Which U.S. president had Secret Service personnel in uniforms designed to look like a European palace guard?

President Richard M. Nixon, the 37th President of the United States (1969-1974), faced some objections when he had uniforms designed for White House security. Teased in the press for adopting the costumes of a “banana republic”, President Nixon finally gave up and recalled the uniforms. They were then given to a local Washington D.C. high school for use by the school's marching band.

In late 1970, the White House guard (Secret Service Uniformed Division) publicly revealed their new uniforms which featured a white, double-breasted tunic with gold shoulder trim and a stiff shako hat with peaked front. They replaced the black uniforms the guards had previously worn on ceremonial occasions.

President Nixon had ordered a new uniform design/change after he had seen what palace guards wore in other countries especially in Europe. He had decided that the White House needed something better or just as fancy.

The public and national news media made comments such as they look like "extras from a Lithuanian movie, soldiers of the late Weimar Republic, Nazi uniforms, a palace guards of toy soldiers, like men dressed in goose-stepping, and old-time movie ushers". 'Chicago Tribune' columnist Walter Trohan even complained they were a "frank borrowing from decadent European monarchies, which is abhorrent to this country’s democratic tradition". The White House guards themselves finally complained that they felt too theatrical.