WASHINGTON — On Friday, Secret Service agents paid their final respects to “Deacon,” the code name they used for former President Jimmy Carter, who holds the record for the longest security detail in the agency’s history, following his burial in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, after a memorial service in Washington, D.C.

Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, began receiving protection as a presidential candidate on October 8, 1975. The Secret Service noted that the continuous security detail lasted for 49 years and two months.

“President Carter left a profound impact on everyone at the Secret Service,” stated Anthony Guglielmi, the agency’s Communications Director. He added that the personal detail members found him “inspiring due to his public service, compassion, and remarkable commitment to helping others.”

Agents remained close to the late president throughout the state funeral ceremonies in Washington and followed his casket to its final resting place at his home in Plains, Georgia late Thursday evening.

The official end of this duty came on Friday, the day after his funeral service at the National Cathedral, which the four other living former presidents attended and was broadcast globally.

“The Secret Service detail for President Carter has finished its mission following the return to Plains, Georgia and after the 39th president’s burial,” stated the Secret Service. The agency confirmed that their “physical protection activities ceased on Friday morning.”

From Deacon to Dancer

A devoted Baptist, Carter was known for attending church regularly. Even after he took office in 1977, he reportedly continued to teach Sunday school. He served one term, concluding in 1981, and in accordance with policy, the Secret Service maintained protection for him and his wife until death.

Rosalynn Carter received her own Secret Service detail during the presidential campaign in the fall of 1976, shortly after the Democratic National Convention in September. Her code name, like his, was designated Dancer, following the agency’s tradition of alliteration.

In their later years, the couple was protected by a unified detail, according to the Secret Service. Rosalynn continued to receive protection until her death in November at 96 years old.

Their daughter, Amy, was code-named Dynamo, while their sons, Chip, Jack, and Jeff, were referred to as Diamond, Derby, and Deckhand, respectively. Their protection officially ended when Carter left office on January 20, 1981, under Secret Service policy.

The code names serve as a security measure for agents when facilitating movement or discussing their protectees, especially as technological advancements risk interception during communication.