New York Times, May 23 1995

A Walk to the White House

The car bomb, whether deployed in the Middle East or in an American city, has proved to be one of the most deadly weapons of modern terrorism. So the Treasury Department's recommendation to close Pennsylvania Avenue to motor traffic in front of the White House is a reasonable response to the Oklahoma City bombing and other recent attacks. President Clinton was understandably reluctant to go along. Like most of his predecessors, he resists thickening the insulation that separates Presidents from the public.

There are other reasons to be cautious about building a tighter security cordon around the executive mansion. To do so is an acknowledgment that the American symbolism of open government has been eroded by this century's waves of irrational violence. Moreover, those familiar with Washington's security agencies know that their zeal for protection often needs to be tempered with sound political judgment.

All that said, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin's recommendation to take vehicles off the strip of road immediately in front of the North Portico was a prudent one. The map of the Oklahoma City blast, which shows significant damage over an area of many blocks, demonstrates the risk of allowing cars so near the President's office. The new system offers an esthetic gain. Lafayette Park, immediately across the street from the White House, will acquire a more pastoral feel. Pedestrians can still walk up to the iron fence along the north lawn. As it happens, a fence and a guard booth were part of Thomas Jefferson's original plans from 1803, but were not completed until 1819.

In the end, if there is an outcry over this change, it may say more about Americans' obsession with the automobile than about the accessibility of the President. Drive‑by history is, after all, a fairly recent development. Approaching the White House on foot will allow time to think about many things, including what new styles of violence are doing to the political life of the Republic.