US History Questions
 

Does the United States have posted guards outside the several doors of the White House? I have been watching the West Wing and I have seen them in almost every episode. Is this a fact or movie fiction?

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And on the roof, and in the bushes, and, and, and. I visisted the White House when Slick was in office and saw lots and lots of guard, and that's before 9/11

Yeah was the rifle I own that belonged to Otto Voit ...(Medal of Honor receipiant for bravery at the Battle of the Little Big Horn and 30 year veteran of the Indian Wars ...7th Calvary ) used at the Battle of the Little Big Horn aka Custers Last Stand. That is quiet literarly the Million Dollar queastion?

Hmm, I wonder how many innocent women and children were murdered with tab's memento. An item like that would give me more heebie jeebies than a nazi ss pistol.

There have been armed guards since the Civil War at the WH. Just lots more of them these days.

My pop was Secret Service and on a couple of presidential White House details way back in the day... there are many armed personnel in/around the WH, more often than not in plain clothes.

USSS created under the Department of the Treasury in 1865 to suppress counterfeit; USSS recognized as an official branch of Treasury in 1883; USSS provides "informal" part-time protection of Pres. Cleveland in 1894. Following McKinley's assassination in 1901, Congress informally requests USSS protection for presidents. In 1902, the USSS assumes full-time responsiblity for pres. protection and in 1906 Congress allocates funds therefor (only 4 years later, surprise!). 1908 the USSS begins protecting presidents-elect as well, and TR sends 8 Agents to the DoJ (who are the nucleus of what will become the FBI).

The White House had its own police force in 1922, and in 1930 they were placed under USSS supervision.

I've never seen "The West Wing" so I don't know how they've Hollywoodized that aspect of the WH, but having read how they've fictionalized the politics therein for a particular agenda, I wouldn't be surprised if strict adherence to fact is not near the top of the writers'/producers' list.

JP

Naw - even earlier than that. It all started when those pesky Brits burned the place down circa 1812. Enough was enough.

Hey if the Brits hadn't burnt the place down you would have needed to paint it White....

You'd have a Grey House or a Brown House....

wasn't that a Seinfeld episode with a LeBaron?