White House Communications Agency

• Origins during World War II: The White House Communications Agency (WHCA) traces its roots back to 1942 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized the need for secure and reliable communications during wartime travel. • Formal Establishment: The agency was officially established as the "White House Signal Detachment" in 1942 and became the WHCA in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy. • Mission: WHCA’s primary mission is to provide secure and non-secure voice, video, and data communications for the President, Vice President, Secret Service, and other key officials at any location worldwide. • Presidential Travel: WHCA is responsible for setting up mobile communications wherever the President goes, including foreign countries, disaster sites, and even aboard Air Force One and Marine One. • Hotline to Moscow: WHCA helped install and maintain the Moscow–Washington hotline (the "Red Phone") during the Cold War to enable direct communication between U.S. and Soviet leaders. • Role in the Cuban Missile Crisis: During the 1962 crisis, WHCA played a critical part in ensuring secure and rapid communication between President Kennedy and his advisors. • Secret Call Signs: WHCA assigns code names and call signs to the President, family members, and key White House staff, which are used for secure radio and telecommunication purposes. • Disaster Response: WHCA supports national disaster responses by providing emergency communications for the President and federal agencies on-site, such as during Hurricane Katrina and 9/11. • Technological Innovations: The agency has pioneered many secure communication technologies, including encrypted satellite phones, secure video conferences, and mobile command centers. • Highly Selective Membership: WHCA is made up of personnel from all branches of the U.S. military, selected for their technical expertise and trustworthiness, due to the sensitive nature of their work.