Today, congressional leaders said current Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should resign in the same manner that Stuart Knight did in 1981, months after the failed assassination attempt on former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Knight’s tenure with the Secret Service included notable assignments and responsibilities. Between the late 1960s and early 1970s, he worked on counterfeit money cases in Los Angeles and Washington. In 1971, he transitioned to the Secret Service for Administration, serving as an assistant director for over two years before being appointed the 15th Director on November 7, 1973.
As director, Knight was responsible for planning the protection of President Richard Nixon during his visit to the Middle East in 1974. In 1975, he oversaw the Secret Service during the assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford in Sacramento and San Francisco. By 1980, he remained director under President Jimmy Carter and continued in this role during the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in March 1981. Knight retired from his position in November 1981, having served under eight U.S. presidents throughout his career.
Knight, retired Director of the United States Secret Service, died on Monday, September 7, 2009, following an extended illness. He was 88 years old.
Mr. Knight was appointed as the 15th Director of the U.S. Secret Service on November 7, 1973, and served for eight years. During his tenure, he oversaw the expansion of Secret Service training and the modernization of the agency’s management techniques. He retired on November 30, 1981, concluding a 31-year career.
“Director Knight provided exemplary leadership to this agency. His work leaves an indelible mark on the Secret Service which will serve as a lasting legacy in his honor,” said Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan.
Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, on January 6, 1921, Mr. Knight moved with his family to Detroit, Michigan, where he grew up. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. After the war, he completed his undergraduate studies in criminal justice at Michigan State University in 1948 and served as a police officer in Berkeley, California.
Mr. Knight began his Secret Service career in 1950 as a special agent in the Detroit Field Office. His career included assignments in the Presidential Protective Division, the Los Angeles Field Office, and the Office of Inspection. He also held supervisory positions such as Special Agent in Charge for the Vice Presidential Protective Division, the Washington Field Office, and the Special Investigations Division. Before becoming director, he served as Assistant Director of the Office of Administration.
