Why does Bill Clinton need 20 bodyguards?

[DISUNC]

I honestly did not know that. Thanks for the info.

No problem. It was a question recently on Who wants to be a Millionare!

 

[OK!]

http://www.secretservice.gov/protection.shtml

After the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901, Congress directed the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. Protection remains a key mission of the United States Secret Service.

...and here's your other random fun fact of the day: The man who taught my high school Radio & Television class was the great-nephew of McKinley's assassin, Leon Czolgosz.

I know, completely irrelevant, but someone already stole my thunder on the answer I was going to give to the original question.

 

[What the Heck]

I think that's wrong. They should all have it for life if they wish to have it. I think the Carters (or maybe it was the Fords) voluntarily discontinued it. It should be their choice if and when to stop it.

I think we are sharing the same brain today, at least on this thread.

As much as I dislike former President Bill, I have no problem with him having a security detail for life. I think 10 years is too short of a time. No matter whether I liked the man (or woman in the future) or not, he was still President of the United States.

 

[pouncingpluto]

The Carters still have Secret Service, or at least they definitely did a few years ago, when I worked for an organization President Carter co-founded and in which Mrs. Carter and one of their sons were extremely involved. I had the chance to meet both the former President and first lady on several occasions, and I worked with their son on a daily basis. I remember when Mrs. Carter came to our conventions, they would book tons of extra rooms so that no one would know which room was hers. Secret Service would stay in some of them, but some would just sit empty.

 

[shortbun]

So will any of you have any qualms if GWB travels with a large entourage such as this after his presidency? Just asking.

Where would W go? He's not exactly known to be a traveller. Had he even gone to Europe prior to his presidency? Hey, if he needs 20 agents to follow him around on his lawn tractor in Waco-no problem.

 

[WaltD4Me]

they help him scout for babes....

I need a smilie that spits soda all it's for
computer for that one!

 

[MAKmom]

FYI! Up until 1997 EX-Presidents & First ladies have Secret Service for the remainder of their life. The changed to law to just 10 years now.

So Bill & Hillary Clinton will be the last president/first lady to have Secret service for life. George & Laura Bush will only have Secret Service for 10 years.

This should not make me as happy as it does

 

[JPN4265]

Why in heaven's name does Bill need so many bodyguards? Just asking.

Bill Clinton brings over 20 bodyguards to London

By COLIN FERNANDEZ

Whoever said it's lonely at the top, it wasn't Bill Clinton. The former President is constantly surrounded by an entourage of more than 20 bodyguards. So when he attended a book signing in London on Thursday, he brought a crowd of his own. The one-time US leader looked like he was auditioning for a part in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. Spot the difference: Bill Clinton's stroll through London on Thursday had more in common with Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (top) than a low-key shopping outing. Closely guarded: Former US President Bill Clinton in London on Thursday. The burly men in suits fanned out around 61-year-old Mr Clinton as he went window shopping in Jermyn Street before arriving at the Piccadilly branch of Waterstone's.

Fortunately for the former resident of the White House, they turned out to be heavily outnumbered by 1,000 or so fans who bought his book Giving - How Each of Us Can Change the World.

Mr Clinton stood down in 2001. Former Presidents and their spouses are entitled to be guarded by the Secret Service for ten years after they leave office.

He flew to Britain to attend a fundraising meeting at a private house in Windsor for Democrats Abroad.

His wife Hillary is a frontrunner to win the Democrats' presidential nomination.

He is a Rock Star Man!! Or at least Monica thinks so.

 

[DISUNC]

He is a Rock Star Man!! Or at least Monica thinks so.

DOESN'T MONICA NOW LIVE IN LONDON???????

 

[JunieJay]

20 agents is not unusual, especially on international trips.

 

[salmoneous]

George & Laura Bush will only have Secret Service for 10 years.

Until Jenna is elected President. Then won't they get it as the President's parents?

 

[MsAmerica]

The Clinton's requested Chelsea have SS protection continue when Bill left office so she still has a detail around her at all times. Chelsea is the only child of a former president who has a SS detail. She is over 16 yo, the age former president's children normally stop being protected. Bush granted Clinton's request when Clinton left office.

I have my own opinions on the subject but I don't want to turn this into a political debate. However, I doubt the Bush twins will be continuing their SS details after Jan 09, jmo.

MsA

 

[LakeAriel]

they help him scout for babes....

I need a smilie that spits soda all it's for
computer for that one!

Too bad Bush didn't use them to scout for non existant WMD's....would have saved thousands of lives.

 

[crcormier]

Well, seeing as it's Bill's fault for everything that's gone wrong during the last 7 years, he needs the protection.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I thought that once they left office the security detail dropped. I knew they had it, and I knew the law changed, but I didn't think that he would have 20....but maybe he does.

 

[jrsmom]

I think he'll probably need more than 20. He isn't very well liked by way too many people worldwide.

I had heard that this president could cost the most in post presidential security.

I have been stuck in traffic for quite some time when "W" has been in town. I am no fan of his but, understand that security is required.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I had heard that this president could cost the most in post presidential security.

I have been stuck in traffic for quite some time when "W" has been in town. I am no fan of his but, understand that security is required.

It was the same when Clinton went to Albuquerque, NM. He loved going there and did on about 4 different occasions that I can remember. And each of those times he came I worked in a job that had me driving around town...so getting around was murder.

 

[ducklite]

It is not up to the sitting or former president as to how many bodyguards they need. As long as they accept the protection of the Secret Service, they must go along with whatever the Secret Service determines is needed to insure the safety of the President.

Jimmy Carter gave up his day-to-day Secret Service protection long before his "entitlement" ended, however when he travels on diplomatic missions representing the US, the Secret Service still accompanies him, and I'm sure they send as many agents for him as they would for any other person that they were tasked with ensuring the safety of.

 

[ducklite]

deleted because the law has changed since I took civics in jr. high.

 

[GeorgeG]

I was part of the crew that put new electric service into Richard Nixon's home in Saddle River, New Jersey before he went with his own people. They had just built a new eoperations building for the Secret Service to operate out of. We talked with the Secret Service agents every day and I don't remember there being more than a handful. There were a few more who went with him to his office in NYC, but my guess is there were never more than 8 or 10 on duty at any given time, if that. They were really nice guys with a great sense of humor, but got more serious when Nixon was on his way home and at the house.

By the way, Nixon was very friendly and even gave us a tour of the house. I remember him commenting about the chandelier in the wine cellar and how silly it was, but it was from the previous owner. For his faults, and most presidents have at least some, I always liked him and think he was a good president. He was the first to decide he could afford his own security.