News Biden announces new head of Secret Service

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
12,974
7,891
136
Biden announces new head of Secret Service - POLITICO

With all that went on, I still don't know why this wasn't done on day 1.

If it's the _Secret_ service, how come they announce who it is? Shouldn't it be a secret?
Come to think of it, why are they called that, anyway? It's a weirdly generic name for a body with a fairly specific function.

Seems like they are one of the less secret parts of the state security apparatus.
 

dank69

Lifer
Oct 6, 2009
35,204
28,223
136
If it's the _Secret_ service, how come they announce who it is? Shouldn't it be a secret?
Come to think of it, why are they called that, anyway? It's a weirdly generic name for a body with a fairly specific function.

Seems like they are one of the less secret parts of the state security apparatus.
Greenman just asking questions.
 

brycejones

Lifer
Oct 18, 2005
25,992
23,792
136
If it's the _Secret_ service, how come they announce who it is? Shouldn't it be a secret?
Come to think of it, why are they called that, anyway? It's a weirdly generic name for a body with a fairly specific function.

Seems like they are one of the less secret parts of the state security apparatus.
What makes you think they announced the real head of the Secret Service?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: pmv and Pens1566

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
15,699
1,448
126
Unless things have changed, SS acquired functions other than just protection for the President or others. One in particular you'd think might just as easily fall under Treasury Department.

Mostly has entertainment value, but factually correct about an SS function:

"To Live and Die in LA" [William Peterson; Willem Dafoe; John Turturro; Dean Stockwell]
 

Lezunto

Golden Member
Oct 24, 2020
1,070
968
106
According to its history, by the end of the Civil War, nearly one-third of all currency in circulation was counterfeit.

The Secret Service was created in 1865 as a bureau in the Treasury Department to suppress widespread counterfeiting. Since a lot of the work to deter counterfeiting was done undercover, its work was considered secret.

But after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, the agency was given the task of protecting our Presidents and their families.

"The U.S. Secret Service has grown from a small bureau staffed by a few operatives in 1865, to a law enforcement organization of nearly 7,000 employees worldwide," its Website said. ( https://www.secretservice.gov/about/history/150-years )

"Today, the U.S. Secret Service fights crime on a global scale through its field offices located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

"The agency works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement organizations. These entities are valued partners of the Secret Service, and they are integral to the agency’s investigative and protective endeavors."
 
  • Like
Reactions: hal2kilo

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
12,974
7,891
136
Yeah, was going to say, I gather they started out fighting currency forgery and then developed a side-hustle in protecting state VIPs. That seems an odd combination of functions, but I suppose it's just one of those random accidents of history.

I guess it could have ended up with the Postal Inspection Service or the National Parks Police looking after the POTUS, if the heads of those agencies had been a bit sharper at empire-building.

Plus, as I said, "Secret Service" is a weirdly-generic name - presumably lots of governmental agencies could be described that way - the CIA or NSA could just as easily be called that. Not sure why it didn't get called the "Anti-forgery" or "Currency protection" service.
 

Pens1566

Lifer
Oct 11, 2005
11,480
7,886
136
Unless things have changed, SS acquired functions other than just protection for the President or others. One in particular you'd think might just as easily fall under Treasury Department.

Mostly has entertainment value, but factually correct about an SS function:

"To Live and Die in LA" [William Peterson; Willem Dafoe; John Turturro; Dean Stockwell]

Yep. Counterfeiting and cyber crime to name a few.