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Obama's code name 'Renegade' WHAT WOULD PRESIDENT TIM'S NAME BE?

Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 4:22 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 5:15 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- It's official: Barack Obama is now "Renegade."

CHARLES DHARAPAK / Associated Press President-elect Barack Obama, code name "Renegade," drops daughters Malia ("Radiance"), left, and Sasha ("Rosebud") off at school Monday in Chicago.

At least for the Secret Service's code name for the president-elect.

In addition, the security names -- all alliterative -- for his wife, Michelle, are "Renaissance" and daughters Malia "Radiance" and Sasha "Rosebud."

Vice President-elect Joe Biden's code name is "Celtic."

Since the time of Harry Truman, commanders in chief and their families have been assigned security code names. Truman's was "General." Dwight Eisenhower was known as "Providence." And John F. Kennedy, perhaps suggesting a Camelot theme, was "Lancer."

The not-so-secret names are chosen by officials at the White House Communications Agency, which was not inclined to comment on the selection process. An agency spokesman once said the names are assigned by "sheer whim."