What The Secret Service Used To Call Sasha Obama
Growing up in the White House seems like a pretty sweet gig, especially when you're just a kid.
Kids around the country can only imagine what it's like being the president's child while living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Aside from the historical significance of the White House, the president's residence is decked out with a tennis court, bowling alley, movie theater and full wait staff. For a kid, the West Wing is a dream — yet for former President Barack Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, it was just home, and the girls still had chores and a small allowance.
In an interview with People back in 2008, the Obamas revealed the girls — 10 and 7 at the time — got just $1 per week in allowance only after finishing their chores. "They have to clean up their half of the third floor where they play," revealed former first lady Michelle Obama. "They have a closet of toys they have to clean up. They have to practice their piano every day."
For Malia and Sasha Obama, the only real change from being normal kids in Chicago to being known as the president's daughters was the presence of armed guards 24/7. On the bright side, it turns out, the Secret Service had a pretty sweet nickname for Sasha Obama.
Secret Service gave the Obama daughters code names and taught Malia how to drive
When it came to growing up in the White House, Malia and Sasha Obama managed relatively normal lives away from the public eye — yet life in the White House came with an added twist.
When it came time for the Obamas' eldest daughter, Malia, to learn to drive, Michelle Obama admitted in an interview with Rachael Ray it wasn't she or the president who taught their teen at the time... it was the Secret Service. "The Secret Service [taught her], actually, because they wouldn't let me in the car with her," Michelle said (via CNN). "She always has security around." The former first lady went on to reveal Malia did get some alone time in the car, but we imagine Secret Service wasn't far behind. "Driving for Malia, I think, gives her a sense of normalcy, like the rest of her friends are doing. And my kids have got to learn how to live in the world like normal kids."
Having the Secret Service hovering over the Obama girls as they grew up in the White House wasn't all bad. The armed guards had a sweet nickname for each member of the family, with Sasha's perhaps being the sweetest. (And no, it isn't her real name.)
According to TIME, the Secret Service opted to call Sasha "Rosebud," while her sister Malia was given the code name "Radiance." In keeping with the "R" theme, Michelle was known as "Renaissance" while the president was "Renegade."
President Barack Obama said his girls have 'PTSD' from the Secret Service
Even with their sweet nicknames, the relationship between Sasha and Malia Obama got a bit trickier as the girls entered their teen years.
In an appearance on "The Late Late Show," former President Barack Obama admitted he didn't see a future in politics or public service for his two daughters, as both Sasha and Malia "have PTSD" from their Secret Service. In the light-hearted interview, Obama told James Corden, "they still have PTSD from guys talking into their wrist microphones and glasses as they're trying to go to a music concert."
The former president continued, "them as teenagers having Secret Service guys follow them when they were going out on dates, I think probably has shut down their interest in public service." Eldest daughter Malia has already steered away from politics, sparking interest in the film industry and attending Harvard University, according to People. "I think they are probably going to find other ways to serve rather than run for office themselves, but you never know," Obama said.
Secret Service became a tradition in the early 1900s
The tradition of a Secret Service code name for the first family in the White House began in the early 1900s, according to NBC New York. The outlet reports that although the nickname process originally began due to security issues with electronic messages, it has since become an opportunity for the first family to choose a name with meaning.
Looking back at past presidential families, each nickname within one first family must begin with the same first letter and, according to CNN, are picked out from an approved list from the White House Communications agency.
Former President Donald Trump opted to pay homage to his years as a New York real estate tycoon, choosing the code name "Mogul," while former first lady Melania Trump went with "Muse," a fitting name for a former model. The Bush family on the other hand went with the letter T, with President George W. Bush going with "Trailblazer," his wife and former first lady Laura Bush choosing "Tempo," and their daughters going with "Turquoise," and "Twinkle."