THere was very little security for the president on the day that jfk was assassinated.
Security before the assassination
The Secret Service
They are a division of people trained and certified who are willing to take a bullet for our president and protect them every day. The Secret Service was created in 1865 on July 5th to prevent counterfeit currency.
President Lincoln's Security
Before this Secret Service was around there would be body guards and or local police to protect our presidents. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865 when his body guard left during a show Lincoln was attending and go to a nearby saloon. “Today it is hard to believe that a single policeman was Lincoln’s only protection, but 145 years ago the situation wasn’t that unusual. Lincoln was cavalier about his personal safety, despite the frequent threats he received and a near a near miss attempt on his life in August 1864, as he rode a horse unescorted” (Martin). These body guards were not very responsible when on duty and left the president at high risk. Crook wrote in his memoir “Had he done his duty, I believe President Lincoln would have not have been murdered by Booth. Parker knew that he had failed in duty. He looked like a convicted criminal the next day” (Martin). Parker, the murder was charged with failing to protect the president but charges were dropped a month later.
The Secret Service's Growth After Lincoln's Assassination
The Secret Service grew in the protection that they provided for our presidents. In 1867 the Secret Service responsibilities extended to include “detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government.” In 1883 the Secret Service was formally recognized as a distinct organization within the Treasury Department. There was informal protection of President Grover Cleveland in 1894. In 1895 the Secret Service was responsible to eliminate harm against our president. Then in 1901 the Secret Service was informally requested by Congress to part-time protect President Grover Cleveland. It was not officially sanctioned until 1902 to perform full time responsibility of protecting the president as well as two operatives were assigned to protect at the White House full time. In 1908 the Secret Service began to protect the president-elect. It was not until 1913 did Congress authorize permanent protection of the President. In 1917 Protection was given to immediate family members of the current serving president.
They are a division of people trained and certified who are willing to take a bullet for our president and protect them every day. The Secret Service was created in 1865 on July 5th to prevent counterfeit currency.
President Lincoln's Security
Before this Secret Service was around there would be body guards and or local police to protect our presidents. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865 when his body guard left during a show Lincoln was attending and go to a nearby saloon. “Today it is hard to believe that a single policeman was Lincoln’s only protection, but 145 years ago the situation wasn’t that unusual. Lincoln was cavalier about his personal safety, despite the frequent threats he received and a near a near miss attempt on his life in August 1864, as he rode a horse unescorted” (Martin). These body guards were not very responsible when on duty and left the president at high risk. Crook wrote in his memoir “Had he done his duty, I believe President Lincoln would have not have been murdered by Booth. Parker knew that he had failed in duty. He looked like a convicted criminal the next day” (Martin). Parker, the murder was charged with failing to protect the president but charges were dropped a month later.
The Secret Service's Growth After Lincoln's Assassination
The Secret Service grew in the protection that they provided for our presidents. In 1867 the Secret Service responsibilities extended to include “detecting persons perpetrating frauds against the government.” In 1883 the Secret Service was formally recognized as a distinct organization within the Treasury Department. There was informal protection of President Grover Cleveland in 1894. In 1895 the Secret Service was responsible to eliminate harm against our president. Then in 1901 the Secret Service was informally requested by Congress to part-time protect President Grover Cleveland. It was not officially sanctioned until 1902 to perform full time responsibility of protecting the president as well as two operatives were assigned to protect at the White House full time. In 1908 the Secret Service began to protect the president-elect. It was not until 1913 did Congress authorize permanent protection of the President. In 1917 Protection was given to immediate family members of the current serving president.