Early 20th Century Presidential Foreign Travel Protection
As the presidency expanded in scope during the 20th century, the Secret Service faced increasing protection challenges. In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting president to travel outside the United States when he visited Panama accompanied by Secret Service agents. In 1918-19, Woodrow Wilson broadened the precedent by traveling to Europe with a Secret Service escort of 10 men for the Versailles Peace Conference.
1933 Assassination Attempt on President-Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt
On February 15, 1933, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt was the target of an assassination attempt at a political rally in Miami’s Bayfront Park. Giuseppe Zangara, a bricklayer with stomach problems who had planned to travel to Washington to kill President Hoover but stayed in Miami for his health, shot five rounds at Roosevelt. Roosevelt slid down into his seat just before Zangara could take aim; the shots missed him but mortally wounded Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak and injured four others. Zangara was electrocuted 33 days later, and no evidence of accomplices emerged despite sensational speculation about a Chicago gangster conspiracy.
1922 Creation of the White House Police Force
Protection of the White House had been provided by the Washington Metropolitan Police since the Civil War, growing to 54 men by 1922. In that year, Congress established the White House Police Force as a separate organization under the President’s direct control, initially supervised by the President’s military aide. In 1930, Congress placed supervision under the Chief of the Secret Service, and in 1962, Congress transferred control and supervision to the Secretary of the Treasury, who delegated supervision back to the Chief of the Secret Service.
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