Noah Patel
Rumors circulated that former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton charged rent to the Secret Service agents assigned to protect their home in Chappaqua, New York. The Clintons purchased the $1.7 million home in 1999, and a permanent, taxpayer-funded security system worth over $1 million was estimated to be installed. While the Clintons were entitled to collect rent from the Secret Service, they declined the payments of approximately $1,100 per month, which was well below their monthly mortgage payments. These rumors resurfaced during Hillary Clinton's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2016, sparking discussions about the financial benefits associated with her political career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did the Clintons charge the Secret Service rent? | The Clintons were entitled to charge rent to the Secret Service for space at their Chappaqua, N.Y., home, but they declined the payments of about $1,100 a month. |
| Who was involved? | Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and the Secret Service |
| Where did it happen? | Chappaqua, New York |
| When did it happen? | 2001 |
| Why did it happen? | Security measures; the Secret Service needed space to operate at the Clintons' house |
| How much was the alleged rent? | $1,100 per month |
| How much was the Clintons' mortgage? | Around $10,000 per month |
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What You'll Learn
The Clintons were entitled to charge rent to the Secret Service
In 1999, Bill and Hillary Clinton purchased an $1.7 million, 11-room Dutch Colonial home in Chappaqua, New York. This purchase was made in anticipation of Hillary Clinton's run for the Senate, as she needed to establish residence in New York.
The Secret Service has a statutory responsibility to protect the First Family. As such, a special 'safe area' had to be built within the property to house the Secret Service agents. It is standard practice for the Secret Service to provide payment to homeowners for the space used by the agency. The amount provided is based on a government formula and is not set by the homeowner. The Clintons were entitled to collect rent from the Secret Service, but they declined these payments.
Rumors began to circulate that the Clintons were charging the Secret Service rent, with some claiming that the rent amount was equal to their mortgage payments. However, the rent amount was only $1,100 per month, which was well short of their monthly mortgage payment, believed to be around $10,000.
While the Clintons were entitled to charge rent to the Secret Service, they chose not to accept these payments. This was confirmed by White House press secretary Jake Siewert and Hillary Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines.
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The Clintons did not accept rent payments
In 1999, the Clintons purchased an $1.7 million, 11-room Dutch Colonial home in Chappaqua, New York. A permanent, taxpayer-funded security system worth over $1 million was estimated to be required to adequately protect the President. This situation sparked rumors that the Clintons were charging "rent" to the federal agents assigned to protect their home.
While the Secret Service does not disclose the costs of its protective details, it is believed to cost tens of millions of dollars annually for each former president. The Clintons' security detail was provided by the White Plains office of the Secret Service, which was already well-staffed before the Clintons' home purchase due to the presence of many consulates in the area.
Contrary to the rumors, the Clintons did not accept rent payments from the Secret Service. Although they were entitled to collect rent for the space used by the agency, they declined the payments of approximately $1,100 per month. This amount was based on a government formula and was significantly less than their monthly mortgage payment.
The Secret Service is typically responsible for paying rent to property owners when providing protection to former presidents. However, in the case of the Clintons, they chose not to accept these payments. This information was confirmed by White House press secretary Jake Siewert and Hillary Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines.
In summary, while there were rumors that the Clintons charged rent to the Secret Service, these claims are false. The Clintons did not accept rent payments and instead chose to decline the money they were entitled to collect. This decision demonstrates their respect for the important work of the Secret Service in protecting the nation's first families.
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The Clintons' security detail
In 1999, Bill and Hillary Clinton purchased an $1.7 million, 11-room Dutch Colonial home in Chappaqua, New York. As is standard for former presidents, Bill Clinton is entitled to Secret Service protection for life, and the Secret Service has a statutory responsibility to protect the First Family. This meant that a permanent, taxpayer-funded security system worth more than $1 million had to be installed in the Clinton home.
To accommodate the Secret Service agents, an additional residence was built within the property. Rumours began to circulate that the Clintons were charging the Secret Service rent for this additional residence. This rent was estimated to be around $10,000 per month, which was about the same amount as their monthly mortgage payment.
However, these rumours were largely unfounded. While it is standard practice for the Secret Service to provide payment to homeowners for the space they use, the amount is based on a government formula and not set by the homeowner. In the Clintons' case, this amount was $1,100 per month—well short of their monthly mortgage payment. Furthermore, the Clintons declined to accept these payments.
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The cost of security systems at the properties of former presidents
The costs of security systems at the properties of former presidents are covered by public funds. The Secret Service does not disclose the costs of its protective operations; however, it is estimated that they amount to tens of millions of dollars annually for each former president.
The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for providing office space for former presidents, which includes security costs. The GSA determines the rent for these offices based on its lease costs, administrative expenses, and security expenses. For fiscal year 2000, the GSA's rent charges for former presidents ranged from $89,283 to $256,671. Former President Clinton's office rent for fiscal year 2002 was estimated to be approximately $354,000.
In terms of residential security, there have been instances where the Secret Service has paid rent to former presidents for the space used by their agents. For example, the Clintons were entitled to collect rent from the Secret Service for the space used at their Chappaqua, New York residence. The amount was calculated using a government formula and was approximately $1,100 per month. Similarly, an additional residence was constructed on the Clintons' property to house Secret Service agents, for which they charged the Federal government $10,000 in monthly rent, equivalent to their mortgage payment.
The security measures implemented at former presidents' residences can be extensive. For instance, at Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas properties, the government spent approximately $825,000 in today's dollars on security enhancements, including a lighting system, guardhouses, and helicopter landing lights. Richard Nixon's private estates also underwent significant security upgrades, with the government spending over $5 million in today's dollars, including substantial amounts on state-of-the-art alarm systems.
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The Clintons' eligibility for Secret Service protection for life
In 1999, the Clintons purchased an $1.7 million, 11-room Dutch Colonial home in Chappaqua, New York. At the time, it was estimated that a permanent, taxpayer-funded security system worth over $1 million would be needed to protect the President. This led to rumours that the Clintons were charging "rent" to the federal agents assigned to protect their home.
The Secret Service has a statutory responsibility to protect the First Family, and it is customary for the government to pay rent to the property owners when a retiring president moves into a new residence. The Clintons were entitled to collect rent from the Secret Service, but they declined the payments of about $1,100 per month. This amount was based on a government formula and was not set by the Clintons. It is important to note that security measures of this level are not specific to the Clintons; the homes of all current and former presidents are treated this way.
As a former president, Bill Clinton is entitled to Secret Service protection for life, including protection at his home. Hillary Clinton, as a former New York State Senator, also comes under the 'Congressional Retirement and Staffing Plan', which provides certain benefits after leaving office. However, contrary to rumours, the Clintons did not charge the Secret Service rent and did not receive money from the Secret Service for this purpose.
In conclusion, while the Clintons were eligible to receive rent payments from the Secret Service due to the space required for security operations at their home, they declined these payments. The protection of the First Family is considered a proper charge upon the nation, and the Secret Service works to ensure the safety of the President and their family, both during and after their time in office.
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Frequently asked questions
The Clintons were entitled to charge rent to the Secret Service stationed on their property, but they declined to accept the payments of about $1,100 per month.
The Secret Service required a special 'safe area' to be built within the Clintons' property to house the security detail protecting the First Family.
The amount of rent provided is based on a government formula, not set by the homeowner. The rent was estimated to be $1,100 per month, which was well short of the Clintons' monthly mortgage payment of around $10,000.
