# You're a Secret Service agent. Would you take a bullet for a President you hated? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 11, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513 "2016-05-11T00:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/41 "2016-05-12T22:39:25Z")
Side question, do agents have the opportunity to renew their vows, so to speak, after elections? You’d want it to be in a nothing will be said environment, but how’d you accomplish that. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/42 "2016-05-12T23:15:14Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t know about any special oaths the detail takes beyond the oath they take for the job but they are certainly trained to throw themselves in front of whoever they are protecting. They train so that it becomes second nature and reflex. They are trained specifically to take a bullet. Right. This is the oath of federal civilian employees and commissioned officers: _I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.[SHMG]_ “without mental reservation or purpose of evasion” and “well and faithfully execute the duties” would seem to me to pretty much say, I’m going to do what this post entails and I’m not going to pick and choose what bits I like or don’t. You take the oath anew upon taking a _different_ office, you do not have to when being transferred between billets or promoted. Secret Service agents should need no new oath upon inauguration of a new POTUS or being reassigned or chosen, because they serve the Office, not the Man. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/43 "2016-05-13T03:55:47Z")
> [@Declaration of Independence](#): > > IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. > > The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, > > When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. > > We hold these truths to be self-evident, that **all men are created equal** , If we’re equal, then why should my job be to die for him (or her)? Nope, wouldn’t ever take that job. My life is valuable to me & my family; some politicians, not so much. I ran EMS for a lot of years; I’ve literally save peoples lives; however, I didn’t put myself in grave danger to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2016, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/44 "2016-05-13T05:59:47Z")
Is this a Quantum Leap like situation, where I got teleported into the body of a Secret Service agent? Or did someone alter my brain so that I’d be willing to risk my life for someone that isn’t a family member (and thus be willing to sign up for the SS at all)? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/45 "2016-05-14T16:35:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If we’re equal, then why should my job be to die for him (or her)? Nope, wouldn’t ever take that job. My life is valuable to me & my family; some politicians, not so much. > I ran EMS for a lot of years; I’ve literally save peoples lives; however, I didn’t put myself in grave danger to do so. Well, you’re kind of opening a whole can of worms there, does that also mean you would refuse conscripted military service during time of war? If you’re a Secret Service agent and you deliberately, even if merely thru _inaction_, allow a President to be harmed, even if it couldn’t be proven in a court of law IMO you’ve committed treason… ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/46 "2016-05-14T18:29:09Z")
Yes. If I take an oath, I mean it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/47 "2017-01-24T23:51:57Z")
A Secret Service agent [does not want to take a bullet for the new president.](http://www.hannity.com/articles/hanpr-election-493995/secret-service-agent-i-wont-take-15499848/) ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/48 "2017-01-25T00:17:57Z")
Kerry O’Grady, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Denver district: Her initial post: "As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle not to violate the Hatch Act. So I keep quiet and skirt the median … To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take a bullet for both sides. … But this world has changed and I have changed. And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe to be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside here. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her." then, during an interview: “I serve at the pleasure of the president, but I still have the First Amendment right to say things.” You do. But you violate your rules of employment when you do. \*"May not post a comment to a blog or a social media site that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. May not use any email account or social media to distribute, send or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group."\* Her post is a pretty unambiguous violation of those rules. She should be fired. Probably will be. ---
**Author:** ![Annoying\_Buzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Annoying\_Buzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annoying_Buzz)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/49 "2017-01-25T08:47:49Z")
Since it’s my job, and one I’d gone into with eyes open, yes, I would do that job to its full extent. If I found the president too odious for me to do that job, I’d request a transfer or resign. Now, as for it tanking my career, my impression is that Secret Service for the President is pretty much as big league as a security position can get. Having experience in that position, with a voluntary resignation to “pursue other opportunities” (assuming I’m level-headed enough not to burn bridges in the process), I should be able to get a nice salary in the private sector. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/50 "2017-01-25T13:30:07Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Kerry O’Grady, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Denver district: > > Her initial post: > > "As a public servant for nearly 23 years, I struggle not to violate the Hatch Act. So I keep quiet and skirt the median … To do otherwise can be a criminal offense for those in my position. Despite the fact that I am expected to take a bullet for both sides. > … > > But this world has changed and I have changed. And I would take jail time over a bullet or an endorsement for what I believe to be disaster to this country and the strong and amazing women and minorities who reside here. Hatch Act be damned. I am with Her." > > then, during an interview: > > “I serve at the pleasure of the president, but I still have the First Amendment right to say things.” > > You do. But you violate your rules of employment when you do. > > \*"May not post a comment to a blog or a social media site that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group. > > May not use any email account or social media to distribute, send or forward content that advocates for or against a partisan political party, candidate for partisan political office, or partisan political group."\* > > Her post is a pretty unambiguous violation of those rules. > > She should be fired. Probably will be. She may even be prosecuted. Frankly, she’s being a moron. Knowing what she knows, and feeling how she does, she could have resigned quietly and gotten a good job with a private security organization based on her career experience. Nobody would have been the wiser as to her political opinions. But instead, she decides to, as they say, “sh\*t the bed”. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/51 "2017-01-25T13:34:13Z")
I voted “no” but I’m with the crowd that would resign. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/52 "2017-01-25T13:59:44Z")
Take the bullet or quit. Presumably there are agents who do the job for a while and then for personal reasons ask for re-assignment even if the same president is in office. It’s a high-stakes, high pressure job and not everyone can do it for years on end. > [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Do you consider chasing down counterfeit $20 bills in Lincoln, Nebraska a bad assignment? Lincoln is nice. I’d take that. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/53 "2017-01-25T15:12:16Z")
Just ask for a transfer to Hillary’s detail. I hear she makes it a delight for her agents. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/54 "2017-01-25T15:43:23Z")
Interestingly in today’s [news](http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ss-agent-under-fire-after-posting-she-wouldnt-take-bullet-for-trump/ar-AAmcqp6?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp)we have a story about a secret service agent doing just that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/55 "2017-01-25T19:15:31Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > No, but I wouldn’t take one for a president I liked, either. IRL, I don’t think Secret Service agents are expected to, either. What he said. Really, at what point is heaving yourself in front of a bullet an example of doing your job well as a Secret Service agent? You’ve failed big time if it comes to that. If the President dies they’ll inaugurate a new one. If I die, what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513/56 "2017-01-25T19:30:00Z")
Yes, it’s the job. This is why I have never applied with the Secret Service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-a-secret-service-agent-would-you-take-a-bullet-for-a-president-you-hated/754513.md?page=2)