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Meet 'Renegade,' 'Rosebud,' 'Radiance,' 'Renaissance'

Secret Service will use 'R' names for First Family

By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 11, 2008 9:08 AM CST

(Newser) – John McCain called himself a “maverick,” but the Secret Service has dubbed Barack Obama the real “Renegade," according to the Chicago Tribune. In keeping with tradition that’s been around since Harry Truman (“General”), the agency has given the president-elect’s family corresponding alliterative code names: “Renaissance” (Michelle), “Radiance” (Malia) and “Rosebud” (Sasha).

Other code names:

  • “Celtic”—Vice President-elect Joe Biden
  • "Capri"—Jill Biden
  • “Denali”—Sarah Palin
  • "Tumbler"—President Bush
  • "Eagle"—President Clinton
  • "Evergreen"—Sen. Hillary Clinton

President Bush walks with President-elect Barack Obama down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, to the Oval Office.
President Bush walks with President-elect Barack Obama down the Colonnade of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, to the Oval Office.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, second from right, wave at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, second from right, wave at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
President-elect Barack Obama talks with Vice President-elect Joe Biden on Nov. 5, 2008 in Chicago.
President-elect Barack Obama talks with Vice President-elect Joe Biden on Nov. 5, 2008 in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Obama for America, David Katz)
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Sasha and Malia, center right, celebrate at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Sasha and Malia, center right, celebrate at the election night rally in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Forderon
Nov 11, 2008 10:44 PM CST
It's not really a code name, per se. It's just a gimmick they do because it's "cool". Like saying "the Eagle has landed" for example.
inky
Nov 10, 2008 10:02 PM CST
One question: how can they be code names if everyone knows them?

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