The Secret Service uses code names when talking about the First and Second Families and other protectees during radio communications.  Typically, they are two or three syllable words that have some personal meaning to the protectee, all starting with the same letter for that particular family. 

The Obamas now have the letter “R” that was previously used by Ronald Reagan. 

Obama = Renegade

Michelle = Renaissance

Obama daughters = Rosebud (Sasha) and Radiance (Malia)

Note:  Rosebud was previously used for Maureen Reagan and Radiant was used for Doria Reagan, Ronald Reagan’s daugther and daughter-in-law, respectively. It’s interesting that none of the other protectees’ names have been copied like that, especially since the First Family gets to pick what code names they receive. So, why did the Obamas choose to copy the Reagan daughters?

The Clintons use the letter “E”.  

Hillary Clinton = Evergreen

Bill Clinton = Eagle

Chelsea Clinton = Energy

Other code names used by the Secret Service:

POTUS = President of the United States

FLOTUS = First Lady of the United States

SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the United States

VPOTUS = Vice President of the United States

Harry Truman = General

Dwight Eisenhower = Scorecard or Providence

Mamie Eisenhower = Springtime

John F. Kennedy = Lancer

Jackie Kennedy = Lace

HRH Princess Caroline of Kenendy = Lyric

John Kennedy = Lark

Ted Kennedy = Sunburn

Lyndon Johnson = Volunteer

Lady Bird Johnson = Victoria

Lynda Bird Johnson = Velvet

Luci Baines Johnson = Venus

Richard Nixon = Searchlight

Pat Nixon = Starlight

Gerald Ford = Pass Key

Betty Ford = Pinafore

Susan Ford = Panda

Michael Ford = Professor

Jack Ford = Packman

Jimmy Carter = Deacon

Rosalynn Carter = Dancer

Amy Carter = Dynamo

Chip Carter = Diamond

Jack Carter = Derby

Jeff Carter = Deckhand

Ronald Reagan = Rawhide

Nancy Reagan = Rainbow

Maureen Reagan = Rosebud, Rhyme

Michael Reagan = Riddler

Patti Davis = Ribbon

Ron Reagan = Reliant

Doria Reagan = Radiant

George H. W. Bush = Timberwolf

Barbara Bush = Tranquility or Snowbank

Marvin Bush = Tuner

Neil Bush = Trapline

Jeb Bush = Tripper

Bill Clinton = Eagle

Hillary Clinton = Evergreen

Chelsea Clinton = Energy

George W. Bush = Trailblazer, Tumbler

Laura Bush = Tempo

Barbara Bush = Turquoise

Jenna Bush = Twinkle

Nelson Rockefeller = Sandstorm

Happy Rockefeller = Shooting Star, Stardust

Walter Mondale = Cavalier, Dragon

Joan Mondale = Cameo

Eleanor Mondale = Calico

Ted Mondale = Centurion

Dan Quayle = Scorecard, Supervisor

Marilyn Quayle = Sunshine

Al Gore = Sawhorse, Sundance

Tipper Gore = Skylark

Karenna Gore = Smurfette

Dick Cheney = Angler

Lynne Cheney = Author

Joe Biden = Celtic

Jill Biden = Capri

Eugene McCarthy = Instructor

John B. Anderson = Starburst

Keke Anderson = Scarlet

Phil Crane = Swordfish

Gary Hart = Redwood

Jesse Jackson = Pontiac, Thunder

John Kerry = Minuteman

Teresa Heinz Kerry = Mahogany

John McCain = Phoenix

Cindy McCain = Parasol

Sarah Palin = Denali

Todd Palin = Driller

Henry Kissinger = Woodcutter

James Baker = Fencing Master, Foxtail

Zbigniew Brzezinski = Hawkeye

John Ehrlichman = Wisdom

Ron Zeigler = Whale Boat

H.R. Haldeman = Welcome

Ron Nesson = Clam Chowder

Rahm Emanuel = Strawberry

Scott McClellan = Matrix

Strom Thurmond = Footprint

Howard Baker = Snapshot

Queen Elizabeth II = Kittyhawk

Prince Charles = Unicorn

The Pope = Halo