation is for Chelsea, but ex-presidents no longer get protection for life. Starting with Bush, it lasts for ten years after they leave office. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123/20 "2008-11-11T16:11:51Z")
Which Bush are you referring to, **Marley23**? If the law/statute/regulation/whatever was changed recently, say for George W. Bush (43), then Clinton’s protection might still continue indefinitely, if he’s grandfathered. If it changed under George H.W. Bush (41), though, then it’s a different story. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-who-look-after-obamas-kids-security-at-school/472123.md?page=2)