2. “Renegade” Calling “Rawhide”: The Truth About Code Names
Secret Service code names are a source of endless public fascination. They sound like something straight out of a spy novel: “Renegade” (Barack Obama), “Eagle” (Bill Clinton), “Rawhide” (Ronald Reagan). The press reports them, movies dramatize them, and they add a layer of mystique to the presidency. But their real purpose is far more practical than it is mysterious. They are not chosen to reflect a president’s personality or to hide their identity from adversaries. Instead, they serve a much simpler function: operational brevity and clarity.
In the world of radio communication, clarity is paramount. When multiple agents are coordinating movements in a high-stress environment, using a simple, unique, and easily understood word is far more efficient than saying “the President” or “the First Lady” repeatedly. According to the White House Historical Association, the system was developed to ensure unambiguous communication over unsecure radio channels. The names are assigned by the White House Communications Agency, not the Secret Service itself.
The famous tradition of all family members having code names that start with the same letter is also rooted in practicality. For President Reagan’s family, we had “Rawhide” (the President), “Rainbow” (Nancy Reagan), “Riddler” (Ron Reagan), and so on. This simple alphabetical grouping made it easy for agents listening to radio traffic to immediately know which principal the communication was about. If you heard a name starting with “R,” you knew it concerned someone in the Reagan family.
While modern communications are encrypted and far more secure, the tradition of using code names persists. They are still a useful tool for clear, concise communication. The process for choosing them is less dramatic than one might think. A list of approved, unused names is presented to the protectee, who often gets to choose one they like. The names themselves are designed to be easily pronounced and not easily confused with other words over the radio. So, while the mystique is enjoyable, the reality is that “POTUS” and “FLOTUS” are used far more often in daily operations. The code names are a functional artifact of a bygone era of communication, kept alive by tradition and practicality.
