The Origins and Evolution of the Secret Service

The Secret Service was founded in 1865 to combat counterfeit currency, a mission that dramatically shifted following the assassination of President McKinley in 1901, leading to the protection of the president becoming a core responsibility. Initially focused solely on investigating counterfeiting, the agency expanded its scope, becoming a vital institution by the early 1960s, with high standards for recruitment and public trust. However, the tragic assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963, exposed serious lapses in the agency's protective measures, particularly during a high-profile motorcade in Dallas, where critical security oversights occurred. The upcoming analysis will delve into whether these failures stemmed from mere negligence or if there were underlying issues at play contributing to the assassination.