Since we became a global empire.
I had a great Uncle who worked in DC most of his career. He got to DC in 1931 after graduating from Harvard. He said at the time, there was a small decorative fence around the White House, which Coolidge installed to keep people from wandering and relaxing on the White House lawn. He used to regularly see the Vice President and various cabinet officials out for lunch at some local taverns. After lunch, they would walk back to their office at the executive office building. No one would bother to shoot them, because no one knew who they were, or cared.
I want that Fed.gov back.
The Secret Service is authorized by 18 U.S.C. ยง 3056(a) to protect:[11]
The president, vice president (or the next individual in the order of succession, should the vice presidency be vacant), president-elect and vice president-elect
The ‘immediate families’ of the above individuals
Former presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes, except if the spouse remarries
Children of former presidents under the age of 16
Immediate families, not adult grandchildren