Guess Who We Met Today in DC?

[Guest Nunya]

I removed the business card picture, but here's the story.

My daughter struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to her on the Metro. He asked her a million questions and I was mediating the conversation when I said, "So, what part do you play in all this (DC)?" He said, I'm in the Secret Service. She began to interrogate him and he quickly deflected questions. Before we got off the train, he gave her his business card and said, "Send me your address and I'll mail you something cool from the White House." I about swallowed my tongue when I read his business card. He was the Program Director - Presidential Protection.

What a great way to end out trip.

Edited October 15, 2012 by bentonbjones

[TrickyNicky]

Interesting, how did the meet go?

[Guest Nunya]

My bad on posting the business card. Met a Secret Service Program Director.

[DaveTN]

They are cool. I got to drive around the advance Party of Regan’s Presidential detail, and take them out to the clubs after work. To this day it just amazes me what goes on behind the scenes; and I’m sure they have stepped it up a few notches since then.

[East_TN_Patriot]

They are cool. I got to drive around the advance Party of Regan’s Presidential detail, and take them out to the clubs after work. To this day it just amazes me what goes on behind the scenes; and I’m sure they have stepped it up a few notches since then.

My impression from personal experience, people I know personally, and the media reports tell me they haven't. It's like every other employer; you do have some excellent professionals, even if the rest treat their career as a 30 year party.

Edited October 15, 2012 by East_TN_Patriot

[Guest Nunya]

Well, my second interaction with the Secret Service wasn't nearly as fun.

About a block from the white house, I pulled up to one of the MANY five way intersections with three two way and two one way roads. There were two secret service police cars sitting on the side of one of the one way streets. I promptly turned the wrong way down the other one. One of the officers blue-lighted me and made a "lasso" motion out his window. I whipped a U-turn and they went on with their conversation.

Driving here is ridiculous! We stayed outside the city and used the Metro for the most part, but the wife wanted pictures of the White House after dark, so I braved the streets tonight.

[DaveTN]

My impression from personal experience, people I know personally, and the media reports tell me they haven't. It's like every other employer; you do have some excellent professionals, even if the rest treat their career as a 30 year party.

Oh, I wasn’t making any derogatory remarks about the agents. I meant the attention to detail, the things they want to know, the people they want to talk to, how they handle potential threats, etc. They spent several days there preparing for a 2 hour visit by the President.

[RobertNashville]

Neat story! My two interactions with secret service have both been positive although not as "personal" as yous. Many years ago Dan Quale was the keynote speaker at a function I helped organize for my company; the advance party were exceptionally professional and great to work with.

My other encounter was with two advance team members at Monticello - I was there on July 3 2008; I had come down Skyline Drive after vacationing in DC. GWB had decided to conduct the mass swearing in ceremony they do every year there on July 4th and these two agents were on the tour with us. I also got to stand at the presidential podium GWB would be using the next day.

[Defender]

Ive worked with the Secret Service several times. Reagan at Homestead AFB in Miami in the early 80's, and Clinton several times at Ramstein Air Base in Germany in the early 90's. The ones I dealt with were very professional all the way! Worked more closely with them in Germany since I had a little more rank and a higher job in my unit. I was very surprised at the level of planning and preparation involved. Planning started months out and involved several Secret Service ADVON team visits. They surveyed every place that had line of sight to the places the President would be, including routes to Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center which is nearby. The closer it got to the actual visit date, the more agents and equipment arrived at Ramstein, including those armored Suburbans which came in on C-5s. They didnt even fully trust us with long guns in his vicinity. Sidearms were ok, but we had to keep long guns away except for our sniper teams which were co-located with their teams in strategic places. Must have been horribly expensive and sometimes we went through all that trouble and expense and the visits were sometimes cancelled at the last minute!

[Guest Nunya]

My daughter received a pink White House souvenir toboggan in the mail today from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Pictures forthcoming.

Edited October 19, 2012 by bentonbjones

[Glock30]

My daughter received a pink White House souvenir toboggan in the mail today from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Pictures forthcoming.

With a great story to go with it. Very cool!