Transportation The President may travel in any U.S. armed services vehicle. Most commonly, he is seen aboard a plane known as Air Force One and a helicopter called Marine One. The President also may use a fleet of non-military ground transportation, from the Presidential State Car (known as “The Beast”) to armored buses (known as “Ground Force One”). All presidential transportation is equipped with state-of-the-art security, such as the limo’s night vision cameras and armor-plated doors and electronic counter-measure capability (to confuse enemy radar) in Air Force One.

Secret Service Protection The Secret Service was created in 1865, to stop the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. After the 1901 assassination of President McKinley, Congress asked the Secret Service to protect the President. Today, the Secret Service includes some of the most highly skilled, heavily trained protective agents in the world. Secret Service agents patrol the area around the White House, including its roof, and the streets of Washington, D.C. Every agent undergoes hours of training, including marksmanship, water survival training, and advanced driving techniques. 

Residences Every President since John Adams in 1800 has lived at the White House, which is visited by approximately 6,000 people each day. The mansion sits on 18 acres in Washington, D.C. It boasts 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 8 staircases, 6 levels, 3 elevators, tennis and basketball courts, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a swimming pool, and a putting green.  Located in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland, Camp David serves as a presidential retreat. Its 200 acres offer the President’s family a secure place to rest and relax, as well as a location to host foreign dignitaries.  One of the most famous meetings to take place at Camp David was the 1978 meeting involving President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat,

and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. The meeting resulted in the Camp David Accords, an historic peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. 

Staff The President is the head of the executive branch, which employs some 2.7 million Americans. Over 1,800 of those people make up the Executive Office of the President (EOP). The EOP, including the famous West Wing staff, includes key support staff who help design and implement the administration’s programs. The President’s personal staff includes such positions as chief usher, executive chef, and chief floral designer. Since 1995, the President has been required to provide Congress with the title and salary of every White House Office employee.

Salary In 1999, Congress set the President’s salary at $400,000, plus a $50,000 expense account (which went into effect in 1949, when presidential pay was set at $100,000). The salary rose to $200,000 in 1969 and was not raised again until 1999.While seemingly generous, presidential pay is much lower than that of many other top U.S. executives, although the President arguably has far greater responsibilities. Other presidential benefits include entertainment and travel accounts and a medical team dedicated to the President around the clock.

Retirement Presidential retirement benefits can include a pension, Secret Service protection, and medical insurance. The pension is a yearly salary equal to the current salary of a Cabinet member, about $200,000. The Secret Service provides personal protection to former Presidents and their immediate family for 10 years after leaving office.  Presidents have gone on to a variety of pursuits after leaving office. President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his diplomatic work. He has also been a strong supporter of Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for disadvantaged Americans.