White House to Ease Restrictions on Tours

[Judi Lynn]

White House to Ease Restrictions on Tours
Tue September 2, 2003 02:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the White House announced plans on Tuesday to ease restrictions on tours of the executive mansion.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said tours would be available starting on Sept. 16 to "all parties requesting a tour through their member of the U.S. Congress and who complete required security procedures."

Currently tours are restricted to school, youth, military and veterans groups. Public tours of the executive mansion, which once drew 3,000 visitors a day, were suspended after the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked airliner attacks in New York and Washington. (snip/...)

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3374679

(?) :shrug:

On edit:

From AP:

White House tours set to resume for 'all parties'
Copyright © 2003 Nando Media
Copyright © 2003 AP Online


The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (September 2, 9:51 a.m. ADT) - The White House will resume tours later this month for anyone who can arrange them through a member of Congress and clear security measures.
All such tours were shut down before the start of the Iraq war early this year, but in April, the White House allowed them for school, youth, military and veterans' groups.

Starting Sept. 16, "all parties" can get a tour, provided they complete "required security procedures" and secure the visit through a lawmaker, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. (snip)

(snip)It wasn't clear what prompted the change. Asked whether officials had determined that security concerns had eased, McClellan said, "We've continued to address those concerns." (snip/)

http://www.adn.com/24hour/politics/story/986067p-6925433c.html

[gratuitous]

1. Donors can now get a tour for a mere $5,000 contribution

Instead of the heretofore standard $10,000 contribution.

Mr. Open Government strikes again, extending a helping hand to not just the obscenely wealthy, but the ultrawealthy as well! Whatta guy!

[Francis]

2. When I visited

about 4 or 5 years ago, it was mainly foreign tourists that were doing the tour.
Have to say it was a bit shabby looking and in need of sprucing up a bit.

[PartyPooper]

3. Thanks. But, no thanks!

I'll be happy to wait to visit the White House until AFTER Junior and his despicable and filthy entourage have vacated the premises...and, when we (once again) have an 'elected' president occupying the premises...and, not a liar, thief, and war criminal!

Hopefully, I will be able to visit the White House in 2005 after the inauguration of our Democratic president!

:-)

[onehandle]

4. Ugh. Boring....

They show you very little. With so many incredible museums and other historical structures to visit in DC, the White House tour is like a crappy little museum that you are forced marched through.

The only bonus for me when I did the tour was knowing that Bill and Hillary were in the building at the time.

How do they cover up Rove's B.O. problem?

[DBoon]

5. I thought you meant a different type of tour

But I guess travel to Cuba is still restricted as always

[Don_G]

6. When I Was A Kid In The Early '60's

My parents took me on a tour of D.C. that included the White House.

I was invited to share our history and heritage by our government; JFK was out of town, Rush wasn't a piss in his father's loins and Nixon was being a weasel in a bank vault somewhere.

40 years ago, I felt that I was a small part of the nation and I had a large responsibility to the US. Nixon/Regan/Bush/Dimbo adjusted my attitude in a lot of ways as did Carter and the "Big Dog."

The truth of the matter is that I don't feel comfortable in my own country anymore. Control and direction of a multi-trillion dollar economy has been handed over to the greedy f**ks who are willing to eke out a few million to profit themselves.

THAT is the message we need to get across....