White House intruders

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The White House is the official residence (Executive Residence) and office space (West Wing) of the President of the United States. Extensive security measures are used to protect the White House, primarily through the United States Secret Service.

There have been a four assassination of U.S. presidents and many more assassination attempts. 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 the September 11, 2001 attacks, 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.