Aye, you're right Chris. I was being a little sarcastic with my 'perks of the job' comment. I know I sure wouldn't want to have to live with armed security people around me 24 hours a day.
Those secret service agents are trained to do one thing - protect the Presidency at all costs, which means protecting the President and first family. Since the Vice President could potentially be President at any time, he gets the same treatment.
Dick Chaney explained in a TV interview what happened to him on 9/11, immediately after the planes hit the twin towers. Bush was away in another part of the country and Chaney was holding a meeting at the White House. A couple of agents came into the room and said "we have to go, right now, sir". Without hesitation, they each grabbed an arm and literally carried him to a bunker.
I knew how he felt when those agents stuffed me back in the elevator at the hotel
