Security Failure at White House

Is Secret Service security as lax as Ron Kessler reported in his new book In The President's Secret Service?

You might begin to think so when you look at the report of the couple who penetrated White House security during the President's first State Dinner recently.

See http://www1.voanews.com/english/news...-74650777.html

It looks like these folks just showed up and bluffed their way through a check point.

In an attempt to save face the Secret Service spokesman said that the two went through a magnetometer. Big deal. They could have been carrying a ceramic knife or have picked up a sharp knife from the dinner table. There is a photo of the woman of the pair with her hand on the Vice President's chest. She could have cut his throat!

The Secret Service appears to need a shake up.

The security is fine, but when you're agency is a political tool, and your budget gets cut because you happen to jack-up the wrong Senator or Representative at an event, do you think people (USSS agents and officers) are going to be more inclined or less inclined to stop people and asking what they're doing? You might laugh, but it has happened in the past. The USSS once lost $10 million from their budget b/c someone on the Hill got their ego bruised. You get in more trouble when you hold someone up then when you let them go.

The same people that complain when there are "security lapses" are the same people who complain when they get held up or their name's not on a list. You can't have it both ways, folks!

[worfusa2008]

Not to mention the junior White House staffer who passes someone though an isolated checkpoint because he/she/they "look like they belong". Staff always gets the final say. You can't win an argument with someone on the staff. Ask any Agent who won a battle (at the checkpoint) but lost the war (office of choice). It will be interesting how this plays out.

Things have certainly changed from many years ago. Every old timer has heard the following excpressions: 1. "I pay your salary" and 2. "Do you know who I am?" My response was always simple to these two questions 1. Then you must be the person I need to talk to about an increase in my salary and 2. Yes Congressman Jones, I know who you are but you still will not be admitted to the secure area. Also the press with a hundred different excuses why they must be allowed outside the pess bullpen. There were very few instances of agents getting trouble for doing their job properly in those days.

[worfusa2008]

Not "official trouble", but trouble nevertheless. As in, "Why can't you be more accommodating? We have to get along with these people". This usually said by Bosses who were looking for a soft landing after getting their ticket punched on PPD or VPPD.

Not to mention the junior White House staffer who passes someone though an isolated checkpoint because he/she/they "look like they belong". Staff always gets the final say. You can't win an argument with someone on the staff. Ask any Agent who won a battle (at the checkpoint) but lost the war (office of choice). It will be interesting how this plays out.

All too true. I could name names (but won't on this public board) of agents who stood up to staffers and later saw their careers truncated by vindictive staffers with influence.

I saw Bob Haldeman personally remove barricades around the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City to allow "the adoring crowd" to rush in and surround President Nixon for the purpose of a photo op. Obviously he suffered no consequences for destroying security arrangements. No agent dared make an official complaint about it within the WH.

There was a period at the White House when a Deputy Director sat in on staff meetings with the President, during which the DD agreed to inappropriate uses of USSS personnel. When the actions were proposed, the DD's response was always "Yes, Mr. President."

I don't know where Big Change gets the idea that things were different in "the old days." I know one agent who offended LBJ by simply being professional on the job. LBJ ordered that he be sent directly from the LBJ ranch to his new assignment in NYC without benefit of going home to get clothes. That's pretty far back into the old days.

Obviously Ron Kessler documents similar cases in more recent years.

Politicians can ruin the careers of agents who offend them......

In my posting I only addressed the general public, congressional members , their staff, and the press. Much of what you stated regarding WH staffers, political advance agents and "hangers on" was true in the old days and obviously remains true today. It is my belief that this type of situation has a greater effect on PPD and VPPD agents than on field agents on a protective assignment. In my experience, field agents with a strong SAIC generally had less problems in this area. I also think, (not based on personal experience as I have been retired many years) this is a much greater problem today than in the past.

Charge the couple for lying to the Secret Service...maybe you should concentrate on yet ANOTHER screw up by your agents. I have a novel idea...why don't you find out who screwed up and allowed them into the White House and deal with them accordingly and ensure that it does not happen again. Oh that's right...play the blame game and don't accept responsibility...it's the federal goverment's motto.

Charge the couple for lying to the Secret Service...maybe you should concentrate on yet ANOTHER screw up by your agents. I have a novel idea...why don't you find out who screwed up and allowed them into the White House and deal with them accordingly and ensure that it does not happen again. Oh that's right...play the blame game and don't accept responsibility...it's the federal goverment's motto.

The above poster is obviously guessing under what circumstances the situation occurred. I am in no way condoning what happened and it should be thoroughly investigated and let the chips fall where they may. But as often happens in this type of situation, you have an outsider with no personal knowledge of the security procedures in effect for this occasion spouting off without knowisng the facts or exactly what happened to allow this couple into the dinner. Again it should not have happened but re-read some of the above posts written by ex-agents who have experience with this type of problem and re-think your position until the facts come out. Remember one thing in protecting the President of the US for over 108 years, only one has been lost (that is enough) so the Secret Service must be doing something right. I totally agree with your statement regarding the federal government , in general, not taking responsibility for their actions, just don't paint every agency with the broad brush. A proud retired agent.

OK folks, I worked in the White House for several years and I'm prepared to give you a likely scenario for how this breach of security went down.

First, be aware that many, many White House staffers do not take security seriously. This is particularly true if the staffer is personally acquainted with the person who is wanting White House access.

Then, remember that the couple involved are publicity hounds who are attempting to get a spot on a reality TV show.

Next, be aware that at any given time, including during a State Dinner, there are hundreds of people in the White House Complex who are there for reasons totally unrelated to the "big event" of the day.

Now, suppose that this couple is acquainted with someone who has an office in the White House. With sufficient motivation that person could "invite" them to the person's office. The couple would then be granted access to the White House although they were not on the State Dinner guest list.

Once the staffer picks up the couple at the access gate it would be possible to wander around (while escorted) and perhaps end up at the State Dinner. Properly dressed and escorted by a staffer it is entirely conceivable that the couple could "wander" into the State Dinner reception room.

Don't scoff. This is a likely scenario.

It would also justify having the couple state they were "invited" to the White House. There goes the charge of lying to a federal officer.

An investigation should and will determine who at the White House facilitated the entry of this couple. Discipline should be quick and severe.