The Secret Service took Danny Smith around the world; when he came home to Kentucky, he chose Midway

Then-Vice President George H.W. Bush signed this photo of himself and Danny Smith in Beijing (then Peking).

Smith shows his Secret Service ID. (Photo by Madison Dyment)

By Madison Dyment
University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media

In a town as small and close-knit as Midway, it’s easy for the phrase “everybody knows everybody” to roll off your tongue. But given a closer look, how well do we really know our neighbors? So many peoples’ stories float around Midway, often not getting the recognition they deserve. So, Midway, meet your neighbor since 1985, Danny Smith.

Despite coming from humble roots in Lebanon, Ky., Smith found himself along a different life path as a member of the Secret Service.

“After Bobby Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson ordered Secret Service protection for presidential candidates, which is kinda how I found out about it,” said Smith. “I met some FBI and Secret Service agents through my brother, Jack Smith, who was a federal prosecutor, and they asked if I would be interested in it.”

Smith went through rigorous study and was “off and running” in 1969, he said. His work had him stationed across the country through some of the most defining historical moments.

He was stationed in D.C. during the anti-war demonstrations at the end of the Vietnam War, went through the resignation of President Nixon and Watergate and personally served and protected every president from Richard Nixon to George H.W. Bush, who served in 1989-93.

Smith, who graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1967 with a double major in history and political science, a minor in German and taught history at Lebanon High School for two years, found the position intriguing for someone with his interests.

“It was a very serious employment and, especially as someone who had an interest in history, political science and world affairs, it was an exciting career for me,” said Smith. “It was just a very interesting period of history.”

Smith was stationed directly in the White House in an “intelligence role” during the Nixon administration from 1971 until 1974.

“If people came up and were exhibiting irrational behavior, the White House Police would get ahold of them and the intelligence guys would come out and deal with the situation,” said Smith.

Although Smith declined to comment on any personal opinions or stories regarding the presidents he served, he holds the utmost respect for them and others he protected. His basement is filled with photos and notes, including a photo of Smith and George H.W. Bush in China, signed by Bush with an accompanying note thanking Smith for his service. A framed collage of Jimmy Carter hangs on the wall as a memory of his time serving and traveling with that president, who appointed his brother U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Golda Meir, then prime minister of Israel,
autographed a picture of her for Smith.

“I don’t like to talk about their personalities or little stories,” said Smith. “The protectee has to have utmost confidence that what they do will be kept private. You have to have respect for their privacy, official and personal.”

Smith protected other interesting figures, such as Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, King Hussein of Jordan, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Mikhail Gorbachev, the former General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and Pope John Paul II.

“To be able to meet and be around these people was just fascinating to see and interact with these historic world leaders,” said Smith.

Despite the close interaction with political figures, Smith never allowed his experiences to sway his political views or opinions. Professional to the core, he took his job seriously and never let anything come in the way of his duty.

“I’m proud of the agents from my era, we were pretty apolitical,” said Smith. “It didn’t make any difference if the protectee was a Democrat, Republican or foreign dignitary, we had a job to do and we did it.”

Smith credits the Secret Service for bringing him to Midway in 1985. When the service opened an office in Lexington, he jumped at the opportunity to return Kentucky. He had previously visited Midway and enjoyed the small-town feeling and proximity to Lexington.

In this position, he worked on intelligence cases at the Federal Medical Center on Leestown Road, with individuals such as Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme of the Charles Manson family when she was detained for trying to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975.

In 1989, Smith left the service and took up work with the Department of Justice through the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, in Lexington. He served as a coordinator of law enforcement efforts, bringing together law enforcement officers from all levels to address initiatives such as anti-terrorism, gun violence, or drug laws. He retired in 2006.

“I was very fortunate that I was able to have two great law enforcement careers in two different agencies that I enjoyed,” said Smith.

Smith served on the city's water-sewer task force in 2011. (Photo by Dick Yarmy)

Now, sitting on his front porch talking with his neighbors is just the level of excitement the 74-year-old Smith wants. Having raised his three daughters in Midway, he and his wife, Georgette, enjoy the small-town atmosphere and homey environment of the town.

“I’ve always known everybody on my street, Gayland Drive, and in my neighborhood and I think that’s fantastic, I really enjoy that,” said Smith. “We would sit on our porches and talk with each other at night and that small-community feel of Midway is just lovely.”

Smith promotes these neighborly values in his everyday life. Between going to breakfast every Saturday with neighbors and friends, to cherishing the opportunity to see people at the post office, and promoting local shopping and support of local business, this worldly person has become a Midway man through and through.

“Staying in contact with your neighbors is so important,” said Smith.

You may wonder what the one big takeaway is for a man who has seen so much in a lifetime. To Smith, it’s a simple mantra that he’s repeated countlessly.

“Be prepared for opportunity when it knocks, because it will knock several times in your life and you need to be prepared for whatever comes to your door,” said Smith. “I hope we don’t lose that message in our future.”