# What personal security risks is the a sitting US President allowed to take? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 9, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543 "2021-02-09T18:25:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/21 "2021-02-10T00:29:51Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I doubt a sitting president would be ignorant enough to take that kind of risk after being told what might happen to him/her. …I mean, Obama would do that often? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/gZR1CvSQntE/maxresdefault.jpg "Raw Video: The President Takes a Surprise Walk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZR1CvSQntE) The poor secret service agents did look like they were gonna have heart attacks though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/22 "2021-02-10T03:21:46Z")
Clinton posed all kinds of [problems for the secret service](https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/02/29/bill-clintons-running-habit-a-secret-service-nightmare) because he insisted on running in public and allowing random people to join him on his run. The president can do what he wants but a smart president works with his people to make sure they can also do their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![UDS1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47774/32.png) [@UDS1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS1)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/23 "2021-02-10T04:15:13Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I was suggesting a bike ride or a run - which would mean multiple miles on a linear course - probably very hard to secure. Not the same as walking over to the local coffee shop, where a perimeter can be established. There are numerous photographs of ex-President Jimmy Carter cycling around . Before infirmity overtook him, he routinely cycled around his home town, either for exercise or pleasure or simply as a convenient method of getting from A to B. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/24 "2021-02-10T11:29:58Z")
Elvis showed up at the White House unannounced when Nixon was in office. After a discussion with his aides he met Nixon and took pictures. Elvis got a fake badge to work on the drug war. He brought a fancy revolver and bullets but Nixon did not get those . ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/25 "2021-02-10T12:57:00Z")
The Secret Service can take a lot of action based on prior authorization, and it’s the president that does that authorization. The Secret Service can grab a president and hustle him off to some safe location if he’s being shot at. In those circumstances there is little opportunity for the president to countermand his previous orders and remain a target. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/26 "2021-02-10T13:19:31Z")
I’ve often wondered if spontaneity is itself a security measure, in the sense that the President suddenly deciding to go for a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to get some air provides little opportunity for a premeditated act against him or her. Obviously there is the risk of a spontaneous act, but I wonder exactly how risky that actually is. I’ve thought about how the Secret Service would handle my Presidential vacations. I don’t golf - I dive as a past-time. Obviously it’s an inherently riskier undertaking than golfing, but it’s not super-dangerous. OTOH, I’d hate the idea of needing to be accompanied by multiple Coast Guard or local law enforcement boats, setting up a private charter…all that jazz. I feel like if I booked a trip under an alias with a couple of Secret Service agents as my buddies, how significant would the risk of harm be? Good thing there is _zero_ chance of this ever becoming an issue. 🙂 ---
**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:** [February 10, 2021, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/27 "2021-02-10T13:30:35Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I’ve thought about how the Secret Service would handle my Presidential vacations. I don’t golf - I dive as a past-time. Obviously it’s an inherently riskier undertaking than golfing, but it’s not super-dangerous. Didn’t Gerry Ford go skiing while President? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/28 "2021-02-10T14:16:28Z")
Carter says the SS went on fishing trips with him but I assume they don’t use any fishing equipment . ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/29 "2021-02-10T14:17:18Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I’ve often wondered if spontaneity is itself a security measure, in the sense that the President suddenly deciding to go for a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to get some air provides little opportunity for a premeditated act against him or her. Obviously there is the risk of a spontaneous act, but I wonder exactly how risky that actually is. Reminds me of the scene from _The American President_: “You think there’s a florist in there planning an assassination on the the off-chance that I might be stopping by?” ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/30 "2021-02-10T14:25:48Z")
> [@carlb](#): > > I’ve often wondered if spontaneity is itself a security measure, in the sense that the President suddenly deciding to go for a walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to get some air provides little opportunity for a premeditated act against him or her. Obviously there is the risk of a spontaneous act, but I wonder exactly how risky that actually is. Once sure. If it is common that the president spontaneously chooses to take a walk, then there may be some who wait for such an opportunity. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/31 "2021-02-10T16:12:03Z")
There is almost no danger if a president takes a walk down Pennsylvania Ave, provided he does it **once**. Taking a stroll every day at 3 is clearly highly dangerous. As is touring in an open convertible along a route announced in advance in a hostile city. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/32 "2021-02-10T16:28:00Z")
Spontaneous moves do not necessarily imply ditching all security. For example, when Merkel showed up for the G20 summit in 2014, instead of going straight to the hotel she visited a couple of pubs, but the cops + security checked the place out before she actually walked in. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/33 "2021-02-10T16:34:07Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > There is almost no danger if a president takes a walk down Pennsylvania Ave, provided he does it **once**. Taking a stroll every day at 3 is clearly highly dangerous. As is touring in an open convertible along a route announced in advance in a hostile city. - Geez, you shoot _one_ President… ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/34 "2021-02-10T16:53:44Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Not every ex-president is just sitting around making paintings of dogs. George W. Bush is frequently spotted around Dallas at restaurants and other local places- in fact, he was apparently eating at some breakfast restaurant in Inwood Village, when Obama called him to tell him they’d got Osama Bin Laden. I imagine there’s a procedure worked out for ex-presidents to live their lives as reasonably spontaneous as possible ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/35 "2021-02-10T19:15:58Z")
Not the president but when U2 came here around 2010 on tour they walked through part of the parking lot before the show. I think they had 1 security guy with them. They ordered local pork BBQ but when the delivery guy showed up at their plane they did not take cards so they had to scrounge up cash to pay. The place now takes credit/debit cards. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2021, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/36 "2021-02-10T20:28:05Z")
IIRC Obama (maybe it was Clinton) was asked what he missed from life before being president and he said driving. Apparently they are not allowed to drive at all (although I think Obama got to drive a new car around the oval in front of the White House (on White House grounds)). I am not sure what would happen if the president jumped in a car and started to drive away. I am sure the Secret Service would not be amused. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/37 "2021-02-10T21:04:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Apparently they are not allowed to drive at all (although I think Obama got to drive a new car around the oval in front of the White House (on White House grounds)). George W Bush flew on an S3 B Viking that made an arrested landing on an aircraft carrier. If any president wants to drive, they can. Nothing is going to stop them except for following the advice of the Secret Service. They’re allowed to do anything they want, most choose not to. It’s a quibble, but the terminology is important. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2021, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/38 "2021-02-10T21:35:59Z")
Clinton drove a pickup at a NASCAR track I think Charlotte. He said he used to put astro turf in the bed for luggage when he had a pickup. Regan drove and road horses when he was back in CA ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/39 "2021-02-11T15:08:28Z")
So while the president seems to be allowed or authorized to take any risk they want, I think the security people present would do whatever they thought they needed to keep the president from harm in the heat of the moment if they made a risky decision, and deal with the consequences later. Imagine the president out doing a speech, and getting angry at a heckler in the crowd and deciding he’s going to walk out there and get in his face. Despite having the authority to do so I doubt security would allow that to happen, and that they’d crowd around the president and not let him go out into harm’s way. Sure they might get fired later for doing so, but they’d also get fired if they let the president wander out into a crowd and get roughed up. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543/40 "2021-02-11T15:30:37Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Clinton drove a pickup at a NASCAR track I think Charlotte. He said he used to put astro turf in the bed for luggage when he had a pickup. Regan drove and road horses when he was back in CA On their own property they could drive (IIRC Bush the younger drove on his own ranch). But they did not drive on public roads. The SS is not there to protect them from falling off a horse. They are there to protect the president from other people. Some here suggest that the president could do so if they wished but they don’t and even complain about it a little so I assume while they “can” it is very strongly discouraged by the Secret Service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-personal-security-risks-is-the-a-sitting-us-president-allowed-to-take/932543.md?page=3)