US Elections: BILL CLINTON was known to the US secret service as Eagle, or Elvis, while George W Bush went under the codename of Tumbler, or Trailblazer. Up to now Barack Obama has been tagged as Renegade by the men and women charged with protecting his life.
Now that he is president-elect there will be no shortage of threats to Mr Obama's life and his protection will be paramount.
It has emerged that the number of threats to him picked up by the secret service escalated in late September and early October at the same time as the atmosphere at McCain/Palin campaign rallies became more charged, and some supporters charged that Mr Obama was a terrorist and a traitor.
Wife of the president-elect Michelle Obama was shaken by the angry chants coming from the McCain rallies and asked campaign staff: "Why would they try to make people hate us?", according to Newsweekmagazine, which is about to publish a behind-the-scenes report on the election.
In Chicago on Tuesday night, just after he had been declared elected, Mr Obama spoke to the hundreds of thousands of people in Grant Park from behind a three-inch-thick bullet-proof glass screen. Up to now Mr Obama, who is concerned about the impact the security would have on the lives of his children, has maintained an air of calm air about threats to himself, telling supporters that he has "the best protection in the world, so stop worrying".
Security will continue to be a feature of the lives of Mr Obama, his wife, codenamed Renaissance by the secret agents, and daughters Sasha and Malia, known in code as Radiance and Snowbud, during their time in Washington, and afterwards.
While Saturday afternoons with friends in a Chicago pizzeria will no longer be possible, the couple have already considered how they will be able to organise sleepover parties so their daughters can stay in touch with friends.
Myrlie Evers-Williams, who held her husband, civil rights activist Medgar Evers in her arms outside their home in 1963 as he lay dying after being shot, said yesterday she "kept him [Mr Obama] in her prayers.
"This young man is the epitome of strength, wisdom, grace and determination," she said, adding that he is "the link" between those who fought for civil rights during the 1960s and young Americans today.
The president-elect's neighbourhood in South Hyde Park Boulevard, Chicago, has known for months the changes that proximity to political power can bring. The presence of a half-dozen secret service cars is part of the scenery; all visitors are searched; bollards have been erected to block traffic and fences run along most of the street.
Directly across from the Obama home, inside the security zone, the KAM Isaiah Israel synagogue has been adjusting peacefully to the security for several months.
Visitors to the synagogue must put their names on a list 24 hours in advance and their identities checked.
The Democrat was given a secret service detail in May 2007 on the orders of homeland security secretary Michael Chertofff, in contrast to the usual rules where presidential candidates get protection 120 days ahead of the election.
The secret service is already reported to have investigated the identities of people who have made up to 500 death threats against Mr Obama during the campaign.
Already, two plots - if they could be described as such - threatening the life of the president-elect have been uncovered, leading to arrests. Both schemes have been ineptly planned, and neither had any chance of success.
Four men were arrested in Denver at the time of the Democratic national convention after one or more of them made threats against Mr Obama's life. One of the men was found to have rifles, sniper scopes and ammunition.
Yesterday Daniel Cowart (20) of Tennessee and Paul Schlesselman (18) from Arkansas were charged in Jackson, Tennessee with seven offences, including threatening Mr Obama. The two, according to court documents, planned to murder 88 African-Americans, decapitating 12 of them, before launching a drive-by assassination attempt on Mr Obama while wearing white tuxedos and top hats. They were arrested after they allegedly abandoned an attempt to rob a gunsmith's home, and after they had come to the attention of police, having sprayed white supremacist slogans on their car.
If convicted, the two could face long jail sentences. Some of the indictments carry a penalty of five years in jail, while some warrant 10 years.
Making threats against a presidential candidate earns offenders a five-year term. Count one of the indictment carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Counts two through five each carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.