a day ago
Secret Service agent's daughter shares his wildest stories about protecting the President
For most kids, their dad's work stories involve office drama or bad run-ins with their boss.
For Ashley Hicks, 36, from Washington, D.C., they were about protecting his boss - who also happened to be the leader of the United States of America.
Ashley's father is a former member of the Secret Service, and was responsible for ensuring the safety of former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Now, Ashley has been sharing stories from her dad's 25 years in Secret Service on TikTok, where she's become a viral sensation.
In a recent interview with People, Ashley explained that while she knows the stories are fascinating to people now, she didn't think her childhood was unusual.
But looking back at some of her experiences - like how she was never allowed to step into her father's work vehicle, how her family attended White House Christmas parties, and how her dad was occasionally shown on the news in shots of the President - she now realizes how unique her life really was.
'It just felt like that was a normal way to grow up,' Ashley said.
And because - contrary to popular belief - she doesn't necessarily have to keep her father's stories a secret, she's been letting fans in on the wildest things about her dad.
In one video, she said that couldn't even sleep over at friends' houses unless their dads were also in law enforcement - preferably FBI or Navy - for security reasons.
Another video detailed the time Secret Service agents - including Ashley's dad - had to sleep on a Navy assault ship while accompanying President Bush after Hurricane Katrina.
Other videos dive into the quirks of having a Secret Service agent for a dad - like the time teenage Ashley tried to sneak home after drinking and was quickly caught since nothing got by him.
She explained that she made curfew, but her dad caught her instantly from across the room, saying: 'You think that gum is going to mask what you've been up to?'
According to Ashley, every president had a preferred way to stay fit - and the Secret Service had to master it.
Whether it was running, cycling, or some other workout, agents needed to be in shape to keep up, right down to matching the president's workout clothes to blend in during public outings.
Ashley's father ultimately served presidents for 25 years.
When asked if he had a favorite president that he worked with, Ashley said he always spoke highly of them all - but had a special fondness for President Bush, mostly because he spent the most time with him as a special agent.
Being in the job also meant souvenirs from overseas trips, private dinners at the White House, and family photos with presidents that once confused Ashley's now-husband.
She explained that he thought she was just 'obsessed' with US history when he saw snaps of various Presidents hung all over her house, until she explained that her father was in those pictures.
For much of her life, Ashley's dad didn't say too much about his career. But she said that TikTok has changed that.
Now, he helps her answer followers' questions and even fact-checks her videos before she posts.
'It's really provided a special opportunity to get to know him and what he accomplished,' she said.
And the plan is to continue to keep sharing - as long as it stays fun.
'When it becomes more trouble than it's worth, I'll probably hang up the hat and walk away,' she said.
'But right now I'm loving the opportunity to do something neat and step out of my comfort zone.'
Ashley previously shared the 'most important' piece of advice he gave her exclusively with the Daily Mail - to always 'use our situational awareness.'
'When entering a room, take a few seconds to locate the entrances and exits, know what is around you, and who's around you,' she dished.
'[He also taught us] to always use our gut - if a situation feels off, it likely is.'
Ashley explained that there are certain common things that she'd 'never do' because her dad taught her how dangerous they could actually be.
She said she'd 'never share her location publicly, especially in real time,' or 'run alone in the dark.'
'[I also would never] think 'it won't happen to me because I'm too smart, young, strong, etc,"' she added.
'[My dad] always encouraged us to have a plan. [I'd also never] linger near my car, in my car, or in a parking lot.
'We were raised to walk with intention, get in our vehicles, lock and door and leave.'
But most importantly, she said she'd never let 'fear stop her from doing what she loves.'
'Statistically, the odds of being a victim of a random crime is low, so be aware but keep living life,' she added.
