An Act to amend title 18, United States Code, sections 871 and 3056, to provide penalties for threats against the successors to the Presidency, to authorize their protection by the Secret Service, and for other purposes
PL 87-829 (H.R.6691), enacted 10/15/1962

9S6 
PUBLIC LAW 87-829~OCT. 15, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
Public Law 87-829 
October 15, 1962 
[H. R. 6691] 
President and 
successors. 
Protection, 
69 Stat. 80. 
AN ACT 
Penalty for 
threats. 
Definitions. 
62 Stat. 672. 
62 Stat. 677, 
678. 
18 u s e 871-
877. 
65 Stat. 122. 
To amend title 18, United States Code, sections 871 and 3056, to provide penalties 
for threats against the successors to the Presidency, to authorize their pro-
tection by the Secret Service, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That title 18, United 
States Code, section 871, is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 871. Threats against President and successors to the Presidency 
"(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in 
the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier 
any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any 
threat to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of 
the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other 
officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the 
United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully 
otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-
elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to 
the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined not more 
than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. 
"(b) The terms 'President-elect' and 'Vice President-elect' as used 
in this section shall mean such persons as are the apparent successful 
candidates for the offices of President and Vice President, respec-
tively, as ascertained from the results of the general elections held-to 
determine the electors of President and Vice President in accordance 
with title 3, United States Code, sections 1 and 2. The phrase 'other 
officer next in the order of succession to the office of President' as used 
in this section shall mean the person next in the order of succession 
to act as President in accordance with title 3, United States Code, 
sections 19 and 20." 
SEC. 2. The analysis of chapter 41 of title 18, United States Code, 
immediately preceding section 871 of such title is amended by deleting 
"871. Threats against President, President-elect, and Vice President." 
and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"871. Threats against President and successors to the Presidency." 
SEC. 3. The first independent clause of title 18, United States Code, 
section 3056, is amended to read as follows: 
"§ 3056. Secret Service powers 
"Subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, the 
United States Secret Service, Treasury Department, is authorized to 
protect the person of the President of the United States, the members 
of his immediate family, the President-elect, the Vice President or 
other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, 
and the Vice President-elect; protect a former President, at his 
request, for a reasonable period after he leaves office;". 
Approved October 15, 1962.