Comments on: White House Gate Crashers, Social Office Screw-Up

By: melinda

melinda — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:36:44 +0000

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.

By: melinda

melinda — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:32:36 +0000

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!

By: melinda

melinda — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:30:34 +0000

By: melinda

melinda — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:41:29 +0000

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!

By: melinda

melinda — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:31:55 +0000

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!

By: melinda

melinda — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:23:58 +0000

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.

By: melinda

melinda — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:06:19 +0000

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.

By: Nancy Forrest

Nancy Forrest — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:13:24 +0000

Glad to have your insider viewpoint, Melinda. I was wondering what you’d think of this situation. Thanks.