Fascinating White House Security Facts That You Won't Believe

Who doesn't know The White House, residence to the American President and the first family?

It is also the people's home, and Americans have great value for it and its security. A fence around the White House Complex has been constructed since the year 2019.

Two agencies, the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the National Park Service(N.P.S. ), aim to provide a secure barrier around the White House and grounds to ensure the security of the President and the White House Complex.

Presently, they completed construction of the north section of the fence, and the National Park Service is working on the south section of the fence. The National Park Service closed Pennsylvania Avenue from West Executive Avenue to East Executive Avenue for the public's safety.

However, the National Park Service left Lafayette Park, Jackson place NW, Madison Place N.W., and the north sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue remains open to cyclists and pedestrians. Demonstrations at Lafayette Park require permits from the National Park Service.

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White House Security Breach

First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy played a significant role in restoring the Historical legacy of decorative and fine arts in the White House.

The First lady wanted to inspire the young generation of American citizens, engage and help them explore American History and its great Presidents. In the year 1961, the White House Historical Association was formed to preserve and share the legacy of the Executive Mansion of the President with the new generation.

Here are some fascinating facts regarding the protection of the White House, which has evolved from the militiamen of the 1800s to the highly sophisticated Secret Service and Police forces that guard the White House today.

Secret Security Services reported that between the timeline of April 2005 to April 15, 2015, 104 security breaches or attempted breaches occurred at the White House.

According to the 2015 House of Representative Report, security incidents frequently occur at the White House. In the 12th century, the White House supported an open-door policy with the public in the 1880s.

The President's Park of the White House was open till the 1920s, in the Coolidge Presidency. However, after World War II White House began to restrict and provide scheduled tours to limited zones in the White House building.

On 1814 August 24, the British army attacked the white house in the war of 1812 and set it on fire along with the many other structures in Washington D.C and capitol. In the year 1891, the Red Room was accessed by a man through the South Portico.

The breach of security was deflected by Benjamin Harrison's White House security guards. In 1893, the White House grounds were completely closed to protect Cleveland daughters from over-enthusiastic tourists.

In 1901, after the assassination of Mc Kinley, congress especially requested the secret service to protect the President. 1901-09 A fraudster hid a pistol and entered the Red Room under the pretext of having an appointment with President Roosevelt.

He was handed over to the security who arrested him. At that time, two secret service agents were appointed to guard the President.

The secret service played a strategic role in protecting the President's house, family, and Vice president. On 1912, April 13, Michael Winter breached the security of the White House to meet William Howard Taft.

Another breach of security incident involved a tourist visiting the White House in the year 1929-33.

The Elderly tourist from Iowa breached the security of the White House and wandered freely in the building. In 1929-33 strangers gatecrashed a state dinner between Louis B. Mayer and Herbert Hoover and demanded a meeting with the President.

In 1940-45 a stranger got through the security of the White House and managed to get an autograph of President Franklin D Roosevelt, who was watching a movie with his family in the white house.

On December 25, 1974, Marshal H Fields crashed a Chevrolet Impala through the northwest gate of the white house. In October 1978, Anthony Henry breached the security of the White House Building, and when the officers approached him, he took a knife out of the bible that he was carrying.

He managed to cut one officer in the face and hurt another one's arm before being arrested by security.

On 1985 January 20, White House security was breached yet again by Robert Latta. He followed the Marine Band and wandered around the President's executive mansion for 14 minutes before he was caught.

April 9, 2006, Brian Lee Patterson jumped the White House fence for the fourth time. On 2009 November 24, Tareq Salahi, Michaele Salahi, and Carlos Allen showed up uninvited at a dinner hosted for Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister.

On November 11, 2011, a gunman fired an assault rifle at the White House and hit the presidential wing at least seven times. There were bullet holes on the window panes made with the semi-automatic rifle.

On September 11, 2014, Jeffrey Grossman wearing Pokemon gear, was confiscated for jumping over the north lawn fence. According to the Washington Post, he made it deeper into the white house complex than previously known.

Omar Gonzalez entered the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue by jumping over the fence on September 19 in 2014. He entered the North Portico doors before being tackled by counter-assault secret service agents.

On October 22, 2014, Dominis Adesanya, with mental health problems, jumped the White House fence. January 26, 2015, The White House was locked down at 3 AM by the security secret service, who spotted a drone flying over the White House grounds.

It eventually crashed on the southeast side of the White House complex. On April 19, 2015, Jerome R. Hunt was caught and cornered by the security dogs after he tried to jump over the fence of the White Houe.

November 26, 2015, a man draped in the American flag jumped the White House fence on Thanksgiving. On April 1, 2016, a man tossed a bag over the fence before jumping over it himself.

He was immediately arrested.

On March 10, 2017, a man with mace and a backpack made it to the grounds and wandered there for 15 minutes before being arrested. He was carrying a letter for Donald Trump.

On March 21, 2017, Marci Anderson Wahl of Everette, Washington, jumped over the fence on the south side to gain access to the grounds, but her shoelaces caught on top of the fence, and she was arrested. On September 20, 2020, actress Maria Bakalova entered the White House and attended a Donald Trump speech.

White House Security Features

The White House complex is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. in Washington D.C. It is one of the most popular and secure buildings in the world. It is also one of the oldest federal office buildings in Washington, D.C.

The White House building is located in a 15 mi (24 km) flight restricted zone. The security measures included the installation of missile launchers at various locations around the city.

They will intercept any aircraft that does not follow the rules of the U.S. Air Force. The PEOC and situation room situated under the East room and West Wing are safe even from the impact of a nuclear explosion.

The White House has a roof-mounted radar system to monitor the outer perimeter of the complex continuously.

The barbed wire wrought iron fence around the White House complex stands tall at 10.8 ft (3.3 m) is upgraded with special sensors that alert security when any pressure is applied on the bars on the grounds. The windows of the White House building are bulletproof and can resist a large number of direct impacts made with semi-automatic weapons.

Visitors to the White House complex must make books in advance to allow sufficient time for background checks. The visitor bookings have to be made at least 21 days in advance, and the U.S. citizens must request access to the White House through their congress members.

If it is an international visitor, they are advised to refer through their consulates.

Who guards the White House?

White House security features include various sophisticated homeland security measures that protect the President of the U.S. and his administration.

President James Madison (1812-1814) kept about 100 military men on the White House lawn. On 1823, October 7, Joseph Elgar, the commissioner of Public Buildings, sought to protect the White House Building with men in plain clothes.

In 1830, on January 21, District Columbia Marshal Tench Ringgold directed guards to be put up at the front door to maintain order in the White House. The Martin Van Buren Administration appointed day and night guards inside the white house in 1837-1841.

The White House appointed the first permanent security force on August 23, 1942. In 1861, on March 4, General Winfield Scott posted 3500 soldiers to guard the celebration at the White House.

March -April 1861, ten soldiers were allocated to the White House as night guards of President Lincoln. The Frontier Guard from Kansas guarded the President in the White House with 65-70 soldiers from April 18-May 3, 1861.

In 1862, Company K protected the White House. July to September 1881 saw 140 soldiers, mounted artillery, and cavalry guarding the White house.

Lincoln's close friend U.S.Marshal Ward Hill Lamon from the District of Columbia and guarded him, requested security few men from the D.C.Metropolitan Police to protect the President.

The U.S. Secret Service protects the White House. This secret service applies extensive measures to protect the White House, which is the official executive office of the President and the west wing office space of the President of the United States of America.

U.S.Park Police also shelter the White House Complex. The Norwegian Advanced Surface protects the airspace over the White House zone to Air Missile System (NASAMS).

Is there security on the roof of the White House?

Are you wondering if there is security on the roof of the white house too? The security system of the white house is very comprehensive and encompasses every inch of the white house.

Security on the roof of the White House includes the members of the Secret Service Countersniper Team. This group is a White House security snipers team of uniformed Division Officers, uses specially built weapons and equipment to prevent any long-range threat to the White House.

The White House building has a roof-mounted sophisticated radar system that continuously monitors the outer perimeter around the complex. Infrared cameras bordering the complex meticulously detect even the slightest temperature variation and alert security concerns for any potential threats.

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