<P> Before 1958, the U.S. federal government provided no pension or other retirement benefits to former United States presidents . Andrew Carnegie offered to endow a US $25,000 annual pension for former Chief Executives in 1912, but congressmen questioned the propriety of such a private pension . That prompted legislation to provide benefits to former presidents . </P> <P> When the Former Presidents Act took effect, there were two living former presidents: Herbert Hoover and Harry S. Truman . Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to fall under the act upon leaving office . </P> <P> The original act provided for lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents . In 1997, it was reduced to 10 years for presidents taking office after 1997 . The 1997 amendment was reverted by the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112--257). All living former presidents and their spouses are now entitled to receive lifetime Secret Service protection . </P> <P> By law, former presidents are entitled to a pension, staff and office expenses, medical care or health insurance, and Secret Service protection . </P>

Who refused secret service protection after his presidency