Chief Wilson resigned in 1945; his successor was James J. Maloney, a veteran Secret Service employee.
After World War II, Congress decreased the Secret Service's appropriation substantially. Maloney was forced to dismiss 177 employees, but counterfeiting and Presidential protection did not stop. Furthermore, the successful Know Your Money campaign had to be curtailed. The trimmed-down Secret Service was too busy with investigations.
United States dollars were in demand in Europe. During the war, many European currencies had been counterfeited and seriously devalued. Although the Germans had attempted to counterfeit the United States dollar bill, fortunately they were unable to do so before the war ended. This made the dollar a stable currency in Europe.
Furthermore, many war refugees sought to immigrate to the United States. These folks needed to exchange their European currency into American dollars. Many people thought the best rates could be gotten on the black market. Being unfamiliar with United States currency, however, they often did not realize the bills were counterfeit. When they arrived in the United States, they were made painfully aware that their life's savings had been traded for useless paper.
Chief Maloney received permission to send a Secret Service agent to Europe. For three years, agent Guy Spaman worked with Austrian, Belgium, Danish, Egyptian, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, and Swiss police. At the end of those three years, counterfeiting of American currency was minimal in Europe, and agent Spaman returned to the United States.
1950 Reorganization
Chief Maloney took a different position at the Treasury Department, creating a vacancy filled by U.E. Baughman. Chief Baughman set about reorganizing the Secret Service. On July 1, 1950, the Secret Service restructuring went into effect. Each office became independent of the others, directly reporting to the Chief. Within each office, a Special Agent in Charge directed Special Agents, and Agents. Chief Baughman also appointed four Inspectors whose job it was to make systematic and regular inspections of field offices.
Under Maloney, Baughman had begun constructing a new Secret Service manual. It was finished and released when the reorganization took place. The new manual, approximately 800 pages, illustrated the proper filing of all forms and included regulations and procedures.
Baughman also sought to convince Congress that permanent authority for the Secret Service was critical. Technically, the Secret Service was given its authority to exist and do work in the annual appropriations. If Congress had decided there was no need, or no money, for the Secret Service, the organization would legally cease to exist. Through Baughman's urgings, a bill was drafted to change the Secret Service's insecure existence. It failed in Congress.
Public Law 82-79
On August 20, 1950, two Puerto Rican nationalists attempted to assassinate President Truman. They were unsuccessful, but Officer Leslie Coffelt of the Secret Service Uniformed Division was not so lucky. Coffelt died from wounds he received during a shoot-out with the assassins.
The assassination attempt received great publicity. The media reported that the Secret Service was not a permanent organization of the Federal Government, prompting Congress to insure the Service's existence.
On July 16, the 86th anniversary of the Secret Service, President Truman signed Public Law 82-79. The Secret Service finally had permanent status.
The Reorganized Secret Service
Chief Baughman retired in 1961. The organization he helped restructure was quite different than the Secret Service he first led as Chief.
The Service's Security Division was overseen by the Assistant Chief. The Security Division was responsible for the Service's protective activities, the White House Police, the Treasury Guard Force, and the Protective Research Section.
The Deputy Chief oversaw the Investigations Division, which was responsible for the counterfeiting and forgery sections at the Service's headquarters and all field offices.
The Secret Service's financial, personnel and training programs were handled by an Administrative Officer. Inspections and audit activities were dealt with by an Inspection Division.
James J. Rowley, the next Chief, took on a more contemporary title. In 1965, Chief Rowley became Director Rowley.
Effects of Assassination of President Kennedy
President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, shocked the nation. Following the assassination, the President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy (the so called Warren Commission) recommended changes that affected the size of the Secret Service.
The Warren Commission recommended that there be an increase in the number of Special Agents assigned to Presidential protection and that their training be intensified. The commission also recommended that the Service enlarge their protective intelligence activities. Greater involvement with other law enforcement agencies was also advised. Finally, the Commission recommended that more sophisticated communications, automatic data processing and technical security equipment be employed. To accomplish these recommendations, the Service's budget was increased.
Expanded Protection
Legislation calling for the protection of the widow and minor children of a former President was enacted after President Kennedy's assassination. In 1965, former Presidents were given life-time protection. When Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, the need was realized for the protection of major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and nominees.
In 1971, the Secret Service was authorized to protect visiting heads of state. Also, at the direction of the President, it was charged with protecting other distinguished foreign visitors.
The Executive Protective Service was also expanded. This division of the Secret Service, originally called the White House Police and now called the Uniformed Division, protects the White House, buildings in which Presidential offices are located, the President and his immediate family, the Vice President and his immediate family, the Vice Presidential residence, and foreign diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C.
Hundreds of agents and officers have been hired since President John F. Kennedy's assassination to handle the Service's increased responsibilities. William P. Wood, the first Chief of the Secret Service, whose force was only about 30 men, might not have imagined the size and scope of the Secret Service today.
Recent Assassination Attempts
President Ford was nearly the victim of two assassins. While in Sacramento, California in 1975, Ford met with California Governor Jerry Brown. Special Agent Larry Buendorf was with the President and noticed a woman in a red cloak. He saw Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, raise a gun toward the President. Buendorf successfully thwarted the attempt by pushing Fromme's arm down and disarming her.
Only 17 days later, while President Ford was in San Francisco, a second woman tried to kill him. This time a civilian, who happened to be an ex-Marine, noticed Moore's gun readied to shoot the President. The civilian hero grabbed the gun and deflected the shot.
On March 30, 1981, president Ronald Reagan was hit by an assassin's bullet. As the President emerged from a building where he had been giving a speech, John Hinkley began shooting. Jerry Parr, Special Agent in Charge, quickly pushed the President into his limousine. Parr then realized the President had been shot and the Motorcade sped off to the hospital. A total of six shots had been fired by Hinkley, four of them finding human targets, including the President. Press Secretary James Brady received a bullet in the head. As Special Agent Tim McCarthy turned to shield the President, McCarthy was shot in the abdomen; Thomas Delahanty, a Metropolitan Police Officer, received a bullet in the neck. A few seconds later, a civilian jumped Hinkley from behind. The Secret Service and Washington Metropolitan Police were able to quickly disarm the assassin.
Recent Directors
In the last twenty-five years, the Secret Service has had several Directors. When James Rowley retired in 1973, H. Stuart Knight became the next Director. Knight served until 1981 when John R. Simpson took the post. Simpson was followed by John MaGaw who served until 1994. The current Director of the Secret Service is Eljay B. Bowron.
The Secret Service's methods are continually updated. As the world's criminals become more sophisticated, so must the crime stoppers. An agent today must be knowledgeable of many investigative and protective techniques.
Working for the Secret Service
There are two career paths within the Secret Service. The Uniformed Division employs men and women in Washington, D.C. Its officers guard the White House and foreign embassies. To become an officer of the Uniformed Division of the United States Secret Service, one must be a United States citizen between the ages of 21 and 37. A high school diploma is required, as are high morals and no previous use of illegal drugs.
The path to becoming a Special Agent is more involved. The requirements for the position include that the person be between 21 and 37 years of age and a United States citizen. He or she must have high morals, no previous use of illegal drugs, and eyesight no worse than 20/40 correctable to 20/20. The person must also be in excellent physical condition.
A four year degree from an accredited University is required, with a minimum of 24 hours of study in psychology, police science, criminal justice, computer science, urban studies, languages, or other related fields. Currently, the Secret Service has a particular need for agents fluent in Spanish, Russian, and any Asian language.
In reality, however, more than just these requirements are needed in order to become a Secret Service Special Agent. The Secret Service is often the ultimate employer for a person pursuing a law enforcement position. Thus, it receives hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of applications for each opening. The best candidate usually has far more experience than the minimum qualifications set by the Secret Service.
Most new hires have previous law enforcement or other professional experience. The typical person is in his or her late 20s or early 30s.
Once hired by the Secret Service, new employees must go through extensive training to become Special Agents.
