PPD

In 1999, I spent several days in Iceland at a Women in Democracy Conference. One woman in our entourage was a 30-ish Secret Service agent who was happy to be at the conference, a real departure from her full-time assignment: Presidential Protection Detail for Ronald Reagan.

I asked her what standing guard over someone who hasn't been seen in public for 10 years was "like"; "like" being code for, "Holy Crap. What the hell are you protecting him from?" She had kind words for the President and said that there were lots and lots of quiet hours. An exciting day was when Mrs. Reagan went shopping.

On this, the President's 92nd birthday, I can only imagine a crew of finely trained, heavily armed, fit and well dressed agents all sitting around, catching up on their reading.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President.