How much protection do ex-Presidents get?

[survivor999]

Does anyone know? Do they have some agents where they live all the time?

[babylonsister]

1. I think a law was passed during Clinton's term that any future

prez will get the benefit of the secret service for 10 years, then they're on their own. Starting with dimson. :evilgrin:

[Iris]

21. yeah! I remember that, too. Ain't it sweet?

[LeftCoast]

2. I can't remember all the details, but

Former presidents get a security detail for life. There are also some odd rules about the kids. At one point boys got protection for life (I think) and girls got protection till they were married.

[babylonsister]

3. 10 years, per this:

http://www.secretservice.gov/faq.shtml#how_long

# How long do former presidents receive Secret Service protection after they leave office?

In 1965, Congress authorized the Secret Service (Public Law 89-186) to protect a former president and his/her spouse during their lifetime, unless they decline protection. Congress recently enacted legislation that limits Secret Service protection for former presidents to ten years after leaving office. Under this new law, individuals who are in office before January 1, 1997, will continue to receive Secret Service protection for their lifetime. Individuals elected to office after that time will receive protection for ten years after leaving office. Therefore, former president Clinton will be the last President to receive lifetime protection.

[LeftCoast]

7. Thank you

I hadn't heard about the change in law. I think it's too bad they did away with the lifetime protection. Not too many of them live more than a decade past their term, but I still think it should be provided.

[babylonsister]

12. Anytime. I only knew because I had a 'discussion' with

my dad last summer where he was under the same assumption as you, but I knew I had read otherwise on DU, so did a bit of research recently.
I look at it as tax dollars going to something more beneficial; if a former prez was worth his/her salt, he'd be making lots of dough on the speaking tour and could afford his own protection if needed it. Some prez's don't have to worry much, while there are others...

[bottomofthehill]

16. Most live long past the 10 year mark

Since President Ford all have lived longer than 10 years

Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton Soon and God willing
and my guess is Bush II will be alive 10 years from when he leaves office

That said, they should get life long secret service protection, they all need it.

[MiniMe]

18. Look at Carter, he was elected in 1976

I think it depends on how old the president when he gets elected. I'm not sure if Carter accepted the protection or not, I was just pointing out that I don't think that is true anymore.

[NYC Liberal]

23. Yea he has a SS detail...I know because of when I met him.

[hlthe2b]

11. Wow, Poppy Bush gets lifetime protection & the Chimp, only 10!

Don't you know that will chafe the little Shrub....:shrug:

[babylonsister]

13. I dunno; I'd love to know what his offshore accounts look like.

And isn't he moving to Paraguay anyway? :D

[CalebHayes]

4. Not much. I remember when I went to see Clinton...

I was never screened at all. It was at a political fundraiser. I got less than a foot away from him. There were no metal detectors or anything.

Caleb

[survivor999]

5. Wow... Scary...

[NYC Liberal]

22. Both times I met Clinton (at a signing and a dinner) I had to go through a metal dector

and got wanded. The book signing was a bit heavier on security - 6 or 7 Secret Service agents looking through bags (you couldn't even bring your bag anywhere near the table where he was; you had to pick it up after you were done), plus metal detectors and everyone got wanded as well.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. They oughta add a "Chimp" exception to the rule.

I'm sure the Secret Service will thank the politicians who will (and should) release SS from obligation to protect the Chimp for the next 10 years after his ass is booted out of the office.

Chimp should be on his own. He's destroyed America long enough. He should be exposed for what a fraud he is.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Bush will need the biggest security detail of any

former president.

He's so reviled, despised, detested and hated that he'll never be able to walk the streets or have a booksigning like Clinton did for his Bio (although I can't imagine that Bush could write, nor would there be much demand, for his bio, unless he did an OJ and wrote a book that would tell "how I lied to get us into Iraq, if I did" or "how me and Karl would steal two elections, if we did").

I guess those mercenary private security guys over in Iraq won't have to worry about job security once they're back in the states...Junior's gonna need 'em in about 12 years; Cheney will need them starting Jan. 21 2009 (unless he's removed from office sooner).

[survivor999]

9. I was thinking the same. He can use daddy's agents.

[hlthe2b]

10. How about Vice Presidents? I didn't see any mention

under the SS FAQ...

[onenote]

14. don't believe they get any post-term protection

[Reverend_Smitty]

15. I don't think VP's get any protection once out of office...

If I recall correctly I think Al Gore made a comment about it after the 2000 election

[bottomofthehill]

17. They get none from the minute they leave office.

I actually think they may drive themselves home after the inauguration

[Kelly Rupert]

19. Condoms should work fine, but most are married.

[survivor999]

20. Didn't know they had full-body, bullet-proof condoms!

Thanks.