The Secret Service

Term Paper # 114320

Political Science > Government Agencies

The Secret Service

A brief overview of the history and operations of the United States Secret Service.

2,312 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the United States Secret Service was established on July 5, 1865 by President Lincoln, only hours before he was assassinated. It looks at how the Secret Service was the first U.S. domestic intelligence and counterintelligence agency and how it was originally established to suppress counterfeit currency. The paper then examines its history and looks at how it operates today with the dual mission of keeping the nation's financial infrastructure safe as well as contending with the protection of distinguishable peoples.

From the Paper:

"Counterfeiting remains a large problem in the United States today because this crime has the potential to severely damage the nation's economy and its citizens, and it has become increasingly easier to make counterfeit currency. In the past, counterfeiters would use offset printing to develop counterfeit currency. However, today people simply use computers, printers, and scanners. Also, counterfeiters need only basic computer skills to make fake currency, and for this reason more and more people continue to do it. Therefore, the Secret Service has many field offices and thousands of agents. Just like when it was established in 1865, the Secret Service is still a very important branch of the government, because without it our economy could be devastated. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Brinkerhoff, Noel. "Talk about Entourage-Obama Does the U.K." AllGov. 31 Mar. 2009.
Holden, Henry. To be a Secret Service Agent. Zenith Imprint, 2006. 30-56.
"James J. Rowley Training Center." United States Secret Service. 28 Jan. 2009. <http://www.secretservice.gov/.>
Knoller, Mark. "Bush Daughters Kept Secret Service Protection." CBS News. 30 Mar. 2009.
Melanson, Philip. The Secret Service. Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2005. 3-10.