Election 2000: Protecting the Candidates
Dateline: 01/14/2000
The US Secret Service provides protective services to major Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and their spouses starting 120 days before the national election (November 7, 2000).
Congress extended protection to candidates for President and Vice President in 1968 after the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, then a candidate for President.
Who are "Major" Candidates?
Since extending protection to all "declared"
Presidential candidates would be cost-prohibitive, somebody has to decide which
candidates are "major" candidates.
The Secretary of the Treasure (currently Lawrence H. Summers), under Title 18, Section 3056, United States Code decides who qualifies as a major candidate. In making this decision, the Treasury Secretary consults with an advisory committee made up of:
- The Speaker of the House (Dennis Hastert)
- Senate Majority Leader (Trent Lott)
- Senate Minority Leader (Thomas Daschle)
- House Minority Whip (David E. Bonior)
- One member chosen by the committee
Candidates selected have the option to decline protection by the Secret Service.
What Kind of Protection Do They Get
During the 120-day pre-election period, Secret Service Special Agents, who
are forbidden by law from supporting any candidate for federal office, protect
the candidate and candidate's spouse by:
- Providing 24-hour protection for each candidate.
- Coordinating all security matters, including coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
- Providing security for the candidates' residences, mail, luggage, and transportation.
- Facilitating access to the candidates by members of the press.
- Providing a system of identification to facilitate movement of necessary personnel within secured areas.
Secret Service Agents will not:
- Provide services not related to security.
- Provide protection or other services to the candidates' staff.
- Actively participate in political activities.
After the election, protection continues for the President and Vice President Elect and their spouses. Protection is also extended to the children of the President and Vice President Elect at this time. Protection to other major candidates ends once the election is final.
Reference Resources |
The US Secret Service Protective Mission
Learn how this agency protects elected officials of this and other countries.The United States Code Online
Cornell University provides this handy, easy to search edition of the entire US Code of laws.Robert F. Kennedy Assassination Records
From the California State Archives. Includes an extensive bibliography.
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Also on US Government Info/Resources |
Candidates on the Issues
Views and representative public statements by the candidates on key social, economic, domestic, and international issues.Political Parties
Links to the two major and six 3rd party web sites plus committees.Interest Groups and Organizations
Choose your issue and opinion and look here to find a PAC, think tank, or interest group that agrees with you.Candidates' Issues Web Pages
Handy links directly to the issues or platform statement pages of the candidates' web sites.Online Straw Poll
Who would you vote for today? Over 312,00 votes and it's close!US Senate Races
Incumbents include 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats. State-by-State Details.US House Races
Incumbents include 223 Republicans, 211 Democrats, and 1 Independent. State-by-State details.Governors Races
Incumbents include 4 Republicans and 7 Democrats. State-by-State details.Election 2000 Index
Links to these and other election resources on US Government Info/Resources and other About.com Guide Sites.
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Related About.com GuideSites |
JFK Assassination Net Links
Links to the history, facts, and theory of the John F. Kennedy Assassination from About.com's Guide to Crime and Punishment, Bill Bickel.The God Factor
Christianity Guide, Charles Henderson on the effect of religion in the 2000 elections.The Candidates on Gay/Lesbian Issues
The views of all presidential hopefuls on GLBT issues.Pro-Choice Views
Regularly updated information about campaigns and candidates, from your About.com Guide.Quotes from the Candidates
Sift through the candidates for the 2000 US Presidential Election with this quotation overview, from your About.com Guide to Quotations.Election Issues - Senior Health
Election Issues, from your About.com Guide
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