Secret Services

Although the original mission of the United States Secret Services was to control and prevent counterfeit money in the United States after the Civil War in 1865, by 1930 the role of the Secret Service had greatly expanded. Many events occurred during that period that led the Secret Service to expand to enforce the laws whether it includes protecting money, protecting the President, or investigating on the frauds and groups that are dangerous to the people of America. Driving forces and trends impacted Secret Service mission and support operations over the many years.

The Secret Service was officially created by President Abraham Lincoln on July 5, 1865. The Secret Service headquarters was created in Washington D.C. The headquarters later relocated to New York City but moved back. The Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch chose William Wood, which was widely known for his heroism during the Civil War, as the first chief. His first year was very successful. Chief Wood closed more than 200 counterfeiting plants. Unfortunately, the same day President Lincoln established the Secret Service he was assassinated. As the country mourned about the news, Congress thought that it should add Presidential Protection to the list of duties that the Secret Services perform. However they did not follow this thought until two more dismaying events in history. During the year of 1867, the Secret Service broadened its responsibilities and included “ detecting persons perpetuating frauds against the government.” This meant that the Secret Service would investigate many cases unrelated to counterfeiting. These cases incorporated the Klu Klux Klan, Teapot Dome oil scandals, smugglers, mail robbers, land frauds, and counter espionage activity during the Spanish American War and World War I.

The United States is an object of ideological and fanatical hatred that is often focused towards leaders and faculties under the protection of the Secret Service. In addition to conventional threats, chemical, biological and radiological weapons of mass destruction have far greater lethality and scope and pose a greater risk than they have in the past. The kkk terrorist attacks demonstrate the extremism and the uncivilized society of terrorist techniques and challenge the traditional approach to security. The Secret Service is challenged to identify and neutralize potential threats by individuals and groups in this increasingly sophisticated, mobile, and violence prone environment.

The amendment of the Secret Services was not drastically changed, it happened over a long period of time. Eventually after thirty-six years, when President William Mckinley was assassinated the congress finally added the protection of the president on the Secret Services list of tasks. President James A. Garfield was also assassinated 16 years after Lincoln and Congress didn’t act until President McKinley died. Since 1901 every President from Theodore Roosevelt on has been protected by the Secret Service. The Secret Services kept on improving in the following years. Even before the two assassinations of Mckinley and Garfield congress did make changes in 1877. Congress passed an act to prohibit the counterfeiting of any coin, gold, or silver bar. Eighteen Years after the Secret Services had been established, the Secret Services was officially recognized as a distinct organization within the Treasury Department. The protection of the president has been very important and a big responsibility towards the Secret Services. In 1902 they were given the full time responsibility of protecting the President. The effect of the assassination of the three presidents, really held place in all of the upcoming presidents mind and it made a difference whether there was a safety guard around or not. The Secret Services play a big role in our money system and enforcing many of the laws that relate to the presidential unit and the non-related cases that the country faces.

Beginning in 1906 the Secret Service started expanding and making moves for a better society. It helped return millions of acres of land back to the government by cracking down the western land frauds. Also, the Sundry Civil Expenses Act for 1907 was created so that they could provide funds for the presidential protection by the Secret Services. Also in the same year, President Roosevelt moved the Secret Service agents to the Department of Justice where they formed the core of what is now called Federal Bureau of Investigation