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I’m following the news about the couple who crashed the White House State Visit with absolute astonishment – and not for the reason you think. It’s certainly shocking when anyone manages to bluff her way into what is supposedly the country’s most secure location. But it’s wrong to blame the Secret Service. They do staff the gate and check names off a list, they run the magentometers all guests walk through. But they’re not political. It’s not their job to determine who is or isn’t a real guest of the President. And it’s unfair for White House staff to put them in that position. If gate crashers appear at the entrance dressed elegantly and behaving as if they belong, politely insisting they’re a last-minute addition to the list, how can Secret Service officers know whether to admit them or not?
The answer to that question is the part of the story that’s most shocking, because it’s inconceivable there would be a social event of any kind – much less a State Dinner, the most important event of all – without any staff from the Social Office there to welcome and check in every guest. And yet, that’s what happened. No one from the Social Office at the gate, and now the Social Secretary saying that apparently they need to do that. Gee, you think?
OF COURSE there should be Social Office staff at the gate! They’re the ones who create the lists, know the names, know who’s important to the President and First Lady – just in case a real guest name has been left off a list. They manage all the last minute changes from cancellations and additions. And they’re the ones who should decide if a person should be added to a list at the gate – not the Secret Service! If they say so, then the guest’s name, date of birth and social security number are put into the clearance system, they wait for approval, and the guest gets to enter. That’s how it’s supposed to work, anyway.
I am speechless at the idea that the Social Secretary didn’t think this process was necessary. Actually, I was already shocked to see Desiree Rogers arriving as a GUEST (in a very strange dress) rather than running around behind the scenes to ensure every little detail was perfect. You can’t delegate these things, at least not at the White House, and you can never assume things will go the way you planned – at least not at the White House! Your plans may be brilliant – probably were brilliant - but nothing important goes off without some little problem. Apparently the Omaba team believes all the hype about their exceptionalism. Big mistake. They may be different, may actually BE the smartest people in the room, but that doesn’t change the White House, a place that eats smart people for lunch.
I know the Secret Service, by nature, will tell White House staff they can handle anything – are happy to handle anything. But that doesn’t mean they should. And White House staff who have been in place almost a year now should know that.
Glad to have your insider viewpoint, Melinda. I was wondering what you’d think of this situation. Thanks.
Hi, Yes, you are welcome to quote my posts, as long as you credit my site. On Twitter you can find me as WhiteHouseInsdr. Thanks for your interest.
Hello, Interesting comments! I had not heard of the typos – that’s really awful. In all our eight years the ONLY time we had that kind of error was at the Israeli-Palestinian peace accord ceremony, in Sept. ’93. The event was agreed to on a Friday, to take place on Monday , so we all had to work like crazy all weekend. The official program was put together by the State Dept, and not carefully reviewed. So it reads, “Isreal”. Oops! But the Obama Social Office had weeks to produce the menu cards after the First Lady made her selections, so that’s amazing. The calligraphers are so careful – the error must have been in the information conveyed by the kitchen (at least that’s my guess.) I agree that it’s unwise and inappropriate for the Social Secretary to be so prominent. That’s attention that should go to FLOTUS. But, it’s also true that the USSS should have and could have made a phone call about those unexpected guests, and it appears they didn’t. So that does make it mostly their fault.
Hello, that’s a funny comment – I’m not the least bit bitter. Why would I be? I’m a passionately committed Democrat who wants this President to succeed in every way. But it doesn’t mean I’m disloyal to point out where/when mistakes are made – and this was a doozy. The Clintons waited about 18 months before hosting the Emperor and Empress of Japan for their first State Visit, and you better believe the planning and execution were meticulous. The White House is a place with zero tolerance for error, or even the perception of error. Remember the AF1 fly-over NYC last spring? Turns out the head of the WH Mil. Office did all the right things to inform officials in NY, but that didn’t make any difference. He still had to resign. In Washington, we quickly learned, perception is MORE important than reality, and WH staff better learn that lesson very quickly!
Hi Joe, thanks for the interesting comments! Sorry for the delay – I’ve had trouble with the site ’til now. Yes, your scenario sounds very familiar. Usually when that happened it was because the primary guest was expected and cleared, and brought with them an entourage of people who weren’t expected and cleared, and then got all outraged when there was a delay getting them in. Always a headache! Yes, I think you’re right that the USSS should have and could have called SOMEONE about those unexpected “guests.” Even Desiree Rogers’ little evening purse surely held a pager and phone!
Thank you so much for the kind words and your interest. I invite you to follow me on Twitter (it’s free and easy to sign up if you haven’t already, at http://www.Twitter.com) where you will find me as WhiteHouseInsdr. I am telling the 217-year history of the White House, one itty, bitty tweet at a time – lots of fun.
Thank you so much for the kind words and your interest. I invite you to follow me on Twitter (it’s free and easy to sign up if you haven’t already, at http://www.Twitter.com) where you will find me as WhiteHouseInsdr. I am telling the 217-year history of the White House, one itty, bitty tweet at a time – lots of fun, and a great way to spread ideas, as you said!
Thank you so much for the kind words and your interest. You may like to follow me on Twitter (it’s free and easy to sign up if you haven’t already, at http://www.Twitter.com) where you will find me as WhiteHouseInsdr. I am telling the 217-year history of the White House, one itty, bitty tweet at a time – lots of fun.
Hi there, sorry, I had the web site designed from this template, and I don’t know what widgets the designer might have used to speed things up.