President Secret Service Special Called Protects Security Team

The president of the United States has his own special security team for protection, special police officers who are responsible primarily for protecting the president and the vice president from any danger. This security team is called the "Secret Service," which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, although for many years it was part of the U.S. Treasury Department. They normally wear formal business suits, not police "uniforms" (clothing for a specific job or profession).

The Secret Service protects all current and former presidents for life, meaning that even after a president leaves his or her position, both the ex-president and "spouse" (husband or wife) continue to have special protection until the day they die. The Secret Service also protects the children of the current president and the main candidates for president during most of the election year.

The Secret Service has certain "code names" or special names for the people it protects that it uses for communication instead of their real names. The names don't necessarily have anything to do with the person, although people often try to figure out why they were given that name. The president does not get to choose his or her own code name. For example, former President Bill Clinton's name was Eagle, a kind of bird.

So what about President Barack Obama? Obama's code name is "Renegade," which is a person who does things differently, who doesn't follow the official rules or organization. First Lady (the wife of the president) Michelle Obama is called "Renaissance," referring to the period of European history when there was a growth in art and learning after the Middle Ages. The Obama children are called "Radiance," for Malia Obama, and "Rosebud," for Sasha Obama. "Radiance" means shining brightly, like the sun or a bright light. "Rosebud" is what we call the flower rose before it opens.