White House intruders

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The White House serves as the residence and office area for the President of the United states and is under strict security combined with an opportunity for tourist and visitors. This can pose a problem for the Secret Service, who are tasked with providing security.

There have been a number of attacks on the President's life. However, intruders who come to the White House have not always tried to harm the President. Usually, they are trying to get attention for their ideas (e.g. Anthony Henry) or are intruding accidentally (e.g. a plane flying errantly into White House airspace).

Since 9-11, the restricted airspace above the White House has been expanded and better enforced. Still, some planes have found their way above the President's home by mistake.

Though there is currently a fence surrounding the White House, it did not always exist. At the time of America's founding, there were sheep that would wander onto the White House lawns. For years, anyone could walk onto the lawn of the White House. It was seen as a testament to the nation's security that it was not necessary to build in any security to the house. In modern times the security fence was deemed necessary to better protect the house and the President.

Police also built barricades on the streets surrounding the White House in 1983.